Because institute care can be expensive, many will choose to do their own care at home. The same goes for the manicure, but you have to know how to do it well, and some might fear that it will not be done perfectly.
To get beautiful hands and perfect nails, follow our tips and tricks for doing a manicure yourself.
The tips for achieving a perfect manicure
1. Hand exfoliation, to be done before the manicure
Before even thinking about manicures and applying nail polish, it will be important to treat the hands and fingers’ skin, right down to the fingertips.
To remove dead skin and soften the skin on the hands, start with an exfoliating treatment. Here are two homemade hand scrub recipes:
Homemade honey exfoliant for the hands:
The ingredients in this homemade scrub recipe will help soften and hydrate the skin on your hands, in addition to whitening your nails.
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
Mix all the ingredients until blended, then apply the scrub on your hands and nails, rubbing gently, paying particular attention to the cuticles. Rinse well with lukewarm water.
Homemade Baking Soda Hand Scrub:
For soft hands-free from dead skin, combine baking soda with vegetable oil (sweet almond or olive oil) and make a paste. Apply to your hands and nails, rubbing gently. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
2. Hydration of hands and nails for a perfect manicure
Just as important as exfoliation, moisturizing your hands and nails is a must for getting the perfect manicure at home.
You could opt for a moisturizer designed specifically for your hands and nails or make your own moisturizer at home with products and ingredients you have on hand.
Here are the 2 moisturizing recipes to hydrate your hands and nails:
Homemade moisturizer for soft nails:
To hydrate your nails well in addition to giving them strength and hardening them, combine:
- fresh lemon juice
- olive oil
Massage well, insisting on nails and cuticles. For best results, apply at bedtime and leave on overnight.
Honey moisturizer for hands and cuticles:
For soft hands and healthy cuticles, combine:
- an egg yolk
- a teaspoon of olive oil
- a tablespoon of honey
- two drops of lemon essential oil
Mix well and apply it to your hands. Leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
3. Prepare your nails for a perfect manicure
Once you’ve finished caring for the nails and skin on your hands, it’s time to move on to nail prep.
Here are some important steps to properly prepare the nails for the manicure:
- Treat the cuticles: you should never cut the nail cuticles. Instead, arm yourself with a cuticle stick designed for this purpose and gently push them back.
- File nails: leave out the metal files that weaken the nails and prefer a quality cardboard or glass file. To keep your nails healthy and reduce the risk of breakage, always file in one direction and avoid back and forth movements. Opt for a natural look while respecting the morphology of your fingers as much as possible.
- Polish the nails: Using a polishing block, gently polish the surface of the nails. This will give them shine and improve their appearance if they are streaked.
4. Make a manicure at home: the steps
Tips for a perfect manicure:
You are finally at the stage of applying varnish to your nails. Before you begin, make sure you are comfortable and minimize distractions during all stages of application and drying.
Gather all the products you will need, plus tissues or cotton swabs to wipe up the mess. You are ready? Let’s go!
The basecoat for healthy nails:
Before even applying the colored polish, think about the base coat that will protect your nails from the yellowing that nail polish can cause over time. Starting with the small white half-moon above the cuticle, apply the base coat working your way up towards the end of the nail. Let dry 5 minutes before jumping to the varnish application step.
Apply nail polish like a pro:
Shake the varnish bottle well to ensure an even color. Then, apply a first thin layer of varnish, starting at the bottom and working your way up to the tip of the nail in one fluid motion. Leave to dry for a few minutes according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, then apply a second coat, following the same technique.
Let the nails dry for a successful manicure:
This is often where we end up with a disastrous result. We don’t wait long enough before using our nails, and in doing so, we spoil our beautiful manicure. So, be patient, and give the polish time to dry and harden before moving! Take the opportunity to relax, and why not take a nap.
The “top coat” for a perfect manicure:
To protect your manicure and prolong its duration, do not forget to apply a “topcoat” or finishing coat. This product is often transparent, but some can help you create a personalized look on your nails with glitter or other special effects. This topcoat will add shine and strength to your polish, preventing it from flaking too quickly. For unparalleled support, apply a layer of topcoat every day until the next manicure.
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