I’m sure I’m not the only one out there that loves to get their nails done! It’s a great little treat for yourself and can even be a special bonding time with family or your closest friends. Unfortunately, these days, it can hurt the wallet a bit! While it’s great to have a professional work on your nails from time to time, think about how much money you could save if you took a few months out of the year to do your own nails! A huge money saver for anyone on a budget. If you’re down to rock your next manicure, all by you, read on for my simple tips!
1. Trim and File
Consider what length and shape you want your nails to be and do any trimming as necessary. If you find your nails tend to split or break at the sides easily, a rounder shape may be your best bet. If you like the look of a square nail better (like me!) try rounding the ends of the nail a bit more to prevent breakage. Use a good quality emery board to best achieve the shape you’re after.
2. Clean ‘em up
If you have the time, soak your nails in warm, soapy water. This will help to loosen up any dirt or grime in and around your nails as well as soften up your cuticles. Use a bowl and simple anti-bacterial soap for this step – doesn’t have to be too fancy! But if you want to be a bit fancy, try adding a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to the water (check out my recommendations here!). If you’ve got a nail brush handy, feel free to scrub both over and under your nails to really buff them clean.
3. Keep on Cleanin’
Now that you’ve removed any dirt around those finger nails of yours, it’s time to clean up your nail beds. I don’t recommend cutting your cuticles (leave that one to the professionals!) and you can cut too much leading to some unwanted pain! Instead, using a cuticle tool for this, push back your cuticles into the nail bed. This will clean up your nail bed and prep your nails for polish! Finish this step with a quick swipe of your nail buffer to remove any nail ridges and wash your hands with warm water and soap to remove and nail residue.
4. Polish me up!
You’re ready for polish! Here’s another trifecta (but for nails) – base coat, color coat, top coat. All three are super important in a long lasting manicure! Go ahead and apply your base coat to your clean nails, ensuring there is no oil or lotion on your nails (polish won’t be able to set!). Now for that pop of color. Take your color polish and add a small dot in the center of your nail, then push to the bottom (as close to your cuticle as possible), to the sides, then finally, top of your nail. Don’t freak out if you’ve made any mistakes! A little nail polish remover and a q-tip and it’s like it never happened. Depending on the shade of color you go with, you may want to add at least 2-3 coats. Ensure these are smooth, even coats. Too much polish and your nails will never dry! Finally, finish off your look with a layer of top coat! Allow at least 20 minutes for nails to dry completely and you’re good to go!
What’s your favorite nail product? Let me know in the comments section below!
