What's the point of perfect hair, teeth, and skin if your nails aren't flawless as well? Nothing completes a look more perfectly than when your nails are smooth and trimmed. Some women decorate with decals and shatter polish, while others opt for nudes and light pinks. Some even declare the all the natural look their style. Whatever your poison may be, read the following tips for a manicure that is quick and flawless.
First, gather all your necessary manicure supplies. This helps to avoid the scatter-brained running back and forth that wastes so much of our precious time. And manicures are meant to be somewhat relaxing! Skip the mess altogether and keep all your supplies in a basket for easy access. You'll need a file, some cotton balls, polish remover, a polish of your choice, cuticle/nail cream, cuticle stick, clippers, base coat, top coat, bowl of warm water, towel, small paint brush, and some hand cream. This sounds like a lot, but you probably have all of these supplies in a cupboard together already!
Use your clipper to get your desired nail length. Then, use your file to smooth and neaten the edges. File from up and toward the center of your nail to prevent undesirable chipping. With a fine grain file, give each nail a quick buff to smooth out any unsightly ridges. Crystal nail files are great for this purpose as they are praised for being durable and have highly effective grains.
Next, work your cuticles. Pop your hands into the bowl of warm water to soften your cuticles for at least 20 seconds. The water should be warm, but not scalding hot. Dry your hands with the towel and apply the cuticle/nail cream to each finger. Push back each cuticle with a cuticle stick or if lacking one, your finger nail. Remember to be kind to your cuticles. Cuticles are meant to keep harmful bacteria at bay, so cut only when necessary.
After wiping off excess cream from your nails, apply your polish. First, the base coat. When looking for a base coat, look for one that doubles as a top coat to save yourself money! The purpose of the base coat is to ensure that your chosen polish will apply smoothly. Now, go ahead and apply the base coat. Next, the color of your choice. The easiest colors to paint are the lighter colors like pale pinks and nudes. These shades mask uneven application and are great for a girl that doesn't have the time to apply two to three coats. OPI has a great selection of polishes that are chip resistant and difficult to remove. Finally, apply the top coat. The top coat will help to seal the manicure and help your color last longer. This is essential for those of us who type quite frequently.
Clean up. Many times, our left hand is polished perfectly, while our right could use a little touch up. Never fear! Use your polish remover, small paintbrush, and some napkins to rid yourself of nasty slip ups. If you feel comfortable, purchase a bottle of 100% acetone. Acetone is known to dry out your skin and there are many conflicting claims regarding the amount absorbed by skin. Many recommend to use straight acetone only as a means of clean up. Use your regular polish remover to eliminate previous nail color. Also, acetone will eat through the finish on your table, laptop, cell phone - so be careful! It is also highly flammable so do not burn a candle nearby due to fumes possibly igniting. Do not pour down your drain or toilet as it may burn through plastic pipes. To get rid of acetone, simply soak up with an old rag and let it evaporate outside. Soak your paintbrush in the acetone and gently remove any polish that was accidentally applied to cuticles. Be sure to wipe the brush on a napkin as it picks up polish to avoid smudging.
Now, go ahead and admire your handiwork and show off your nails with pride!... And to think it only took five minutes of your time!
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