Give Yourself a Salon-Style Manicure
- In This Quick Guide:
- Great Nails Start Before a Manicure
- A Salon Manicure: Step-By-Step
Love the look of a salon manicure but can’t afford the upkeep? This guide will help you get a salon-look at a fraction of the cost. By following these simple steps you’ll gain traffic-stopping, shiny nails—the new “must-have” beauty accessory.
Great Nails Start Before the Manicure
- Got milk? Great nails begin with a healthy diet rich in calcium. If you drink your milk, eat a well-balanced diet, and drink lots of water, you’ll avoid peeling, cracking, or dry, brittle nails.
- Moisturize. Make moisturizing your hands a habit. Here’s a little tip that’ll produce shiny, hydrated nails—rub lip balm, or a heavy lanolin-based product, such as Bag Balm (available at most drug stores), on clean nails. Your nails, like your skin, become damaged under harsh elements and sometimes need a little extra care. A thick moisturizer applied regularly will work wonders for your nails.
- Shop. Before you begin, be sure you have all of the necessary tools. Review the steps below and make a list of any items you need to purchase. Everything can be found at a drug store or beauty-supply store—and it shouldn’t cost any more than the cost of a single salon manicure.
A Salon Manicure: Step-By-Step
What You’ll Need:
- Bowl of warm, soapy water
- Nail file
- Orange stick
- Cuticle clippers
- Cuticle cream (optional)
- Base coat
- Nail polish
- Top coat
- Take a nail file and carefully shape your nail. Shape the nail tip round, square, or oval—depending your preference. Make sure to file gently. If you file your delicate nails like you pumice the calluses on your feet, you’ll damage them.
- Soak your fingers for about five minutes in soapy, warm water. The water softens overgrown and dry cuticles. But don’t soak too long; water can weaken the nail leaving it prone to damage. In lieu of soaking, try one of the many cuticle creams available.
- Once the cuticles are soft, take an orange stick and gently push the cuticle back to expose as much of the nail as possible. Use cuticle clippers (specially designed to get at those hard-to-cut areas) and snip off any dead skin around the nail bed.
- Now that your nails are prepared, apply a base coat. A specially formulated base coat fills in any ridges or inconsistencies on your nail, smoothing the way for the polish. Base coat also increases your chances of a lasting salon-style manicure.
- Finally, it’s time to polish. Whether you choose a bold, fashionable color or a subtle, clear pink shade—go for it with two coats of polish. Start in the middle of the nail and sweep the brush from just above the cuticle to the end of the nail, then polish the sides. Avoid polishing the cuticle; as your nail grows, the paint and cuticle will pull away from each other, resulting in your polish lifting and peeling. Take your time and use a steady hand. Don’t rush. Allow the polish to dry between each coat.
- Apply a top coat. Top coats set the polish so the paint won’t chip. A good top coat also evens out any slight color differences or small imperfections. Several of the top coats on the market also provide a quick-drying agent—a good deterrent to smudges.
That's it! In six easy steps, your nails can turn from horrid to hottie. And if you want to really turn up the fun factor, add a decal or embellishment to your ring fingernail. Enjoy your fab, salon-quality nails.
