YourhandMyAss
Posts: 5516
Joined: 6/25/2006
From: Sacramento
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For any one who likes manicures and nail polish, bu have no desire to go out an spend money on them.
1. Prepare your nails properly before polishing. Nail polish won't adhere well to nails that are dirty or oily. Wash your hands thoroughly to remove any lotions, dirt or oils, and then brush each nail with a bit of nail polish remover. This will remove all oils from the nail itself and prepare it for accepting polish.
2. Lightly buff your nails and file off any rough edges. Polish will be more prone to peeling and flaking if the nails are rough around the edges or have ridges in them. Filing and buffing gives a smoother surface so that polish won't flake.
3. Choose the right polish. Did you know that nail polish expires? Most brands will only last about a year before they become thicker and start to clump. Polish that's too thick will go on thicker and won't dry well, leading to more chance of smearing or smudging. Most nail polish formulas are similar and will last almost a week, but fast drying formulas are an exception. The extra ingredients that allow fast drying polishes to set so quickly also makes them peel more quickly, so try to avoid fast-dry formulas unless you absolutely have to use them. The extra few minutes spent drying a standard nail polish will be well worth it if your manicure lasts days longer.
4. Care for your polish properly. Summer weather is especially tough on nail polish – the high temperatures can cause polish to separate and the color to change. To keep your nail polish in top condition, refrigerate it in the summer. You should also clean the polish bottle carefully after each use by wiping the outside edge of the bottle with a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover to keep the bottle from sticking shut. Finally, be sure that you gently blend the nail polish before applying by rolling the bottle between your hands. Shaking a bottle of polish will create air bubbles in the polish that can cause bumps and clumps when you apply it – guaranteed to shorten the life span of your manicure or pedicure.
5. Use a base coat and top coat. It takes a bit more time to do a complete manicure rather than just throwing on some polish, but its well worth the effort. After your nails are clean, be sure to apply a base coat; this product prepares the nail for polish and gives nail polish something to cling to so that it lasts longer. Follow this with two thin coats of polish in the desired color, and then finish off with a quality top coat. When you apply the top coat, be sure to run the brush horizontally across the tip of the nail with a bit of it going under the edge of the nail. This will help prevent peeling and seals the manicure properly.
6. Don't rush things. Be sure to let your nails dry five to ten minutes between each coat. If the coat below isn't completely dry before you add the next one, your nails won't dry properly for quite a while, leading to chips and smudges. If you are in a rush or simply impatient, plunge your nails into ice water for a few seconds between coats – this will quickly dry and seal the polish.
Enjoy your beautifully painted, long lasting nails! Remember not to open soda cans or pick at envelopes with your freshly painted nails. Using your nails as tools won't help you keep your nail polish fresh at all!
About The Author: Sally Hart is a salon owner who purchases her quality beauty products at discount prices at eNailSupply eNailSupply's line includes OPI Nail Polish, Essie Nail Polish, Seche Vite, a& Gigi Wax. Go to eNailSupply today to sign up for their email flyer & get our monthly specials!
1. To make sure that everything goes smoothly, make sure to get everything you will need together before beginning. You will not want to have to dig through a cabinet later with wet polish on each of your fingernails! Beginners should limit themselves to color (polish) only manicures – don’t worry though – there will be plenty of hand pampering without putting on your own artificial nails. Prior to beginning, you will need a good brand of base and top coat and the colored nail polish of your choice. Nail polish remover, Q-tips or cotton balls, a small dishtowel, an emery board, cuticle sticks, nail scissors, and lotion (with an optional dish of warm water to heat it in) are all also needed.
. Though not essential, consider making your manicure a spa-like event by paying attention to detail. Put some light and relaxing music on. Light a few candles for their scent and ambience (though you will still need the light on to be able to see your work). Warm up the hand lotion before using it to moisturize your skin. Take a minute to pamper yourself; you are worth it.
3. To begin your actual manicure, first use the Q-tips or cotton balls to remove all traces of nail polish from your nails. Wash your hands afterward, using warm water and a mild soap. Fold the dishtowel into quarters and use it to rest your wrists while you work on your fingernails. While your hands are still slightly damp from the water, use the cuticle stick to gently push back your cuticles. Although many people advocate cutting your cuticles, it is extremely easy to cut too far into the skin and leave yourself vulnerable to infection; for all but the hardest and thickest cuticles, pushing with a stick will work as well or better than scissors. Trim your nails using the nail clipper; aim for a slightly oval shape on each nail. File the nails using the emery board to even out the shape and smooth its edges.
4. Before applying nail polish, make sure that you are satisfied with the shape and length of your fingernails. Begin by applying the base coat for the nail in smooth lines from the base of the nail outward. Some have suggested that laying a horizontal band of polish along the tip of the nail and then applying the polish from the base outward can help prolong chip-free wear. The technique is slightly more difficult to perfect, but may be worth attempting if your nail polish chips frequently. Apply the base coat on all nails (it is usually easiest to start by applying polish to the dominant hand using the non-dominant hand and then switching); let the base dry. Apply two coats of the chosen color on each nail, letting the coats dry fully. Apply the top coat last and let the nails dry again.
5. After making sure that your nail polish is perfectly dry, give yourself a mini-hand massage using the warmed lotion. Even if you forgo the optional heating of the lotion, it is important to moisturize your skin after a manicure. Some salons will massage the lotion in prior to painting your nails, but it can be easier to do it afterward to prevent the oils from getting on to the fingernails and preventing the polish from setting.
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Manicures at home and 6 nail polis tips. - 
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