Manicure at Home: All the Tips You Need to Know
Posted by HOOMAN MORADTALAB
Manicure at Home: All the Tips You Need to Know
One of the popular beauty and cosmetic procedures is manicure and taking care of nails and hands. You don't need to spend money on this and you may prefer not to go to beauty salons under current circumstances. With the right tools and a little patience, you can experience manicure at home and have tidy and beautiful nails. Join us to learn the tips and tricks of manicure at home.
What is a manicure?
One of the popular beauty treatments at beauty salons is a manicure. A manicure involves tidying up and shaping the nails and all the activities performed to beautify your hands. Typically, a manicure includes trimming or shaping the nails, filing the nails, pushing back the cuticles and dead skin around the nail bed, using nail strengtheners, massaging the hands, and finally applying nail polish and even designing on the nails.
These same activities can also be done for the toes, which is called a pedicure.
How to do a manicure at home?
If you have decided to do a manicure at home, you need to prepare the necessary tools and follow these steps:
First step; trimming and shaping
1.Prepare the necessary tools
Before anything else, you need to prepare the necessary tools and buy them if you don't have them. To do this, you may need to spend some money and purchase the essential tools. Of course, you may already have some of them at home. If you plan to do your own manicure from now on, it's worth investing in these tools.
Try to buy tools and equipment that are durable and of high quality so that you can use them for a long time. Low-quality tools may be cheaper at first, but you will end up having to buy them again because they lose their initial quality.
Before starting a manicure at home, prepare the following tools.
Cuticle pusher
2.Cleaning the nails
Start by cleaning your nails. If there is already nail polish on your nails, remove it with nail polish remover and cotton. If you have gel or acrylic nails, you will also need to remove them. After removing the nail polish, wash your nails thoroughly, dry them, and then start the manicure process.
Use nail polish removers that do not contain acetone. This substance can dry out and weaken your nails, and you won't be able to do a good manicure or apply beautiful and consistent nail polish.
If you keep your nails long, clean under them thoroughly with soap and water.
3.Shaping and Filing
If your nails are too long or uneven, use a nail clipper to trim them to the desired length. Slightly longer nails tend to look more beautiful and elegant, but they can be harder to maintain. If you prefer shorter nails, don't cut them too short. After trimming your nails to the desired length, use a nail file to shape them evenly and make them smooth.
When filing your nails, avoid using a back-and-forth sawing motion. Instead, file in one direction only. Sawing back and forth weakens the nails and makes them more prone to breakage.
The most popular nail shapes are square and oval. Shape your nails according to your personal preference.
4.Nail Buffing
To achieve a smooth and polished surface on your nails and ensure that the nail polish adheres well, you need to use a nail buffer. A sponge buffer, similar to a nail file, with different levels of hardness is ideal. Start by using the harder side to smooth out any bumps or ridges on the surface of the nail, then use the softer side to buff the nail to a shine.
Remember to do this step gently and slowly. Don't press the buffer too hard on your nails. You don't want to thin out the surface of your nails. Just buff the surface of the nail enough to smooth out any irregularities and give it a shine.
You can also do this step after pushing back your cuticles, especially if your cuticles take up a significant portion of your nails.
5.Pushing Back Cuticles and Trimming Excess Skin
Soak your nails in warm water for five minutes. You can add a few drops of liquid soap or scented oils to the water if you prefer. This will soften the cuticles and make it easier to push them back. Use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the cuticles at the base of the nail.
Again, patience and a gentle touch are important during this step. You should not cut the skin around the nail, only push it back to reveal more of the nail surface.
Be careful not to overdo it when trimming excess skin. Only trim the parts that have separated from the nail or are truly dry, using gentle pressure with a nail clipper. Some beauty salons may overdo it and remove a lot of skin around the nail, which can make your hands and nails more susceptible to infection. You can even skip this step altogether and still achieve the desired results of a manicure without cutting the skin around the nail.
6.Using Oil or Cream
One of the stages of a manicure is giving a hand massage. This stage provides a good opportunity to use various creams, moisturizers, and herbal oils. Gently massage the special oils and creams onto your hands, nails, and fingers. Allow the oil and cream to remain on the skin for at least five minutes to have their full effect. If your nail surface has become too oily, you can use a cotton ball and some nail polish remover to remove the excess oil from the nail surface. To ensure that the nail polish adheres well to the nail, the nail surface must be completely clean.
