10 Steps to the Perfect DIY At-Home Manicure

Well maintained nails talk a great deal about you even before a conversation starts. Having healthy and well-groomed nails adds a spark of shine to the personality. But not every person has the opportunity to visit a salon to get special nail treatments done. It either ends up being overly pricey or simply too time consuming. 

In such a scenario, it's an extraordinary advantage to know how to do manicures at home. Manicure is an intricate process that includes cutting your nails, cleaning the nail bed, ensuring your fingertips are in great health and covering them using a nail polish of choice. While the process may sound overly intricate, our step-by-step guide is here to help you do your own manicure like an expert! 

Ultimate Guide for an Easy DIY At Home Manicure 

Step 1: Have the right essential tools

Here are the manicure tools you will need to be able to successfully do your own manicure from.the comfort of your house. 

• A base coat for the nails
• A clear top coat
• Cotton pads
• Cuticle pusher and nipper
• Cuticle remover or cuticle cream
• Hand moisturizer
• Nail buffer
• Nail clipper
• Nail polish remover
• Your favorite color nail polish

Step 2: Remove old layers or traces of nail polish from your nails

To get going, get rid of the nail polish that you are wearing at the moment or if there are any traces from the last wear. Make use of a non-acetone nail polish remover and cotton pads to eliminate your old nail polish tenderly.

Consider using non-acetone nail polish removers as it doesn't dry out the skin around your nails. Acetone-based nail polish removers work a lot quicker, however their strong chemical nature can harm your nails, cuticles and skin around it. On the off chance that you use a nail polish remover at least a few times per month, it is smarter to invest in a non-acetone nail polish remover.

Step 3: Clip, trim and file your nails with care

Make use of a proper nail clipper to cut or to trim your nails. Make sure you are able to use the nail clippers well. Once done with trimming/cutting, use a nail file to give them the shape you want. While many opt for square-molded nails with adjusted edges or basic adjusted nails, you can consider shaping them with round edges or oval edges. 

While filling your nails, be gentle and try not to drag the nail filer back and forth with rigorous force as it can severely damage your nails or worse, break them off.

Avoid filing them excessively short. Focus on simply smoothening the lines and unpleasant edges left after having used the nail trimmer. Consider making use of an abrasive nail buffer to smoothen the highest point of your nails. In any case, don't buff the nails too smooth as in that case, the nail polish will not adequately adhere to your nails & the final look will end up being chippy and not so aesthetically appealing.

Step 4: Soak your hands for extra clean and neatness

This is the most relaxing and probably the best part of the whole process. Take a wide and big enough bowl (sufficiently large to hold your hands without causing any splashes) and fill it with warm water. Add a gentle cleaner or baby shampoo, a delicate cleaning agent and let your hands soak in it for a couple of moments (not more than 3 minutes).

By doing so, you are giving the fingernail skin time to relax. This process relaxes the base and helps in proper removal of dead skin cells. Make use of a delicate nail brush to clean the nails and the skin around them to eliminate any hints of dead skin, dirt or debris. Remember to clean under the nails as well with gentle and light cleaning strokes. Try not to over-soak your nails and hands. 

Step 5: Apply the right cuticle cream to prepare the cuticles

Carefully wipe your nails and hands, and gently apply some fingernail skin cream onto your nails. 

Then, at this point, use a fingernail skin pusher to gently push the cuticles back delicately. Try not to apply an excessive amount of pressure while doing so as that can drive the cuticles excessively far in and can harm your nails. This will likewise increase the possibilities of getting infections or diseases.

Once you have carefully cleared the cuticles, clear off the overabundance of the cream from your nails. On the off chance if you are not using a fingernail skin cream, you can opt to use a small pea sized pint of fingernail skin remover to clear up the cuticles. Remember to be gentle and be careful. 

Step 6: Apply a hand moisturizer but not too much

Dry hands can really hamper the effects and benefits of a manicure. Use plenty of hand moisturizer cream to soften and moisturize your hands while giving special attention to fingers and the area around the nails. Make sure you are not applying too much moisturizer as it can make it difficult for products in the later stage to adhere. 

Step 7: Get ready for some nail polish action! 

Too much moisturizer can prevent the nail polish from sticking to your nails. In case you have applied too much moisturizer (slippery hands and reduced grip is a sign to look for). Use a cotton cloth, Q-tip or a cotton pad to remove the excess quantity before proceeding. 

Step 8: Use a thin base coat 

A base coat is really important to seal the charm and final look of the manicure. It also adds longevity to the overall process. Start with a clear nail polish. Make sure you are using a thin coat. Alternatively, you can use a white nail polish for a base coat. The base coat increases the life of nail paint and prevents nails from tinting, something that usually happens with colours that are made using high quality of pigments. Let this layer dry before starting with the top coats. 

Step 9: Applying a top coat. 

As the base coat dries, apply a thin layer of your choice of nail polish on top of it. Before applying the nail polish, roll the bottle between your palms instead of shaking. Rolling is a great way to ensure your nail polish is of proper consistency for application. Avoid shaking as it can cause formation of air bubbles, making it difficult to apply. 

From the base of your nail, draw vertical stripes till the end. Allow the first layer to dry before applying the second layer. 

Step 10: Apply a layer of clear nail polish to finish off the process!

Only apply a new layer once the previous layer has dried up. Finish the process by applying a final layer of clear nail polish on top of the existing layers. This layer adds a dash of shine and ensures all the previous layers are sealed away from getting damaged. If you make any designs, this clear coat will protect it.

Final step: Finishing off!

As the final step, reapply hand moisturizer to end your DIY manicure process.

Other than that, a wide range of Ekmik Lacquers are always available to you!