If you are someone who likes to maintain elegant and healthy nails, you are no stranger to salon manicures. However, due to the pandemic, it may be difficult for you to get your nails done at the parlor, which is why we have researched the easiest way to give your nails a brand new makeover without splurging too much money.
Read on to find out more about how you can give yourself a manicure within the comfort of your home.
Before You Get Started
In order to get the perfect, salon-like manicure, you need to make sure you have the right tools with you. Here’s what you will need:
- Callous/cuticle remover
- Hand/nail moisturizer
- Base coat
- Nail polish
- Emery board and nail buffer
- Cuticle pusher and nippers
- Nail-polish remover and cotton swabs or pad
- Nail clippers
- Nail top coat
Not only will these tools make your manicure more effective, they can also be used in several nail and health care hacks that help in keeping your nails elegant and healthy.
Step 1: Removing Your Nail Polish
The first thing that you need to do before you get started with your manicure is to make sure that you don’t have any nail polish on. In case you do, carefully dab off the polish with a polish remover. While non-acetone removers are gentler on your skin than acetone-based ones, acetone-based removers act faster and do not have to be on your skin for long periods of time. Make sure to test both types and choose what you are comfortable with.
Step 2: Shaping Your Nails
Once you are done with the paint, move on to shaping your nails. You can do this by clipping them with a trimmer and then gently filing them. Having a clean, rounded nail shape is usually the best way to go while doing a manicure. Using metal-based or coarse nail files can be damaging to your nails as they tend to cause nail problems such as splintering. Instead, opt for a softer, crystal nail file or an abrasive emery board.
Finish this off by using a minimally abrasive buffer which helps your nails get a smoother finish on the top and sides. Make sure that you do not buff your nails too smooth as that can cause the nail polish to slip off of your nails.
Step 3: Soaking Your Nails
Fill up a bowl with warm water and add a little bit of a gentle cleanser or paraben shampoo to it. This step is very crucial to your manicure as it can help in getting rid of dead skin cells and dirt. However, keep in mind not to soak your nails for too long as over-soaking can end up damaging your nails as well as the ski on your fingers. Ideally, you should be limiting this process to 3 minutes or less.
Step 4: Applying Cuticle Remover
The nails around your skin can harden due to the loss of essential oils and moisture, this can give a rough texture to your nails and ruin the manicure. Applying a cuticle or callous reliever on the skin surrounding your nails can make cutting off the thickened skin easier. However, cuticle removers have a lot of chemicals in them so do not let them sit on your fingers for more than a minute.
Once you get the cuticle remover off, use the cuticle pusher to push the calloused cuticles away from the nail. Make sure to not push them too far back as it can damage growing nails. Do not rip off or cut into the cuticle, doing this can lead to nail infection, especially if the equipment you are using is not clean. Gently extract the free edge of your cuticle with the cuticle nippers in order to avoid damaging the nail bed.
Step 5: Moisturising
Massaging some body butter, body balm, or oils into your hands is essential to the process. Not only does it improve the blood circulation in your hands, but it also makes sure to replenish your moisture levels and hydrate your skin. However, moisturizing ingredients such as body butter can make it difficult for the nail polish to stick onto your nails properly. Once you are done massaging your hands, wipe off the excess moisturizer with a cotton ball or a damp pad. It is essential to make sure that nothing oily stays on your hands.
Step 6: Painting Your Nails
A common mistake that a lot of people make while painting their nails is that they do it all at once. Make sure to paint your nails in layers. Applying a thinly spread and even base coat can help fill any ridges on your nails. This also prevents staining and cracked nails.
Once the base coat dries up, apply an even coat of the color polish, with ample time in between each coat so that the nails can fully dry. Finish off your nail paint with a top coat of either clear gloss or matte finish, depending on your preference. If you do not have much experience with painting nails, start out with lighter shades so even if you do make any mistakes, they won’t be as noticeable.
While it is important to give yourself a manicure every now and then to maintain an elegant appearance, consuming the right kind of food also goes a long way in promoting healthy nails. Make sure that you supplement your daily nutritional intake with health supplements such as HealthKart Multivitamins, which have been designed to meet the recommended daily allowance for several essential nutrients in one go.
