If you're short on time or money and don't want to go to a beautician, you can do your own manicure. The same principles always apply, whether you are looking after your own nails or someone else's. Here's what you need to know about the process.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Part 1: Remove Old Nail Polish
Step 1. Apply hand cream before removing nail polish
If the person in question has fair skin (or you do), removing dark nail polish can cause blemishes. Apply hand cream, especially in the areas around each nail, to minimize the risk.
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A thick hand cream is recommended because it contains more oils and moisturizers, which can prevent recently moistened enamel from sticking to the skin.
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Step 2. Use the polish remover to cleanly remove the nail polish
Soak a pad or cotton ball in solvent. Press it on each nail for 10 seconds before sliding it out.
- Return to each nail with a disk or a cotton swab again soaked in solvent to remove any excess enamel not removed from the first coat.
- Limit the amount of solvent you use. If you overdo it, you can dry out and damage your nails. Generally, it shouldn't be used more than once a week. If you use it more often, you should opt for an acetone-free formulation.
Step 3. Bleach your nails after removing the dark nail polish
Nail polishes like this can stain your nails, thus distorting the color of the new nail polish you want to apply. You can whiten your nails with a mix of hot water, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda.
- Combine 15ml of hydrogen peroxide with 30mg of baking soda in a bowl containing at least 250ml of warm or hot water. Leave the stained nails to soak in this solution for one minute.
- Alternatively, you could exfoliate the blemishes using whitening toothpaste and an old toothbrush.
Method 2 of 4: Part 2: Prepare Nails and Cuticles
Step 1. File your nails
Use a file to give square or sharp parts a round shape. The shape of the nail should roughly follow that of the cuticle.
- Make sure your nails are completely dry before filing them. Filing wet nails could cause them to crack and break.
- Try filing your nails so that they extend beyond the top of your fingertip.
Step 2. Dip your nails
A quick dip in water or diluted vinegar can soften your nails and simultaneously dry them, which makes it easier for the nail polish to take root.
- Diluted vinegar is a better alternative to plain water because it can remove excess oils and moisturizers from the nails. Removing these oils can help prevent blistering and allow the nail polish to stick better to the nail.
- To achieve a similar effect without getting your nails wet, wipe them with a paper towel moistened with a touch of plain white vinegar.
- If you feel the vinegar is too aggressive for you anyway, you can soak your nails in warm, soapy water for five minutes.
Step 3. Push the cuticles back
Use an orange stick to do this. This way, you can expose more of the nail and prevent the nail polish from getting on the skin.
Never cut your cuticles. Doing so leaves an open space between the nail and the skin, which could cause infections in the area or other problems that will negatively affect the appearance and health of the nails
Step 4. Apply petroleum jelly around the cuticles
This is optional, but by carefully applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the cuticles around each nail, you can more effectively prevent the nail polish from accidentally getting on the skin and setting.
Make sure the petroleum jelly doesn't get on the nail itself though, as this won't help the enamel take root either
Method 3 of 4: Part 3: Paint the Nails
Step 1. Paint your dominant hand first
If you are applying polish to your nails, apply it to your dominant hand before applying to your non-dominant hand. You will be able to manipulate your dominant hand with wet nail polish more easily than you can with your non-dominant hand fresh from nail polish.
Step 2. Apply a base coat
This product can protect the nail, allowing for a more thorough manicure, and helps the nail polish last longer.
- Spread the base coat over the entire nail to fill in every corner.
- Let the base coat dry before applying the polish.
- A rubberized base coat is one of the best solutions, although there are many other options available. In any case, base coats of this type have been designed to help the nail polish adhere better and last longer.
Step 3. Paint each nail with firm strokes
Beauticians use a specific procedure when applying nail polish. It involves the creation of a coat of enamel in the center of the nail, followed by two side passes, to cover the parts not yet colored.
- Place a drop of polish in the center of the nail, just above the bottom of the cuticle.
- Slowly push the drop down, i.e. towards the cuticle, using the nail polish brush.
- Drag the brush in a straight line towards the tip of the nail.
- Return to the base of the nail and pass the nail polish along the curved side corresponding to the lateral area. Drag it up, i.e. towards the tip of the nail, to cover the entire side.
- Go back to the base of the nail once more and repeat with the remaining side.
