Home Manicure Tips

Home Manicure Tips

A regular manicure involves the cleaning and exfoliation of the hands and fingernails. The person’s hands are exfoliated and moisturized while their cuticles are pushed back or trimmed and the finger nails are filed into the desired shape. Although salons and spas offer this treatment, it is easy to do your own manicure at home.

• Remove all traces of chipped or old nail polish from your nails using a cotton ball dipped in nail polish remover. 

• Minimize the contact duration of the nail polish remover with your nails and skin as it has a drying effect. 

• Once you are done, wash your fingernails under running water. 

• If you want to get rid of the residual powder left by the remover, you can use an old toothbrush to clean your nails. 

• Soak your hands in a bowl of warm water and if you like, you can add a few drops of an essential oil to the water. 

• Jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and wheat germ oil are all excellent choices, as they will help to nourish and moisturize your skin.

• Use an emery board to shape your nails – you can choose from a variety of shapes including oval, square, pointed, almond or square oval (generally known as “squoval"). 

• Avoid using a metal file to shape your nail as this can result in splintering. 

• Use a slightly abrasive buffer over the tops of your nails as this will ensure an even but not unduly smooth surface. 

• If the surface of your nails is very smooth, the nail polish will not adhere to the nail and will chip off more easily. 

• Soak your hands once more but keep them immersed for no more than 5-7 minutes. 

• It is important to soak your hands at this point, as it will make your cuticles softer so that you can trim them easily. 

• You can use a timer to make sure that you don’t over-soak your hands as this could cause your nails and skin to dry out. 

• Dry your nails well with a towel and then carefully trim the thickened skin around your nails. 

• You can also use the edge of a pumice stone or a stiff-bristled brush to gently exfoliate your skin after you have trimmed the thickened skin at the corners of your nails. 

• Gently push your cuticle back and nip it if necessary with cuticle trimmers. 

• Be very careful when removing cuticles, hangnails or callouses as you could damage your skin and hurt yourself in the process. 

• If you have thickened skin on your palms, massage them thoroughly with a pumice stone. 

• Dip your hands in the warm water bowl for just a minute and then take them out and shake off the excess water. 

• Apply a moisturizer liberally to your hands and work it into your skin to keep your hands smooth and moisturized. 

• You can make your own moisturizer by mixing equal amounts of virgin coconut oil and aloe vera gel. 

• Use a cotton ball soaked in warm water to remove the moisturizer from your nails. 

• Repeat this step a couple of times to make sure that you get rid of all traces of the moisturizer as this will ensure that the nail polish adheres to your nails.

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