Properly groomed
fingernails are not only attractive, they are practical.
While maintaining your nails, keep in mind that with a great
manicure, you're less likely to have to repair them later.
Painting your fingernails
is an art and it's fun! This do-it-yourself fingernail guide
is intended for those who don't have the time to visit a
manicurist and wish to do it at home, or simply don't want
to spend the money.
Filing and
Buffing Your Fingernails
Before you begin an at-home
manicure, Place your metal nail tools in an antiseptic
solution for about 15 minutes to kill any bacteria and
germs.
Remove your old polish
before you begin.
Never file the nail in a
back and forth motion. Instead, go from side to side, in
one direction.
Your nails should be
shaped into oval tips.
Buff the surface of the
fingernail after filing.
Soften your cuticles by
soaking in a small bowl of soapy, warm water or cuticle
cream.
Gently loosen your
cuticles with cuticle remover or an orangewood stick.
Painting &
Decorating Your Fingernails
Be creative when you give
yourself manicures! Add wild colors, decals and stickers
specifically designed for your fingernails. But first, you'll
need a good surface to work with.
To avoid air bubbles in
your polish, don't shake the bottle. Roll it gently in the
palm of your hands before applying.
Apply your fingernail
polish in three strokes, one in the middle and one on each
side, taking special care to avoid your skin and cuticles.
If you're in a hurry, or
plan to redo your nails soon, apply only two coats of
polish. Allow the first coat to dry before adding the
second coat.
For longer staying
polish, apply one base coat, two coats of polish, and
finish it off with a top coat to prevent chipping.
Metallic nail polishes
stay on much longer without chipping, but they're much
harder to remove.
Apply the polish to the
edge, underneath the tip of the nail to reinforce the
area.
When you're finished,
clean up any additional polish on your skin and cuticles
with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover.
Let your nails dry
completely for about 30 minutes before doing anything, and
don't go to bed with wet polish.
If your favorite polish
is getting old and thick, add a bit of polish thinner or
remover to revive it.
Manicures
- Artificial Nails
Before you
begin, it's important to lay down some paper or an old dish
towel for a work surface. This will help prevent any glue or
nail polish from getting on your table. Have all of your
tools handy beforehand.
First, buff
the surface of your natural nails. This will clean them and
rough them up a bit, allowing the glue to adhere better.
Then dry the surface of your nails and apply the artificial
nails. Gently rock them back and forth to get out the air
bubbles. Press tightly and apply glue just under the tips
where there is usually a gap.
After the glue
dries, file your nails as you normally would and clean off
any access glue. Paint as usual.
Longer nails are more
prone to chipping and breaking.
Trim down the nails
before you glue them on.
When removing artificial
nails, soak them in acetone and remove them with a cuticle
stick.
Home
Fingernail Repair Tips
The sooner you repair a
broken nail, the less damage there will be. It's best to
always have nail clippers and a fingernail file in your
purse and at work for a quick-fix.
To remove a polish
smudge, dip your finger in nail polish remover and tap
lightly.
For a chip in your
polish, smooth the edges with nail polish remover and
polish the bare area sparingly.
For a torn nail, clip
and file. For a big break, file off the rough edges and
apply glue to the surface of your nail. Hold your nail in
place while it dries. Buff out to smooth.
