How To

How to do a manicure or pedicure

Member
By DelCardo
User-Submitted Article
(23 Ratings)

Tips for painting your nails or toes without smudges and without chipping.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • base coat, nail polish, top coat, buffer, nail file
  1. Step 1

    Wash nails or toes and make sure all nail polish from your last manicure or pedicure is off. Use polish remover if you still have on polish.

  2. Step 2

    Buff your nails from side to side using a buffer. This helps smooth and prepare the nail for the polish.

  3. Step 3

    Start with a base coat to fill in the "ridges" which also helps the nail polish not stain your nails.

  4. Step 4

    After the base coat has dried, apply the nail polish down the length of the nail towards the tip in smooth brushes. Opi makes a fabulous selection of colors, such as Tutti Fruti Tonga and Malaga Wine. Once the nail polish has tried, apply top coat with the same strokes.

Tips & Warnings
  • Do two coats of the nail polish and follow each day with a top coat to prevent chips.
  • Be sure to flash your pretty fingers at everyone you know.
  • Use nail polish without acetone as it can dry and crack the nails.

Comments  

doyouknow said

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on 11/10/2007 Sometimes you have to use 2 coats maybe 3 , But these coats of the nail color your useing need to be thin so they will dry faster. A good rule of thumb is to use a good brand , Covergirl , Jordanna, Maybelline , Revlon and Avon are decent ones . You will pay a good price for nail color of quality . Though Cheaper brands sometimes have the advantages that they are the perfect color they also have a tendancy to brown the nails due to lower quality ingredients. After your nails have dried for about 3 hours , if you have any areas that were over painted you can get a small nail brush and some soap < I use body wash > and scrub them free of the polish . This gives a professional look and leaves a slight scent behind if you use body wash . BY all means throw away old polish as it has a tendancy to brown your nails and not do as well as it should .Remember they always bring the colors back .

Lilly30127 said

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on 1/2/2007 you could always use an overcoat, and if you don't use the base coat, it's okay, it'll just chip faster...

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