How to Get a Manicure at Home

Nowadays, with nail salons charging quite high for a manicure , more women are learning how to do it themselves at home. They have found that it is not difficult if they have the right tools and products. If the steps are followed carefully, nails can look just as good as they do when they are done by professionals.

The first step is to remove any old nail polish. After this is done, neatly clip the nails straight across. When you clip your nails, the best thing to do is to clip them just above the skin on your fingertips. Next, file the nails straight across and rounding slightly on the corners. It is important to remember to file the nails from the corners to the center of the nail to prevent tearing or chipping, giving it a smoother finish.

After the nails are clipped, apply cuticle remover on the cuticles and then soak hands in warm soapy water for a few minutes. An important point to remember is to never soak them for too long because nail polish is harder to apply if the nails are too soft. If nails are yellow or stained from constant use of polish, add a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice to the water.

Once you are done soaking your nails, push back your manicure gently, using an orange stick wrapped in cotton. With cuticle clippers, you can trim your hangnails if any but avoid cutting cuticles to prevent infection. Then, massage your hands with hand or body scrub and rinse and apply lotion. This will help in keeping your hands soft and moisturized. If desired, you can apply cuticle oil to the cuticles and massage to allow the oil to soak in. after the massage, wipe away the oil from your nails with a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover. This prepares your nails for the application of polish and any other nail art that you may desire.

Before you apply the actual nail polish, remember to apply a coat of base coat. This protects your nails from discolouration. After the base coat has dried thoroughly, you can apply nail polish and designs on your nails to get the look you want.