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Have all those Pinterest pins on gorgeous manicures got you craving for your own set of summer-ready nails? The good news is that it’s really not incredibly difficult to have a professional-looking manicure. Just follow these simple steps!
Trim your nails
First, you are going to want to trim your nails and then properly file your nail beds. It is important to follow your nails’ natural shape when filing to maintain for stronger nails that won’t easily snag on things.
Moreover, if you round your nails too much, the nail can become ingrown, so keep this in mind when filing your nails. Drag your nail file gently across your nail rather than aggressively pushing and sawing at the nail as this can weaken the nail.
Make sure they're properly cleaned
Furthermore, while it may be relaxing and cleansing to soak your fingernails in water, it isn’t best for maintaining a manicure. If your nails are wet, your nails will absorb the water, causing them to expand. By painting your nails while they are expanded, the paint will chip as your nails contract as the nails are drying from the absorbed water. Instead, for longer-lasting nail polish, make sure your nails are completely dry.
With that, to get properly clean and dry your nails, use nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. Gently rub either of these all over your nails to get rid of any excess oil, moisture and dirt.
Don't shake the bottle
Before you begin to polish your nails, roll the nail polish bottle for a few seconds to get an even color. Don’t shake the bottle as this can create air bubbles that can cause the polish to not stick to your nail properly.
The secret to getting lasting nail polish is thin, even strokes. Press the nail polish brush gently so the bristles neatly and evenly spread out. If you put on too much polish and make the coat too thick, it won’t adhere nicely to your nail.
Use a toothpick to remove any wet nail polish traces that get onto your skin and a Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover for any dried up nail polish.
Add a clear top coat
It’s also always important to add a clear top coat to make your nail polish last. For best results, however, apply the topcoat a few days after your main nail polish color to allot ample amount of time for your nails to dry and to prolong the wear of your nail polish.
For a fabulous manicure, it’s important too to care for your cuticles, since damaged cuticles can cause hangnails and stunted nail growth.
To keep your cuticles healthy, use a cuticle remover to soften your cuticles. If needed, remove any flaking cuticle skin (its other name is the eponychium). Don’t cut the eponychium, however. Not only can cutting your cuticles lead to nail problems and white lines, but the cuticles actually act as a defense mechanism to help keep bacteria out of your body and out of the nail matrix specifically.
Moisturize!
Moreover, as the skin around your hands is delicate and can easily get dry and crack from washing your hands, it is important to moisturize your skin and your cuticles with a rich, nourishing hand cream as often as possible throughout the day. Petroleum jelly, or Vaseline, is another good and inexpensive alternative to moisturizing your cuticles.
Keep your cuticles clean, and with a little patience and haute nail polish colors, you’ll be giving yourself manicures like the pros in no time.
Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer, business owner and hard-working mother of three. Clearly, her schedule is always full, not leaving her much time to drive to a professional spa, so she gives herself her own manicures while at home. Follow her on Pinterest and Twitter for more nail care tips.
Trim your nails
First, you are going to want to trim your nails and then properly file your nail beds. It is important to follow your nails’ natural shape when filing to maintain for stronger nails that won’t easily snag on things.
Moreover, if you round your nails too much, the nail can become ingrown, so keep this in mind when filing your nails. Drag your nail file gently across your nail rather than aggressively pushing and sawing at the nail as this can weaken the nail.
Make sure they're properly cleaned
Furthermore, while it may be relaxing and cleansing to soak your fingernails in water, it isn’t best for maintaining a manicure. If your nails are wet, your nails will absorb the water, causing them to expand. By painting your nails while they are expanded, the paint will chip as your nails contract as the nails are drying from the absorbed water. Instead, for longer-lasting nail polish, make sure your nails are completely dry.
With that, to get properly clean and dry your nails, use nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. Gently rub either of these all over your nails to get rid of any excess oil, moisture and dirt.
Don't shake the bottle
Before you begin to polish your nails, roll the nail polish bottle for a few seconds to get an even color. Don’t shake the bottle as this can create air bubbles that can cause the polish to not stick to your nail properly.
The secret to getting lasting nail polish is thin, even strokes. Press the nail polish brush gently so the bristles neatly and evenly spread out. If you put on too much polish and make the coat too thick, it won’t adhere nicely to your nail.
Use a toothpick to remove any wet nail polish traces that get onto your skin and a Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover for any dried up nail polish.
Add a clear top coat
It’s also always important to add a clear top coat to make your nail polish last. For best results, however, apply the topcoat a few days after your main nail polish color to allot ample amount of time for your nails to dry and to prolong the wear of your nail polish.
For a fabulous manicure, it’s important too to care for your cuticles, since damaged cuticles can cause hangnails and stunted nail growth.
To keep your cuticles healthy, use a cuticle remover to soften your cuticles. If needed, remove any flaking cuticle skin (its other name is the eponychium). Don’t cut the eponychium, however. Not only can cutting your cuticles lead to nail problems and white lines, but the cuticles actually act as a defense mechanism to help keep bacteria out of your body and out of the nail matrix specifically.
Moisturize!
Moreover, as the skin around your hands is delicate and can easily get dry and crack from washing your hands, it is important to moisturize your skin and your cuticles with a rich, nourishing hand cream as often as possible throughout the day. Petroleum jelly, or Vaseline, is another good and inexpensive alternative to moisturizing your cuticles.
Keep your cuticles clean, and with a little patience and haute nail polish colors, you’ll be giving yourself manicures like the pros in no time.
Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer, business owner and hard-working mother of three. Clearly, her schedule is always full, not leaving her much time to drive to a professional spa, so she gives herself her own manicures while at home. Follow her on Pinterest and Twitter for more nail care tips.
