With all the fantastic nail colors and interesting designs coming out for fall it’s hard not to go out and buy them all. Of course every season we go out and get a few fresh new colors, and to help save a little money most girls try out the at-home manicure approach to doing their nails. If you are one of of the many cost conscious fashionistas who like to rock the latest nail polish colors then this is your lucky day. Because we have our easy and simple steps to doing the perfect at home manicure including a few clever tricks to help you get salon quality nails at home.
The Perfect At Home Manicure
- Start by washing your hands. Use a nail brush or your favorite hand scrub to make sure you really get any excess oils of your finger
- Push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher, this makes it easier to apply your nail color smoothly.
- Use a file to smooth away any hangnails and sculpt your nails to your preferred shape. A glass nail file is best for this job because they are better for your nails and get the job done faster than an emery board.
- Apply a base coat to your nails, our favorite is “grow stronger” by essie. This base coat will actually promote growth and make your nails stronger in addition to making your manicure last longer.
- Now it’s time to start painting, place a drop of polish on the center of the nail just above your cuticle leaving just a small gap between the polish and your cuticle. Now carefully move your brush upwards making a straight line right down the middle of your nail. Then go back to the base of the nail and swipe the polish along the right side of the nail until that side is cover. Repeat this process for the left side.
- Repeat step 5 for as many coats of the polish as your need. It always a good idea to do two of three thin coats of polish verses one heavy one.
- Apply your favorite top coat.
- The cleanup is an important part of the manicure that a lot of girls skip, but the easiest way to do it is with the help of a small paint brush, the smallest one you can find. Dab the brush in a little polish remover and run it around your cuticles to clean up any messy edges and give your nails a nice clean and crisp line.
At Home Manicure Tips
**If you are in a rush to dry your nail try spraying a little non-stick cooking spray onto your wet nails, believe it or not the cooking spray will set your nails instantly and prevent smudges.
**Don’t put your finger in front of a fan to get them to dry faster, this will only promote air bubbles to form on your freshly painted nails.
