We all took visiting the salon for granted but if, like us, you’re finding your nails are in need of a little bit of tlc now and you can’t wait (don’t get us started on our roots!) we’ve outlined our at-home manicure routine. We know this can’t replace your lovely therapist and their amazing skills but hopefully it will help keep your nails in some sort of condition so you can proudly show your efforts! You just need a steady hand and a good collection of nail polish and you’re ready to go!
Here’s what you will need:
- nail file
- nail polish remover
- hand scrub
- hand cream
- base coat
- nail polish
- top coat
- cuticle cream/oil
1: Get your nails into shape
Shape your nails and even out any jagged edges, using an emery board. Make sure it’s not too rough and remember to work in just one direction, starting from one side working to middle, then the other side working to the middle. This will prevent the nail from splitting. You can go for a square shape or rounded nail shape. Or something that’s a little bit in the middle – square with rounded edges ‘squoval’ can look really good.
2: Cuticles
Apply cuticle cream and massage in.
3: Soak your nails
Soak hands in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes at a time. Push back cuticles with an orange stick. We would leave cuticle trimming to the experts!
4: Exfoliate your hands to get them glowing
No need to buy a specialist hand scrub for this stage, instead just give your hands a gentle rub using your favorite body scrub. This will remove dead skin and give your skin a gorgeous glow.
5: Use hand cream to moisturise
We often forget the skin on our hands but just like the skin on the body and face, they need moisture after you exfoliate them. Use a rich, luxurious hand cream to keep your skin smooth and hydrated.
6: Prep your nails
Next, clean your nails again – this is to ensure any residue is removed from the nail. Nail polish remover is fine for this stage.
7: Apply a base coat
Use your trusty base coat and apply a thin layer to each nail. This will help prevent staining from your nail colour.
8: Apply your chosen colour
Apply two coats of your chosen colour using quick, light strokes to allow polish to evenly distribute on each nail. For best results, wait for the first coat to dry before applying the second.
9: Add a top coat once your nails have dried
After your nails have dried, apply a top coat to protect the colour.
image:istock.com/FotoDuets