Step 4. Apply multiple layers of color
Instead of applying a single thick layer of nail polish, make two or more thin strokes on each nail for a finer, more even look. Wait for your nails to dry between strokes.
- The thick layers of enamel end up drying only the surface. As a result, the glaze that remains underneath remains wet, causing chipping more easily.
- You should also avoid shaking the nail polish bottle before applying. Doing so will cause bubbles to form inside, which will then be transferred to your nails once you paint them. Instead, mix the nail polish by rolling the bottle in your hands.
Step 5. Create the desired designs
Once the main color has been applied and allowed to dry, you can make any designs or patterns you want using other glazes.
Several ideas are provided in the “Manicure Specific Ideas” section of this article
Step 6. Fix the smudges
If the nail polish streaks as you work, you should be able to fix mistakes using a little saliva.
- This should be done when the enamel is still wet and sticky.
- Lick your fingertip and use it carefully to push the nail polish into place. The result may not be perfect later on, but the smudge will be gone.
- Saliva reacts with wet nail polish, allowing you to soften it and blend it to remedy the smudge. This won't have the same effect with dry nail polish though.
Step 7. Fix errors
An eye brush, paint brush, or cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover can be used to remove smudges that have stained surrounding skin.
The tip of the brush should be clean and as small as possible so that you have better control over the areas to be corrected
Step 8. Let your nails dry quickly
If you want the color to set right away, you can speed up the drying process by dipping your nails in ice water or sprinkling them with cooking spray.
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If you use ice water to dry your nails, leave them in the air for a few minutes until they are no longer moist but still sticky. At this point, soak them in a bowl of ice water for three minutes. The cold temperature accelerates the drying process.
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If you decide to use cooking spray, wait until your nails are no longer wet, but still sticky. Spray a light coating of vegetable cooking spray on your nails to set nail polish and prevent smudging.
Do Nails Step 15Bullet2 - Don't try to dry your nails by blowing on them or sitting near a fan. While this will make the nail polish dry faster, it can also create bubbles.
- Remember that drying time doubles on days with high humidity levels.
Step 9. Apply a top coat
Once the color has been applied and dried, you can apply the top coat, which will smooth the final result and extend the life of the polish.
- Spread the top coat over the entire surface of the nail where the polish was applied.
- Run the brush of the top coat along the top of the nail as well. In this way, you will fix the most exposed part of the enamel, thus preventing it from falling apart.
- Remember that if you apply the top coat to your nails before the polish finishes drying, it can move and bubbles or wrinkles can form.
Method 4 of 4: Part 4: Specific Manicure Ideas
Step 1. Create an ombré effect
Use a sponge to mix two different colors of nail polish together, creating a gradient from the top to the bottom of the nail.
Step 2. Try the classic French manicure
It can be easy to make at home. All you need to do is paint the nail in one color and the bezel in another color.
Step 3. Draw a flower on the nail
A floral nail art is quite easy to create. The petals and the center of the flower are drawn as if they were dots.
Step 4. Create a "bubbly" effect
Go over the blue and white nail polish with a sponge to create a design that resembles bubbles.
Step 5. Marble the enamel
You can mix multi-toned glazes of the same color with water to create a swirling, marble design.
Step 6. Try doing a Galaxy nail art
Sponge the glazes of shades inspired by the colors of a galaxy on a black base; add glitter to make stars.
Step 7. Write on your nails
You can use a fine-tipped brush to write letters. You can also use this technique to create the wikiHow logo on nails.
Step 8. Draw the stripes of a zebra
Carefully apply strips of black nail polish to a white base.
Step 9. Try a camouflage print
Start with a light green base and add brown, dark green, and black dots to create such a design.
Advice
- Keep your cuticles hydrated. Cuticles are basically a hard area of skin, so you need to keep them hydrated like any other skin area. Apply a moisturizer, ointment, or lotion regularly. Avoid harsh, drying chemicals and keep your hands away from your mouth, since saliva contains an enzyme that could break the cuticle.
- Go for shorter nails. Long nails break and break more easily, so if you want to have them strong, you should trim them.
- You could take biotin supplements. Recent scientific research suggests that such supplements can help strengthen weak nails. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of taking them.
- Don't abuse your nails or cuticles. Don't use them to perform potentially harmful tasks, like picking up or lifting things, and don't bite your nails or cuticles. Also, you should avoid pulling on the cuticles. Cut them with the right set to perform the manicure in the most appropriate way.
