Stop spending a fortune at nail salons and spas and give yourself a manicure at home, instead! You’ll save tons of money, avoid the unsanitary conditions in many salons, and won’t be stuck with the same color for a week or two.
And if you think you don’t have the skills to fake a salon manicure, think again! It’s not as hard as you think.
Here are a tips and tricks for the best DIY manicure at home!
– Throw out old polish. Once your nail polish gets gooey and sticky, it’s time to toss it. Seriously, it’s not worth it. It will continue to smudge for hours and you’ll end up with messy nails anyway.
– Don’t bother cutting your cuticles. Cuticle cutters are difficult to work with, and you might end up making them even worse. Apply a cuticle lotion or oil on the cuticle, and gently push them back. Or try this cuticle-softening treatment: In a small bowl, combine one teaspoon of sea salt with one cup of chamomile tea. Soak your fingers for three minutes, and be amazed at how much better your cuticles look.
– Avoid filing your nails in a back and forth motion, which can damage nails. Instead, file in one direction.
– Shaking the nail polish bottle vigorously can create air bubbles, which will transfer to your nails. Gently roll the polish in the palm of your hands, instead.
– Gently rub your nails all over with a buffer block to create a matte surface. Your nail polish will set better!
– After you paint your nails, let them dry for two minutes. Then, dunk your hands in a bowl of ice-cold water, which helps freeze-dry and seal the nail polish. You’ll have smooth, hard nails in no time – just as long as you can stand the ice water!
– Allow nails to dry in between coats. In the end, your nails will dry faster and you won’t have to worry about smudges that always seem to happen even hours after a manicure.
– An amazing top coat to try is Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. Seriously, it’s like magic! It’s a thicker formula, but it doesn’t smudge the polish. It dries in seconds and adds so much shine. Plus, it really seems to protect nails from breakage.
-Apply top coat every couple days to make your manicure last longer. It will help keep polish from chipping, and your nails will shine!
– When all else fails, try Sally Hansen nail polish strips! They are nail strips that you simple attach to each nail and file down to fit the nail. In all different colors and designs, these are a great alternative to DIY manicures – no polish required!