Part 2: Nail Design and Coloring
The next step in a manicure, after shaping and filing the nails, is to apply nail polish. If you prefer not to use nail polish, you can skip this step or simply use a base coat or nail strengthener. However, if you want your nails to be colorful or have a special design that fits the season, follow these steps.
1.Using Base Coat
At this stage, you should use a base coat. Using these base coats prepares a flat surface for painting and increases the durability of the paint. Apply base coat on all nails and on the entire nail surface. This base coat is colorless and makes the colored paint appear even and clean. Wait for the base coat to dry before moving on to the next stage.
Base coats come in various types, and some of them are strengthening. You can buy these products to strengthen your nails.
Some base coats may not be transparent. Some types of base coats have neutral colors such as peach or nail-like colors.
Some base coats may not dry completely and their surface remains sticky. This type of base coat is used when you want to apply colored paint on it and increase the strength of the paint.
2.Using Nail Polish
Choose a nail polish color of your choice. Before using it, make sure to shake the nail polish for 10 seconds so that the color is well mixed and no bubbles remain inside. Open the nail polish bottle and use the brush to apply a uniform layer of polish on your nails. To apply the polish, start by placing the brush in the middle of your nail and then cover the sides of your nail with two more strokes, ensuring good coverage with the polish. If you think one layer is not enough, you can wait for it to dry and then apply another layer of polish.
Try to always use the right amount of polish. Using too little polish can cause the nail polish to be uneven and not smooth, while using too much polish can cause it to spill over the edges.
Place your nails on a smooth surface to avoid shaking.
If this step is difficult for you, especially for the hand you are working with, you can ask someone to help you with this step.
3.Applying the Second Coat of Nail Polish
For greater strength and beauty of your nails, apply a second coat of nail polish. The first coat should be completely dry before applying the second coat. Apply the second coat in the same way as the first coat on your nails. At this stage, you should also allow the polish to dry completely and become firm before moving on to the next step.
The second coat of polish usually takes longer to dry. Be patient at this stage and do not hurry. Rushing can cause your efforts to go to waste and the nail polish to become smudged.
To dry the polish faster, you can place it near a fan or in front of a cooler.
4.Cleaning the Nail Edges
The next step in a home manicure is cleaning the edges of your nails. When applying nail polish, especially if you're new to it, it's possible for the polish to come into contact with the edges of your nails. To clean the edges of your nails, use a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover and carefully clean around the edges. Be careful not to accidentally remove the nail polish.
To keep the edges of your nails clean while applying nail polish, you can use another method. Before starting to apply nail polish, use a special type of polish called peel-off polish. These polishes are applied around the nails and on any areas where you don't want the polish to stick. This polish easily lifts off and acts as a protective layer to prevent the edges of your nails from getting dirty.
Apply the peel-off polish around your nails, and then proceed with the nail polish and nail art step. After you finish, peel off the peel-off polish from your skin.
Part 3: Trying out fun designs
The final step of at-home manicure is designing your nails. With the help of nail polish in various colors, you can create beautiful designs on your nails. Some people prefer simple nails with one color, while others like to add a little twist to their regular nail polish. If you are looking for some variety, you can try one of the following methods to beautify your nails.
1.French Manicure
For French nails, which is a timeless and attractive style, the entire nail is covered with a neutral color such as peach or the natural color of the nail, and the tips of the nails can be painted with white polish. The French manicure is suitable for both everyday situations and special occasions. This style is always attractive and is one of the most popular nail polish styles.
2.Marble Design for Nails
You have probably seen marble nail designs. In this method, you need to mix several colors of polish together on one side of water to create a marbled and cloudy appearance. Then dip the nail into the mixture and quickly remove it. This method is easier than it seems and with one or two attempts and watching instructional videos, you can achieve mastery. The number of colors and the colors themselves depend on your taste.
3.Painting Nails with Different Colors
You don't have to use only one color when painting your nails. You can paint each nail with a different color. You can also choose a range of shades of a particular color, such as light to dark blue. Alternatively, you can paint all your nails with one color except for your ring finger, which can be painted with a different color.
4.Seasonal Nail Colors
You can get inspiration for your nail color choices from the seasons. For example, for the fall season, you can use colors like red, orange, yellow, and brown, while for spring, you can use green and pink shades. In addition to simple nail painting, you can also get creative with nail designs inspired by the seasons. For instance, in the fall season, you can draw autumn leaves on your nails.
5.Drawing Inspiration from Nature
In addition to the seasons, you can also draw inspiration for your nail designs from nature. Flowers, fruits, and other elements of nature can make great designs for your nails. You can also design your nails to celebrate special occasions .