First impressions do count and nothing says you care about your appearance better than a perfectly polished manicure.
Here are 5 more tips for fabulous nails
The good news is, you don’t have to spend loads of money at a salon to achieve one. Give your hands a little extra attention and achieve the perfect DIY manicure with this step-by-step guide by well-known nail technician, Glenis Baptiste:
- Start by filing nails into a neat, short length, its more modern regardless of what colour you wear.
- Condition your cuticles, either by warming some oil in warm water and soaking your fingertips for 4-5 minutes, or using your usual face scrub. Massage into the cuticle area, letting the treatment soak into the skin. Rinse or wipe off.
- Gently push cuticles back now that they’re softened. Remember skin is elastic so a nourishing cuticle treatment will make the skin more supple. Use circular movements to gently pick the cuticle up off the nail bed.
- Massage in cuticle cream or oil, then take a cotton pad soaked in polish remover and wipe over the nail. Called “squeaking” this primes nails before you apply polish.
Want your feet to look as great as your hands? Follow this guide.
Ready to paint…
Use the base coat most suitable for your nails. For nails that need strengthening, look for one that has added ingredients to keep nails strong and in tip-top condition.
Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener, R269, Clicks
Apply two thin coats of polish, leaving at least 90 seconds between coats. Want your nails to pop? Bright pink is on-trend this season and looks fabulous on neat, polished nails.
Sorbet Long Wear Nail Polish in Love Bug, R89,95, Clicks
Finish with a top coat to prevent smudging, protect nails and give them a lovely high-gloss shine.
Revlon Multi Care Base & Top Coat, R155, Clicks
Be patient when letting nails dry. Use them too soon and ruin all your hard work. Give them plenty of time to dry, then you’ll have a manicure that’ll last.
Some salons dip a brush in nail polish remover to help tidy up any mistakes, especially with dark polish, which can look unsightly when it seeps into the cuticle. At home, use a corrector pin to finish the job fast and give you a professional finish.
Inglot nail polish corrector, R139, Inglot
TOP TIP: File nails once a week to prevent breaking or splitting. Nails are made up of several fine layers, so no matter how good your nails are, if you let them grow continuously, the weakened ends will split as the layers start to separate.
