How to Have a Hand Makeover for Spring

Have a hand makeover for spring to care for yourself and be well-groomed. After all, a person's hands can reveal their age, so take good care of the only pair you'll have.

Things You'll Need

• Nail file or emery board
• Clippers
• Lotion
• Hand exfoliator in a cream or gel
• Nail polish

Instructions

Pamper Your Hands and Have a Manicure Makeover

1. Have a skilled professional with a good eye perform a manicure on your nails using expert tools to push back cuticles and snip hangnails.

2. Choose either an overall spring polish color covering the entire nail or a French manicure. A French manicure typically consists of pale pink polish applied to the nails with pure white polish delicately painted onto the tips of the nails for a clean look.

3. Ask for a hot wax treatment as an add-on to the manicure. The service costs extra but will give your hands an added boost of moisture.

4. Ask about the application of acrylic nails if your own nails seem weak or break easily. A spring color can be applied to the acrylic nails after they are attached to your own nails.

Have a Spring Hand Makeover in the Comfort of Your Home

1. Clip any excess length from each nail.

2. File in one direction to shape each nail in an oval or squared-off shape.

3. Apply cuticle cream to the base of your nails and push away skin from each nail to reveal a new healthy nail base.

4. Clip any loose skin away from the edges of your nails. Be careful to clip only dead skin.

5. Exfoliate your hands with a gentle scrub and wash away the residue.

6. Massage lotion gently onto your hands. Remove excess lotion from your nails with a cotton ball and nail polish remover before you apply polish.

7. Apply a clear base coat on each nail. Brush on two coats of a bright spring color. Follow with a top coat on each nail. Allow a little time for nails to dry between coats, and let them dry completely before touching anything.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep nails relatively short to prevent breaking if you work on a computer or have another job where you use your hands frequently.

• Wear artificial acrylic nails for a long-lasting low-maintenance look.

• Choose a reputable spa to have a hand makeover for spring or you could risk developing an infection from tools that haven't been sterilized.