Manicure - Do it at Home and Save some Money $$$$$
We can all stand to save a little money these days
It is so easy to give yourself a manicure at home...Do not rush this... Enjoy doing it just like you would, if you went to a spa...
First, set out the things you will need.
1 bowl of warm, sudsy water
Scented bath oil or a drop of essential oil
Emery board
Orange stick or Q-tips
Cotton balls
Nail buffer
Nail polish remover
Nail brush
A white towel (looks professional)
Cuticle cream
Nail polish
Clear base coat polish
Clear top coat polish
Nail glue
tissue, like Kleenex
Lay everything on the towel.
File your nails first with an emery board before you remove your old polish. Use the fine side of the emery board. Steel nail files are just too hard on your nails. File toward the center in one direction. If you file back and forth, you will have rough edges. I personally don't like square nails. I think an oval still looks more natural. Of course, this is personal preference.
Remove your old nail polish. Soak a cotton ball in polish remover and press it firmly on the nail. Give it a second to work, then slide the polish off the nail. Get it all off. Then wash your hands to get the remover off. Use a soft nail brush and warm, soapy water. Rinse in cool water and dry.
Massage the nails with cuticle cream. You can use Vaseline and it will have the same effect. It won't smell as nice, though. Rub the cream into the sides of the nails. Soak for a few minutes in warm, soapy water.
Gently push back the cuticle with the orange stick or Q-tip. You can wrap a little cotton around the orange stick. Be very gentle with the cuticle to prevent hang nails.
If you have a cracked or torn nail, use a little nail glue to repair it now.
Apply a very thin coat of clear base polish.
Apply a thin first coat of color. Don't stop at the tip of the nail but polish the underside as well. This will help protect the tips. Five minutes later, apply another coat of color and let it dry for another five minutes.
Next, apply a top coat of clear polish and you're done.
This manicure will last for 2 weeks, if you apply another top coat every other night.
In two weeks, take it all off and start over.
