A salon manicure is a lovely treat, but neat, polished nails are also easy to achieve at home. With a few basic tools and a little patience, you can get a clean, long-lasting result whenever you like.
Prepare Your Nails
Start by removing any old polish. File your nails in one direction to your preferred shape, then soak your fingertips in warm water for a few minutes. Gently push back the cuticles and wipe each nail to remove oils before painting.
- Nail file and buffer
- Cuticle pusher
- Base coat, colour and top coat
Work in a well-lit space and lay out everything you need before you begin. Having a towel, cotton pads and polish remover nearby makes it easy to fix small mistakes as you go.
Apply Polish Like a Pro
Apply a thin base coat to protect your nails. Follow with two thin layers of colour, letting each one dry for a couple of minutes. Thin coats dry faster and chip less than thick ones. Seal everything with a top coat, including a swipe along the tip of each nail.
If polish gets on your skin, dip a small brush or cotton bud in remover and clean the edges once the colour is touch dry. Give your nails plenty of time to set fully before doing anything demanding with your hands.
To keep your manicure fresh, wear gloves for cleaning and apply cuticle oil regularly. With practice, your at-home manicures will look just as polished as a salon visit.
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