Fashion & Style

Learn the tricks of the trade to get the look of a salon manicure in the comfort of your own home.

How many women can really afford getting a salon manicure every 10 days at $15 a trip? Not too many. Learn the essentials of a home based manicure and you’ll have more money for clothes, restaurants and any other thing your heart desires. Just think of all of that money you will save by doing your own manicure. Learn the tricks of the trade to get the look of a salon manicure in the comfort of your own home.

Tool Time

Before you get started, you need the right tools like any manicurist. Here’s a look at what you’ll need.

Nail file: to file down unsightly nails for a smooth and even look.

Cotton Balls: to remove any previous nail polish.

Vitamin E oil: to soften your cuticles.

Nail Buffer: to smooth any rough spots.

Q-tips: corrects any problems or mess-ups. Applying a red or maroon shade? You’ll need Q-tips to fix any errors.

White Nail polish: this is a polish staple for a perfect French manicure. Don’t forget the clear polish as well.

Cuticle trimmer: keeps those cuticles trimmed down and out of sight.

Now that you have all the tools for your manicure, it’s time to get started. Here’s a run through of beauty tips that are an essential for a great home manicure…

1. Clean your hands and nails. Before getting down to business remove any previous chipped nail polish. Then, soak your hands in warm water to rid the nails of any dirt and to prepare you for your manicure.

2. Dry your hands and grab your nail file. Make your nails the shape that you prefer – round, oval, square and choose the length that will fit your lifestyle. If you need to create a smooth shape, take your nail buffer and buff the top of your nails to make the surface smooth.

3. Next, take your Vitamin E oil and rub onto each nail. This will make it easy to push down your cuticles and clip away any extra skin. Take a dry towel and dry off the oil when finished.

4. Now choose the look that you want to create. Pick the polish. Going on a date? Try a sassy red color. Want something a little more glamorous and natural? Then try a French manicure.

5. Let the polish dry before doing anything. You don’t want to have to start over every time you smudge your polish.

Tips for doing an at-home French Manicure

This is one of the most requested manicures for salons and is surprisingly very easy to do at home. You’ll need a bottle of clear nail polish and a bottle of pure white polish. You’ll want to do all of the steps from cleaning your nails and filing them for a good shape before you get started. Now take the white nail polish and paint only the tips of your nails in a perfect line. Remember this takes a little patience and practice, but when you get it right, the look is flawless. Next, you’ll want to wait until the white polish dries and then take your clear polish and paint the entire nail. And, voila, you have a perfect French manicure done at home. It will appear like you’re spending big bucks at a salon.

More Beauty Tips

Have fun with your at home manicure. Try an array of different colors. Scour your local drugstore for new polish colors. Read magazines for current trends in nail fashion. A big tip is to look at makeup advertisements in magazines for the up-to-the-minute trends in nail care. Then take all your nail care know how and apply it to your home manicure. You can also do an at home pedicure and make your toes just as beautiful as your nails with these essential beauty tips.

Written by Melissa Maynard – 2002 Pagewise