How To Do A Manicure

It can be expensive to go to the spa and have a manicure professionally done, so you may be wondering how to do a manicure without yourself. You probably already have everything needed to do a manicure, but if you are missing some supplies they can be bought easily at a drug store.

To get started on your way to perfect nails, learn the fine art of shaping nails the right way. There are many different shapes you can pick: round, squared, pointy, or oval, and each nail should be the same shape and length. The correct way to file is in one direction only. Do not simply file back and forth over your nails because you will end up weakening them. Pay attention to shaping the side of the nail as well, and use as little strokes as possible.

We are always using our hands. They help us with almost everything we do, are constantly moving and are usually exposed to the outdoor elements when we go outside. Cooler weather can result in drier skin, especially the hands and nails. Fill a bowl with warm water and add some of your favorite smelling soap, then soak your nails to add some moisture back to your dry hands and nails. For even softer skin, slather your hands, nails and cuticles in a rich hand cream or even Vaseline then wrap them up in socks or gloves and leave them to moisturize overnight.

A professional salon will exfoliate your hands when doing a manicure, so don’t miss out on this step. You can buy an exfoliating face cream from the drugstore which will also work well on your hands. Or you can make an exfoliator of your own by mixing some nice hand soap with salt. Table salt works well but salt with large crystals will exfoliate the best. It is important to exfoliate so that you can get rid of any dead, rough skin on the hands and keep your cuticles soft at the same time. After the exfoliation step, rinse your hands well with water and use a towel to gently pat your hands dry.

Now, move on to the cuticles. Never cut your cuticles. They are there to act as a protector for the nail bed and help join nails to the finger. Use a special stick made of orangewood to simply push the softened cuticles back. The orangewood stick can also scrape away any debris that has collected under your nails.

The last step in your perfect do-it-yourself manicure is to finish off with a hydrating moisturizer to protect your hands and nails. Use a quarter-sized dollop and give your hands a massage as you apply the cream. Ensure you reach easy to miss areas like in between the fingers and work extra moisturizer into your cuticles.

To keep your nails healthy and looking at their best, treat yourself to a manicure once a week and to make your nails look even prettier try a french manicure.