How To Do A Manicure

For Beautiful Manicured Fingernails

How to do a manicure is so easy, and and you will have manicured fingernails anytime you want.

How to give a manicure to yourself, will also give you the comfort of knowing everything you use on your nails, is clean and you are less likely to contract any infections.

In this way a home manicure makes a lot of sense, there are way too many reports of women contracting fungi, and end up looking for a treatment for fingernail fungus and bacterial infections.

These happen from nail technicians not cleaning their equipment properly.

By knowing how to do a manicure, you save yourself the feeling of disappointment if the nail technician does not do a good job.

Knowing just a few easy techniques, you will be able to give yourself one and know how to give a manicure to your friends and family.

Manicure Instructions

• First of all, if you have nail polish on remove it with a non acetone remover. A remover with acetone is fine, just be aware acetone can and does dry out your fingernails and cuticles.

• When fingernails are dry, file with an emery board. File your fingernails to shape them, always file in one direction not back and forth. Incorrect filing can cause nails to split. File with the coarse side first then smooth out the shape with the finely textured side. 1

• File from the outside edge of the nail to the centre, and again from the other side, use short strokes and then a long smooth stroke to finish.

• Usually an oval shaped fingernail looks best, but everyone is different and some prefer a more pointed or square shape. This usually depends on the shape of your finger.

• Next, give your hands a thorough wash in lukewarm soapy water using a soft nail brush, to make sure there are no traces of dirt under the fingernails; I always use a natural soap that contains no chemicals in it.

• If your hands are very dry, soak for about 10 to 15 minutes, in warm soapy water. When finished apply a thick coat of moisturizer and rub in.

  

• Check to see if there is any damage to your fingernails, especially your cuticles because any cut or break to the cuticle could let in a bacterial infection, when nail polish is applied. A bacterial infection is very common and very easy to get. This is a sure way to ruin your manicured fingernails.

• Do not cut your cuticles, this can cause damaged cuticles.

• Using a cuticle remover cream and a cotton bud, gently push back your cuticles. Then give each fingernail a massage, to help get rid of any dead skin, use circular movements.

• Another way of pushing the cuticles back is with an orange stick. This is a small stick with a flat top and can also be used to clean underneath the fingernails. I usually use an orange stick.

• Make sure you wipe any excess off, and nails are completely dry.

• Using a fingernail buffer, buff any ridges on fingernails and then polish to a nice shine. When buffing nails do this in the direction the nail grows and not back and forth, as this can also cause split fingernails. I use a square shaped buffer as I find this easier to handle.

Follow these easy manicure instructions and you will have beautifully manicured fingernails.

A home manicure can be very meditative, and it is great seeing your fingernails looking healthy.

How to give a manicure to yourself is easy and very cost effective. You don't have to try and make the time for an appointment to a nail technician, or spend the money to have manicured fingernails.

Reference:
1. Kenton, Leslie., 'The Do It Yourself Manicure','The New Joy of Beauty', Vermilion, 1995.

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