How to Give Yourself a Manicure

You don't need to pay someone to give you a manicure to have cute, presentable hands. Giving yourself frequent at-home mani's is a great way for a hardworking woman to reward and take care of herself! Here's how...

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Polish
• Polish Remover
• Cotton Balls or Pads
• Emery Board
• Lotion
• Nail Clippers

1. 
    

   1. Clean
   Remove any old polish from nails with remover and cotton ball. Slough off dead skin with a grainy, exfoliating hand wash and make sure to really lather up!

2. 
    

   2. Prep
   Apply hand cream/lotion to the base of each nail and massage into cuticles while gently pushing them back.

3. 
    

   3. Shape
   If your nails are too long, carefully trim them using a pair of nail clippers and have care not too cut them too short. With an emery board or suitable nail file, shape your nails into squared-off oval by quickly moving the tool across the edges of your nail. Try to consistently slide in one direction, away from nail.

4. 
    

   4. Polish
   Now you're ready for the fun part-color. Bright cheerful hues are in this spring! Apply polish slowly, beginning in the middle of the nail moving out. Never rush. To cut down on smudges I recommend letting one hand dry before starting the other. (Relaxing with music briefly never hurt a girl, right?) Finish up your nails by applying a second coat of color and one coat of clear polish to seal and preserve your work.

Tips & Warnings

• Roll bottle of polish between your palms to eliminate air bubbles before use.
• Blowing on nails to dry them will dull their shine.
• Storing polish in the refrigerator prevents goop and extends life.
• Nail polish is strong stuff. Always paint nails in a well-aired room, not an enclosed space.
• Protect work surface during your manicure.

[Ladybugblue]

on 5/12/2008 Thanks for the informative article. I enjoyed it!

[AbbyNormal]

on 5/9/2008 Good article.