Nail Care for a Beautiful Life |
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By: Alicia Forester
For those of us who can't afford to head to the salon a couple of times a month for a nail-rejuvenating manicure, I've compiled a list of important tips on how to care for your nails at home. I used to complain about not being able to afford the luxury of a salon manicure and felt it was degrading to have to do it myself. But I realized how empowering it can be to know how to take care of my beauty needs on my own. In fact, I really enjoy and look forward to my homemade "spa days." Nail care is a great way to make myself feel pampered without having to go through too much trouble. Even if I don't have time to give myself a mini-facial or curl my hair, I can always fit in a manicure. Here is my step-by-step self-manicure process. 1. Warm soak:I'll always start by either taking a hot bath or shower, or soaking my hands in some warm water, if I'm short on time. This softens the nails and cuticles and makes it easier to clip and file the nail. It also removes all the built up dirt under the finger nails. Bathing first is also a very soothing way to relax the whole body and definitely adds to the "spa day" feeling. If you are really short on time, the most important thing is to clean your hands well and make sure there is no old polish or remnants of lotion, dirt or oil on the nails as this will prevent the polish from adhering to the nail. NOTE: If I have any polish on from a previous manicure, I will remove it before soaking or bathing with alcohol or nail polish remover. 2. Cut and file:Many people warn about not cutting the nails and just sticking with filing to shorten the nails. I find this impractical with how fast my nails grow, but if you have the time to regularly file, more power to you! I always clip my nails down to just above the right length so that I can then take a file and smooth them down the rest of the way. Keep in mind that you should always file from outside edge towards the middle and on a 45 degree angle. This helps keep the nails smooth and pretty and greatly minimizes jagged edges. 3. Base Coat:I always use a base coat since it will smooth out the ridges on the
nails and it also keeps the polish from staining the nail. |
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4. Color Coat:I always examine my polish before applying. Sometimes older polish
can become clumpy or thick. If this happens, I'll just add a few drops
of polish thinner to the bottle and shake it up. When applying the polish,
I make sure to wipe the brush along the side of the bottle every time
I re-wet the brush. This is to eliminate any bubbles that may have been
created from shaking the bottle. It also regulates the amount of polish
on the brush and ensures that I never apply too much polish on any single
spot. I apply the polish from the cuticle to the tip in as few strokes
as possible. The fewer the strokes the better and smoother the final
product will be. It's also always best to keep a wooden nail stick,
piece of tissue or cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover on hand
to clean up little mess ups right when they happen. You don't want to
end up with nail polish color all over the skin surrounding the nail
beds! NOTE: For healthy nails that can still breathe, make sure to apply
a maximum of two color coats. Anything more than that suffocates the
nail bed and increases the potential for a clumpy, unprofessional look. |
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5. Top Coat:I cannot say this enough, always end with a top coat. You don't want all that work to go to waste the first time you wash dishes. In fact, a great way to extend the life of your manicure is to add a new clear top coat about once every two days. You'll be surprised with how much longer a manicure lasts when you do this. 6. Drying:Generally an hour of dry time is best to make sure you don't mess up your handy-work. This doesn't have to mean that you are completely incapacitated, but the less you do with your hands the better. Drying can end up being the most time consuming part, but when I can afford the time, I use it as an excuse to relax. I'll read a magazine, watch a movie or just lay on the couch with my eyes closed. If I'm short on time, I'll have plugged in my hair dryer before I started the manicure and help speed up the drying process by turning it on the lowest coolest setting and directing the air flow at the nails from at least two feet away. If you get too close, you can actually create waves in the nail polish if it's still wet. It's also a good thing to remember that even when the nails feel dry to the touch, they can still be soft and easily nicked, scratched or scraped, so be careful with your hand movements up to two hours after the manicure. Following these simple steps make for a really fun way to pamper yourself and improve your appearance at the same time. I hope you enjoy them. Remember, a healthy nail care regimen includes periodic manicures as well as daily moisturizing. If your hands and cuticles are dry and flaky, your beautiful manicure job will be all for naught. |
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