As we focus on pampering ourselves at home, we’ve put together 10 great steps for the perfect, at-home manicure.
Here are the items you’ll need for the perfect, at-home manicure:
- Nail polish remover
- Cuticle cream
- Nail trimmer
- Cuticle stick
- Nail file
- Scrub
- Hand moisturizer
- Nail polish – colour
- Top coat polish
- Nail buffer
Step 1: Clean your nails
A manicure is best when you start from the beginning. Use a nail polish remover to remove old nail polish so you start from scratch.
Step 2: Trim, file and buff
After you’ve removed all the old nail polish, trim your nails. Then file them to a desirable shape. For extra indulgence use a nail buffer to buff your nails into perfect condition.
Step 3: Push back your Cuticles
Prep your cuticles with a cuticle cream that helps dissolve dead skin and softens the area. Avoid using cuticle balms or oil to do this as oils and balms may not soften and dissolve dead skin. They may only do 1 or the other. After applying cuticle cream, gently push back the cuticles with a cuticle stick. Your cuticles help protect your nail beds so avoid cutting or trimming them.
Step 4: Exfoliate your Hands
We recommend exfoliating your hands, wrists and forearms with a scrub such as our Salt Body Scrub or Coffee Body Scrub. A good quality scrub will help remove dead skin and help moisturize at the same time.
Step 5: Moisturize your hands
After applying and removing the scrub, you’ll want to apply a moisturizer to your hands. Do this now so you don’t end up smudging the nail polish once applied. May we recommend our Hand and Body Lotion?
Take this opportunity to give yourself a brief hand massage. If you’re doing this with a friend or loved one, have the other person massage you. Switch it up for a great bonding experience.
Step 6: Apply a base coat
Apply a base coat to your nails. Be sure to spend a few minutes chilling between coats. We recommend at least 2 minutes between each application. It’ll give each layer a chance to dry, reducing potential smudges.
Step 7: Apply a colour coat
After you’re satisfied with your base coat, move on to applying a colour coat! Pick whatever colour suits your mood. Have a special event coming up? Pick a colour that highlights yourself. Be careful not to apply too thick of a coat. Thinner coats dry quicker. You may need to apply a second coat depending on your colour preference.
Step 8: Apply a second layer
After your first coat of colour dries, apply a second coat. We recommend a 3 swipe approach – once down the middle of your nail, then once down the right side and once down the left side of your nail. This technique will help ensure a consistent layer of colour!
Step 9: Apply a top coat
After you’re finished with apply colour coats, be sure that the colour layers are dry. Then apply a top coat. While it doesn’t seem like much, your clear top coat will help keep your manicure looking fresh and crisp longer.
Step 10: Clean up smudges, ridges and let your nails dry
Last step is to clean up the smudges and ridges. Sometimes little accidents happen. The last step is to make sure your nails are dry and looking posh!
Viola! You’ve given yourself and maybe a loved one the perfect at-home manicure!