Tips and Techniques to get the Perfect Manicure
We have seen several posts recently abut the fall 2010 nail polish color trends. However, we have not seen how to properly color your nails to get that professional, just walked out of the spa, look.
While beautiful nail polish does enhance your overall look, expensive nail polish on ill-manicured nails doesn't do much. With that in mind, let's start with how to properly manicure your nails. From there I will proceed on how to properly paint your nails and get the most from your nail polish.
Manicure - The first steps to a great manicure is using the right tools. There are many good manicure sets on the market or you can purchase tools individually. I found this manicure set from Bath and Body works that has the basic tools.
Bath & Body Works 7 Piece Manicure Set with Black Travel Case
Below I have listed the items need to perform the perfect manicure.
Clippers - used to clip the fingernail into your desired shape. My advice is to invest in a decent pair. To many times I have bought cheap ones and they just bend the nail or don't even open wide enough to get my fingernail into it.
Emery boards - these are too smooth out the outer edges of your fingernails. Shape your nails to your preference, square, oval, or rounded. Place the emery board against the side of the nail and file in an upward motion strokes, do not file back and forth. File the finger nail just above the fingernail tip. Filing down the sides below the finger tip weakens the nails.
Buffer - used to smooth out ridges in the fingernails. Smoothing the top of your fingernails will give a nice smooth finish to your polish. If you do not plan on polishing your nails, the buffing will add a nice shine to your fingernails.
Shany© 4-SIDED - Quick Shine BLOCK NAIL BUFFER ,4 WAY NAIL BUFFER BLOCK Provides supreme high gloss to natural or acrylic nails
Professional 4 sided buffing block
4 in 1 buffing block that allows you to smooth, buff and shine nails all in one tool
Cuticle pusher - as the name implies this pushes back the cuticle and elongates the nail. I personally have tried trimming the cuticle and only end up with small cuts and sore cuticle. This is a personal choice whether you want to push the cuticle back or trim the cuticle. My recommendation is moisturize the cuticle and push it back. Again there are several products on the market for cuticle care but I just use vitamin e to moisturize and soften. Note: before proceeding to pushing back your cuticle, wash your hand to rinse off any leftover dust from filing.
Cuticle Pusher & Remover Tool - Stainless Steel Made of stainless steel, 5 1/2" overall long
Curved-end conforms to the natural nail when pushing back cuticles
It can be sterilized without rusting
Great for trimming cuticles, cleaning fingernails and giving manicures
Fingernail cleaning - grab an orange stick and soak in warm soapy water. Gently go under the nail going from the sides to the center to remove any debris. For a finished look apply an under the nail white pencil. Tip: if you have nail polish stains, soak fingernails in lemon juice. If applying nail polish, wash your hands again to rinse off any oil or lotions otherwise your polish will not adhere to the nail.
Manicure/Orange Sticks - 4.5" - Tapered and Pointed - 144 in a box
Before you polish your nails, wipe down your manicure set with alcohol so they will be clean and ready to go for the next use.
Polishing, the final step - Find a comfortable place to sit so that your hands are steady. First use a base coat, this not only helps your polish to adhere to the nail, it protects your nails from stains; secondly apply the polish and finally apply a top coat to protect. Apply the polish in three strokes, the first stroke in the middle and one stroke on each side. Be sure you have enough polish on the applicator for each stroke. To clean up areas around the nail use a cotton ball, orange stick or paper towel dipped in nail polish remove. Don't forget to shake your polish before application and warm it up by rolling between your hands.
Pick you color!
Once you have mastered the perfect manicure and polishing your nails, consider moving on to doing your own French manicure or enhance your polish with nail art images.
French White Shimmer French Manicure Kit includes self adhesive French manicure tip guides for mistake proof application plus nail colors and complete easy to follow instructions to achieve a beautiful soft sheer French manicure and pedicure look.
I hope these steps helped you in attaining the perfecct manicure. Just think of the $$ you will save if you do it yourself!
Below are a few of my posts here on Shine, hope you will stop by and visit
Perfect Eyebrows
Eye Shadow Techniques for all Eye Shapes
Get Fuller, Sensual Lips with DIY Lip Plumper
For more skin care articles and skin care recipes visit Complete Skin Care Therapy
