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At-Home Manicures Sunday, 17 September 2006
Well-groomed nails are important — nothing kills your look more than bitten-down nails and ragged cuticles. A proper manicure keeps you looking polished. But unless you’re a lady who lunches or one of those kids from Laguna Beach, you probably don’t have the time or budget for weekly manicures.
So here’s your step-by-step guide to home manicures:
1. Remove all traces of nail polish.
2. Clip nails and use an emery board to file into a softly rounded shape. Smooth out any nicks or unevenness on your nails by using a fine grit buffer.
3. Soak nails in warm water for two to three minutes. Apply a thick moisturizer or a drop of olive oil to your cuticles, and massage it in. (You can use a cuticle cream if you prefer, but any rich lotion or oil will do the same job.) Gently push — don't pull, cut or tear — cuticles back with an orange stick.
4. Remove any cream or oil from nails with polish remover (otherwise the polish won't adhere properly).
5. Use an exfoliator to remove any dead skin on your hands. You don’t need to spend extra money on special manicure products — any face or body scrub will do.
6. Apply a base coat, then two thin coats of polish, letting each layer dry before adding the next. It’s important not to make the coats too thick, because they won’t dry properly and you’ll end up with smudges. Finish with a top coat.
7. Reapply your top coat every couple of days to prolong your manicure.
Suggested Products
Top / Base Coats
New York Color Extra Shiny Top Coat ($0.99, at drugstores)
OPI Start to Finish Base & Top Coat ($7.79, drugstore.com Online Pharmacy - Prescription Drugs, Health and Beauty, plus more)
Rimmel Stronger Base Coat ($2.29, ULTA.com - The Ultimate Beauty Site : Home)
Sally Hansen Age Correct No Chip Base + Top Coat ($5.99, Walgreens.com - Online pharmacy & drugstore, prescriptions, health information, photo center)
Polish
If you like sheer shades, Essie ($7 each, Cosmeticmall.com, Shop the Beauty Superstore - Make Up, Cosmetics, Skin Care, Hair Care, Fragrances, Tools, Men, Gifts. Beauty Tips and Free Samples at the Cosmetic Mall.) has a wide range of pale pinks and beiges, including Mademoiselle and Sheer Bliss.
If you prefer bolder hues, Maybelline Colorama 5 Day Nail Color polishes ($1.99, at drugstores) are a great and inexpensive option.
OPI ($7, drugstore.com Online Pharmacy - Prescription Drugs, Health and Beauty, plus more) has a staggering number of both nude and vivid shades that range from sheer to opaque. I’m Not Really a Waitress is a perennial favorite for red polish.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Polish ($2.49, at drugstores) is a cheap but good quality option with a wide variety of shades, from neutral to bright and bold.
Tips
Well-groomed nails are important — nothing kills your look more than bitten-down nails and ragged cuticles. A proper manicure keeps you looking polished. But unless you’re a lady who lunches or one of those kids from Laguna Beach, you probably don’t have the time or budget for weekly manicures.
So here’s your step-by-step guide to home manicures:
1. Remove all traces of nail polish.
2. Clip nails and use an emery board to file into a softly rounded shape. Smooth out any nicks or unevenness on your nails by using a fine grit buffer.
3. Soak nails in warm water for two to three minutes. Apply a thick moisturizer or a drop of olive oil to your cuticles, and massage it in. (You can use a cuticle cream if you prefer, but any rich lotion or oil will do the same job.) Gently push — don't pull, cut or tear — cuticles back with an orange stick.
4. Remove any cream or oil from nails with polish remover (otherwise the polish won't adhere properly).
5. Use an exfoliator to remove any dead skin on your hands. You don’t need to spend extra money on special manicure products — any face or body scrub will do.
6. Apply a base coat, then two thin coats of polish, letting each layer dry before adding the next. It’s important not to make the coats too thick, because they won’t dry properly and you’ll end up with smudges. Finish with a top coat.
7. Reapply your top coat every couple of days to prolong your manicure.
Suggested Products
Top / Base Coats
New York Color Extra Shiny Top Coat ($0.99, at drugstores)
OPI Start to Finish Base & Top Coat ($7.79, drugstore.com Online Pharmacy - Prescription Drugs, Health and Beauty, plus more)
Rimmel Stronger Base Coat ($2.29, ULTA.com - The Ultimate Beauty Site : Home)
Sally Hansen Age Correct No Chip Base + Top Coat ($5.99, Walgreens.com - Online pharmacy & drugstore, prescriptions, health information, photo center)
Polish
If you like sheer shades, Essie ($7 each, Cosmeticmall.com, Shop the Beauty Superstore - Make Up, Cosmetics, Skin Care, Hair Care, Fragrances, Tools, Men, Gifts. Beauty Tips and Free Samples at the Cosmetic Mall.) has a wide range of pale pinks and beiges, including Mademoiselle and Sheer Bliss.
If you prefer bolder hues, Maybelline Colorama 5 Day Nail Color polishes ($1.99, at drugstores) are a great and inexpensive option.
OPI ($7, drugstore.com Online Pharmacy - Prescription Drugs, Health and Beauty, plus more) has a staggering number of both nude and vivid shades that range from sheer to opaque. I’m Not Really a Waitress is a perennial favorite for red polish.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Polish ($2.49, at drugstores) is a cheap but good quality option with a wide variety of shades, from neutral to bright and bold.
Tips
- Nude or pale shades are best for a low-maintenance look, since chips and smudges aren’t as obvious.
- If you’re in a hurry, just follow steps one through four and apply a clear, glossy coat of polish instead of color. You’ll look “finished†without any fuss.
- Let the French manicure go. It’s outdated and too much trouble to maintain.
- When you file your nails, move the emery board in one direction, not back and forth.
- Moisturize your cuticles regularly to keep nails looking healthy and well-groomed.
- If you end up with excess polish on the skin around your nails, use an orange stick dipped in polish remover to clean it off.
