Get The Perfect Manicure at Home

While it might seem a little daunting, doing your own manicure at home is not only totally possible, it will also save you a ton of money on salon visits and allow you to change up your look at home.

Whether you’re a fan of doing nails at home or new to the game, we’ve broken down the manicure into seven easy steps you can follow the next night out. These tips also apply to pedicures, so don’t forget your feet, especially in the summer.

While there are many different types of manicures available on the market (gel, acrylic, dip powder, etc.), this tutorial is for a basic manicure using regular nail polish. Choose a solid shade for a classic manicure or opt for a funky French tip design or add your own nail art for extra flair!

Looking for nail art design ideas? Check out these posts for natural or acrylic nails:

What different nail shapes can you choose from for a manicure?

While it’s entirely up to personal preference which shape suits you best, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to nail shapes: round, square, oval, square oval, almond, stiletto, ballerina, and coffin.

• Round: A popular choice for those who prefer short nails, round nails are straight on the sides and then rounded towards the top.
• Social class: Square nails are straight at the top, have square corners, and straight edges. They don’t taper inwards or flare outwards, but are perfectly straight on all sides.
• Oval: Similar to the round shape, oval nails elongate the nail shape further and are slightly rounded at the sides as well as the top edge.
• Square oval: Also known as a “squoval,” this shape is more rounded on the edges than a true square shape, so it’s great for people who like the flat top edge but want a softer look.
• Almond: The almond shape is a vintage classic for a more exotic look. Rounded at the tip but tapered at the edges, this shape resembles actual almonds.
• Stiletto: If you like drama, the stiletto nail might be for you. With sharper tips and thinner edges than the almond shape, it’s the perfect way to make your nails appear longer.
• ballet dancer: The ballerina shape has a straight top edge, but the sides taper down into a sloping shape, giving it a dressy yet delicate look.
• Coffin: Coffin nails are similar to ballerinas but are more angular and straight on the sides, so they resemble the traditional coffin shape.

For a basic manicure, you’ll need to start by removing regular nail polish with a quick swipe. Cotton Round And nail polish remover,

If you are removing gel polish, You’ll want to roughen up the top of the polish Emery boardsoak a cotton ball (or cotton round) in AcetonePlace a cotton ball on each nail, and wrap the nail tightly with a piece of foil or cloth. a nail clip 10-15 minutes until the polish softens and can be scraped off nail scraper,

After the first round of soaking, if any stubborn stains remain, you can repeat the soaking process on that nail until the polish can no longer be scraped off. Foil with acetone pad already included To make it easier.

Effort This nail polish remover Which removes polish faster and also helps strengthen nails in combination with hydrolyzed silk, vitamin E and vitamin B5.

for one Acetone-free polish removerThis highly rated nail polish remover does not dry out nails and is free from gluten, parabens, talc, artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, SLS, and phthalates.

Before you start working on the actual nail bed, you’ll need to cut off any excess nail length with clippers and then correct your nail shape with a nail file. There are so many nail shapes to choose from, so choose the shape that suits you best and flatters your individual hand shape.

Use clippers to cut your nails to the desired length. Then, take your nail file and file in one direction only (don’t move back and forth like a saw) to get the shape you want for each nail.

As a general rule, you should do 90% of the shaping of your nails with the clippers, and then file the rest.

While you don’t need fancy clippers, make sure you have them A nice stainless steel pair And clip from the edges toward the center to remove excess nail and give the nail a thicker shape.

Happen a double-sided emery board This is useful so that you can use the rough side when you want to quickly remove length, and then use the smooth side to fine-tune the shape.

To properly prepare your nails for applying polish, you’ll first need to gently polish them with a nail buffer to remove any ridges and gently texture the surface of your nail so the polish has somewhere to grab.

For an all-in-one shaping and buffing block, you can use a 4 sided block like this Use the same tools to file, shape, and shine your nails (skip the polish and shine part if you’re applying polish).

When it comes to cuticle care, there’s a huge debate over whether or not you should cut your cuticles off completely when getting a manicure.

While some people prefer this look, the skin of the cuticle acts as a barrier to protect your skin from bacteria and infection, so we recommend leaving the skin there and pushing the cuticles back slightly with a cuticle pusher.

If there’s a little rough skin left under the cuticle you pushed back or the surface of the nail is uneven, use the edge of the buffer to gently polish that area so it matches the rest of the nail.

Finally, trim any hanging nails with a pair of brushes. Cuticle Nippers (or just regular nail clippers) and you’re ready to move on to the next step. Just make sure you’re only cutting off the dead skin cells that are hanging off the nail, not the live skin.

in Angular Orange Wood Nail Sticks These are perfect for gently pushing back cuticles and the pointed edges are good for cleaning up small polish mistakes around the nail or removing dirt from the underside of the nail.

it Glass Manicure Stick It can be used repeatedly and is easy to clean as the angled tip pushes back cuticles and the pointed tip cleans small areas.

This type of cuticle pusher The ones with the rounded edge are great for gently pushing back cuticles and the ones with the dual ones are great for helping remove softened gel manicures.

Although you don’t need to remove your cuticles, This type of nippers These are still really helpful for cutting off annoying overhanging nails or small patches of dead skin.

To keep your hands looking good during your manicure, exfoliate your hands quickly with a hand sugar scrub and then moisturize after rinsing off the scrub thoroughly (use your cuticle stick to remove any scrub stuck under your nails, etc.). This is also the time you get hand massages at the salon, so don’t hesitate to give your hands a little massage to relax your muscles.

To ensure that your polish sticks to your nails properly, you need to quickly wipe the nails with a cotton pad and surgical spirit Or an alcohol pad To remove any oily moisturizer from your nails.

it hand and body scrub It’s perfect for removing dead skin and contains coconut oil, vitamin E, and hibiscus flower.

Moisturize your hands This wonderful lotion Designed to keep your hands and cuticles baby-soft.

Now it’s time to apply the polish! If you want your polish to last longer and not turn your natural nails yellow, start with a base coat before applying the color. Wait 2-3 minutes before applying the first coat of colored polish and 2-3 minutes for the second coat. Make sure you use colored polish when you paint. Thin Layers Apply a layer of polish so that the coat dries evenly.

If you want to do that French manicureApply the first coat of polish as follows Light pink color and when dry use A French Tip Nail Sticker Guide Before painting White Nozzle,

If any polish gets on your skin or cuticles, you can gently remove it with the tip of the brush. Cuticle Stick Or a nail brush drenched in alcohol.

Finish with a top coat for added shine, durability, and protection from cracking and allow your manicure to dry for about 15-20 minutes before lightly using it with your hands and 1-2 hours to fully set before heavier use.

Start with good quality Base Coat Start by keeping your manicure firmly attached to your nails with this Essie Strong.

Match yours nail polish Choose a color that matches your outfit or the weather and use thin layers to allow each layer to dry properly. Essie is a favorite brand and the color options are endless.

To make your manicure last longer and protect it from chips, be sure to use it. top coat And it will also give extra shine to your nails. If you are in a hurry to set your nails, you can use this a quick dry top coat Too.

Once your manicure is completely dry, apply a little cuticle oil around where the skin meets the nail and rub it gently into the skin. Allow the oil to absorb for 5-10 minutes and then wipe off the excess oil and apply the oil daily to keep cuticles healthy, soft and to avoid hangnails and dry patches.

it cuticle oil Cold pressed safflower oil, winterized sunflower oil, and vitamin E are used to soften and nourish cuticles.