How to Do a Manicure at Home

Guide Note

Craving expertly polished nails but don't have the time or money for a trip to the salon? Fear not. With a few tools and a little know-how, you can achieve a perfect-10 manicure without having to walk out the front door. This page will guide you through the steps of performing your own manicure, from choosing your tools to maintaining your polished nails long after they've dried.

Table of Contents

Manicure at Home Tips
  1. Set aside 45 minutes.
  2. Wait for your nails to dry or you could smudge your hard work.
  3. Never cut your cuticles.
  4. Using a base coat of polish protects your nails from getting stained or discolored.
  5. A top coat makes it less likely your polish will chip.

Introduction

(Photo by Laura S)
(Photo by Laura S)
  • Picture yourself absent-mindedly reaching for a glass of water or flipping through the pages of a magazine, when something catches your eye: the sight of ten smooth, shiny, and perfectly manicured nails! Amazingly enough, these well-groomed nails can be yours without an expensive trip to the salon. Thanks to the abundance of nail polishes and tools available in stores, it's easier than ever to recreate the look of the pros from the comfort of your living room.

Step 1: Gather Your Tools

  1. Nail file
    • A nail file, or emery board, is used to shorten and shape the tip of the fingernail.
      (Photo by Sanja Gjenero)
      (Photo by Sanja Gjenero)
  2. Nail buffer
    • A nail buffer is a rectangular foam block used to smooth out rough or uneven areas on the nail.
  3. Small bowl
  4. Cotton balls
  5. Q-tips
  6. Hand soap
  7. Orange stick
    • An orange stick is a small stick with a flat tip. It can be used to clean underneath nails or to push back nail beds and cuticles.
  8. Nail polish remover
  9. 2 tablespoons of sugar
  10. 1 tablespoon of oil
  11. Towel
  12. Base coat
  13. Nail polish
  14. Top coat
    • A top coat is a clear polish applied after the actual nail polish.
    • Top coats add shine and help your manicure last longer without chipping.
  15. Hand lotion

Step 2: Choose Your Polish

  • You can purchase your nail polish at almost any drugstore or beauty supply store—or even online! Drugstore brands are usually less expensive than those found in specialty stores, though they also may be lower in quality. Trying out a few brands will help you decide which line works best for you.
  1. Select a nail polish shade that complements your skin tone.
    1. Fair skin: Choose a shade with blue or pink undertones, like berry red.
    2. Olive skin: Choose a shade with yellow or golden tones, like coral.
    3. Dark skin: Choose a bold color that will really pop on dark skin, like strong red or cobalt blue.
      (Photo by Cathy Kaplan)
      (Photo by Cathy Kaplan)
  2. Popular nail polish shades change with the season.
    • Darker colors are typically worn during fall and winter, while light and bright shades are more popular in spring and summer.
    • But there are definitely no set rules, so if it’s December and you’re in the mood for shocking pink, go for it!
  3. It is more noticeable when bright or dark polish chips. Paler shades like nude, champagne, and light pink are easier to maintain because chips and smudges are much less obvious.
    • For the most low-maintenance of all, go for clear polish.
  4. Wild and crazy polish colors are sometimes seen as inappropriate in formal or work settings.
    • To be on the safe side, go for nudes, pinks, or reds, as they tend to look more professional.
  5. Fingers and toes do not have to match! Feel free to mix it up.

Step 3: Prep Your Hands

  • Even the most vibrant shade of polish will look drab on hands that aren't in top condition. Dry skin, unruly cuticles, or misshapen nails can ruin a perfectly good manicure. Before you even think of opening up that bottle of nail polish, follow these prep steps to smooth and soften your hands.
  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
    (Photo by Mar N)
    (Photo by Mar N)
  2. Remove any old nail polish. This will clean off the nails and will give your base coat something to stick to.
    1. Soak a cotton ball in nail polish remover.
    2. Press cotton ball onto nail and hold for several seconds.
    3. Gently rub until all traces of former polish have been removed.
    4. Wait until nails are completely dry (about one minute) before proceeding to next step.
  3. Using the nail file, file nails to desired shape.
    • Square and oval shapes are the most common.
    1. File in one direction only.
    2. Use the coarse side of the emery board to shorten the nail, and then smooth out the shape with the finely textured side.
  4. Smooth out ridges or uneven nail texture with the nail buffer.
    1. Starting with the roughest edge of the block, carefully rub buffer back and forth across nail.
    2. Repeat with the next roughest side.
    3. Finish off by polishing nails with the smoothest side of the nail buffer.
  5. Mix oil and sugar together and scrub mixture onto hands to exfoliate.
  6. Wash hands.
  7. Fill bowl with warm water.
  8. Submerge hands for 5 minutes.
  9. Push cuticles back gently with the orange stick.
  10. Massage oil into cuticles to soften them.
  11. Dampen your towel, then toss it in microwave for thirty seconds to warm it up.
  12. Wrap hands in warm towel for 2 minutes. This will allow the oil to really sink into your skin.
  13. Dry off hands.

TIP: To make sure you have filed your nails correctly, run them over an old pair of pantyhose. The hose should run smoothly over your nails. If it catches at all, smooth out any rough edges with the nail file.

Step 4: Perform Your Manicure

  • Now that your nails are clean and expertly filed, it's time to get some color on 'em! Break out the polish you chose in Step 2 and let's get down to business.
  1. Apply one layer of base coat. Begin with one stroke of polish down the middle, then one on either side of the nail.
  2. Let nails dry.
  3. Apply one layer of your desired nail polish in the same manner.
  4. After it has dried (another few minutes), apply a second coat to enhance the color.
  5. Once the second coat has dried, apply a thin layer of top coat to seal in the color and add shine.
  6. Let your top cop dry.
    • Make sure your nails are 100% dry before resuming your daily activities. Until the polish has completely set, it is easy to smudge your nails and ruin your manicure.
  7. Even the most skilled nail artist can end up with some misplaced polish. To fix any mistakes, dip a Q-tip into nail polish remover, and carefully remove any polish that ended up on your cuticles.
  8. Apply hand lotion and massage into skin.
  9. Admire your beautiful hands and wait for the compliments to start rolling in!

TIP: Open a window or turn on a fan when you paint your nails!

Step 5: Maintain Your Manicure

  • You've put all this time and energy into a salon-worthy manicure, so why let it go to waste? Your manicure will last for about a week, but these tips should keep your nails in tip-top condition for as long as possible.
  1. Apply a fresh layer of top coat every two days to extend the life of your manicure.
  2. Wear gloves for any activities which might damage your manicure, like gardening or washing the dishes.
  3. Try not to use your nails as tools (like for opening soda cans), as this can chip the polish.
  4. If the color starts to chip, apply a thin coat of color onto the chipped area. After two minutes, apply a thin coat of color over the entire nail.
  5. Apply hand cream every night before bed.
    • For more intense hydration, apply hand cream and then wear plastic gloves for the next 30 minutes. This will give the lotion time to really sink in and moisturize the skin.

TIP: Store nail polish in your refrigerator to make the formula last longer.

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