Whether you want to practice for your new beauty salon or a sleepover, knowing how to manicure another person can help them feel relaxed and beautiful, and you will acquire a new skill. Pick the right background music, grab your manicure kit and get to work.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Prepare the Nails
Step 1. Get everything you need
If you have everything at your fingertips while you are doing the manicure (it takes about 15 minutes), you will be grateful. You'll avoid getting up in search of nail polish or lime, you won't run around the house desperate for a top coat before the lacquer dries. You will have everything next to you. Be sure to prepare:
- Base, polish and top coat.
- Solvent to remove enamel.
- Cotton balls.
- A small manicure tray with warm soapy water.
- Moisturizing cream.
- Scissors.
- File.
- Cuticle pusher or cuticle remover.
Step 2. Remove the nail polish if necessary
Take a couple of cotton balls or pads and soak them in solvent to remove the lacquer. Gently swipe them over your nail to proceed, making sure you get to the hidden corners. Then, quickly wash your hands to get rid of the odor.
- A completely acetone-based solvent is more effective. However, it has a pungent odor and leaves a grayish residue on the skin. Either way, it goes away easily with soap and water (so wash your hands right away). Pure acetone speeds up the work a lot.
- Alternatively, you could use a dip solvent. Just insert one finger at a time into the center hole of the sponge. Next, turn the package clockwise and then counterclockwise. As you go, gently push your nail against the sponge. This method helps you remove even the hardest to remove nail polish in a couple of minutes.
Step 3. Fill a bowl with soapy water
Take a small bowl and fill it with warm water (make sure it's not too hot). Pour in a mild, moisturizing, and smelling soap. This eliminates the odor and greyish effect of acetone. In addition, it softens the dead cells of the nails and cuticles.
- If you like and have one available, you could use an exfoliating brush to maximize the effectiveness of warm soapy water. Eliminates dead cells and leaves the skin shiny and radiant.
- A mild facial cleanser can be used in place of soap. A mild dish soap would also work fine.
Step 4. Ask your friend or client to dip her fingers in the solution
Most manicure bowls allow you to insert only one hand at a time. Then, while one is soaking, you can massage and moisturize the other. Use a scented lotion or massage oil. Massage your hand for a few minutes so that the other hand soaks for the appropriate amount of time.
After a few minutes, ask your client or friend to dip her freshly hydrated hand into the bowl. Meanwhile, massage your other hand for a few minutes. Finally, move on to the next stages of the manicure
Part 2 of 4: Shaping the Nails
Step 1. Trim your client's or friend's cuticles
Use a cuticle cutter to trim the skin around this area. Be careful, though: if you go too aggressively, the cuticle will bleed. You could also use a cuticle remover gel. It is a product that must be left to act on the skin for a few seconds. Eliminates dead cells, so it will be easier for them to detach. It is also ideal for corns.
Make sure you take your time. If you are in a hurry, you risk cutting the skin and causing other injuries. On the other hand, don't proceed too slowly either, or the soaking hand will start to wrinkle. After a few minutes, you should ask her to take it out of the water. Dab it to dry and go back to the first coat to finish the job
Step 2. Push your client or friend's cuticles back
Use a rubber cuticle pusher and proceed gently. This way, your nails will appear longer and cleaner. Make sure you get rid of the dead cells completely and take a quick look at both hands after you're done.
Some like to moisturize their cuticles after this step. If so, be sure to wipe off any residue with acetone before you start lacquering your nails
Step 3. File your client's or friend's nails
Proceed as you please. Do you want a rounded shape? Squared? A middle? Also make sure the length is even. Ask her what she likes and act accordingly.
- File in one direction to keep the nail as strong as possible. Take your time. If you are in a hurry, you will end up shortening it more than expected, and then you will have to adjust the length of the others as well.
- A fine-grained (240) file is a good tool to start with if you have any insecurities about it.
Part 3 of 4: Lacquer the Nails
Step 1. Apply a base
It is important to start with a light base coat. Roll it out in a thin layer. Pay attention to prevent lumps. Some products adhere to the nail in order to better retain the color of the nail polish, make it lasting and prevent it from chipping. Others strengthen the nails: they are good for brittle ones, which desperately need to be strengthened. Ask your client or friend what their needs are.
A single pass is enough and it goes on. Bases, by the way, don't take a lot of time to dry, so there's no need to take a break. By the time you finish applying it to the tenth nail, the first should be ready for polish
Step 2. Choose a nail polish
Ask your client or friend what color she prefers. Start by making two even strokes on each nail. The layers must be thin. Light strokes allow you to get a better result than a single coarse and sticky pass. Start with the same finger you did the first basic swipe on and work from there. Take your time: the application must be uniform and accurate. Make one swipe in the middle of the nail, then one to the right and another to the left.
- If you accidentally get nail polish on your skin, take a cotton swab. Soak it in acetone and pass it carefully over the stain, without touching the nail.
- Alternatively, use your own fingernail to gently scrape off the fresh nail polish immediately after staining the skin.
- Has your client or friend requested a French manicure? You can find instructions on this technique here.
Step 3. If required, try your hand at nail art
The world of glazes has grown considerably in recent years. If you have gems, stickers or other nail art accessories, why not propose them to your client or friend? You could also take a toothpick and create beautiful designs yourself. After all, the only way to improve is to practice.
- If your client or friend is not sure she wants nail art, suggest that she try a design on her ring finger nails. You can give it a try and see if she likes it. By the way, this look is in trend, so the manicure can be considered complete with a decoration on only one finger.
- Do you need ideas? Try reading this article.
Step 4. Apply a top coat
To fix the color and prevent it from flaking, add this product. Some also serve to make the nails particularly shiny and beautiful. In any case, the pass must be light. Do not make too many and avoid product accumulations, because otherwise the result will not be the best.
Your client or friend should reapply a coat of top coat every day, or nearly so, to make the color last longer
Part 4 of 4: Complete the Manicure
Step 1. Place your nails under a light source
If you've decided to go big, get a manicure lamp, and ask your client or friend to rest her fingers on the base. Put on some background music and come back after about 10 minutes to check the condition of your nails. It is always better to leave them a little longer in contact with the heat source than to risk smudges later.
Step 2. Alternatively, use a fan or hair dryer
There is nothing worse than finding yourself with a destroyed manicure a minute after you do it. In fact, you have put in the effort to obtain a splendid result. So if you can, have a fan in front of your nails and let it do its work for about 20 minutes.
Hair dryers act a little faster. They are useful if you are in a hurry. Set it to medium temperature and move it back and forth. Make sure the heat reaches each nail. After about five minutes, check them out. If necessary, continue
Step 3. Another possibility is to wait
If you gave a friend a manicure during a sleepover and you have time to waste, this solution is preferable. It takes 20-30 minutes. Don't let it use your hands. Watch a movie, serve her a drink, and remind her to steer clear of popcorn. You've worked a long time to create a beautiful manicure, and you certainly don't want it to ruin it immediately!
Once your nails have dried, moisturize your hands further, especially if you haven't done so after fixing your cuticles. Use a pleasant-scented cream. Gently apply it to your fingers and cuticles so they are nourished and healthy
Advice
- After you have lacquered the nails of one hand, continue with the other. Once finished, wait for two minutes, then take another pass. Wait another two minutes before applying the top coat.
- Choose a color that suits this person.
- Try making some cute designs on your nails.
Warnings
- If acetone gets into your eyes, immediately wash them with cold water for 20 minutes. If you accidentally swallow it, don't force yourself to throw up. Call a doctor to find out what to do or go to the emergency room.
- Be especially careful when using the nail clipper.
