DIY Manicures

Love getting a manicure only to have it chip hours after its done? By knowing how to give yourself a manicure, and with the right tools and products, your nails can look just as great as the one's you pay weekly for. Believe it or not, nails are important in one's appearance and are often the focal point when dealing with customers! With six simple steps, learn how to maintain great looking nails without the salon cost.

When starting a home manicure, remove any old polish from the nail bed. After the polish is removed, clip the nails straight across, slightly above the skin. Don't cut the nails into points or try and shape them with cutters, it will only make them more prone to breakage.

Next, file nails straight across, rounding slightly on the corners. The correct term for this shape used in all the salons is called 'squoval', square on the top, corners rounded like ovals. File from the outside to the center of the nail to prevent tearing and grinding away at the nail.

After filing, apply cuticle remover on the cuticles, and then soak fingers in warm soapy water for a few minutes. Avoid letting them soak long because if the nail is too saturated, it can make the nail soft, making it harder to apply polish. If nails are yellow or stained from constant use of polish, add a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice to the water.

When the nails are done soaking, use an orangewood stick wrapped in cotton to gently push back cuticles from the nails. With cuticle nippers, trim hangnails and avoid cutting the cuticle to prevent infection. Massage hands with a hand or body scrub, and then rinse and apply hand cream. Add cuticle oil to the cuticles and massage to allow the oil to soak in. After moisturizing, clean the nails of oil by using a cotton ball with polish remover to prepare nails for paint.