Manicured hands look amazing when professionally done but going to the nail salon on a regular basis may not be a good thing for your budget. This leaves us with the option to do our own nails at home. Most of us are confident that we can apply manicure on our own. After all, how difficult can it be, right? Unfortunately, many of us find applying manicure to be frustrating especially when you’re painting your nails using your non-dominant hand. The good news is that with constant practice, you will be able to get this done like a pro. Yes, there will be hits and misses but in the end, you will achieve the results. So to help you out, here is a guide on how to apply manicure like a pro on your own.
Clean your nails. The first thing that you need to do before applying nail polish on your nails is to make sure that they are clean in the first place. This means removing your old nail polish and making sure that your nails are trimmed and buffed properly. Use a non-acetone remover when removing your old nail polish as acetone based removers can leave your nails dry and brittle especially when used over time.
Base coat first. Before you apply your nail polish, you need to apply the base coat first. This may sound like extra work for you but this is important as the base coat will protect your nails against chipping and stains when you apply your nail polish. Allow the base coat to dry first before moving on to the third step.
Apply your choice of nail polish. The next step would be applying your choice of nail polish. Start by dipping the brush into the nail polish so that you have enough to apply a thin layer of nail polish. Remove any excess nail polish from the brush by wiping It along the bottle’s rim. Place a small amount of polish near the base of the nail. Push the nail polish towards the cuticle line but make sure that you leave a hairline space between the cuticle and polish. Drag the brush downwards in a straight line, beginning from the base of the nail towards the edge. Swipe the brush along the left edge to coat that area of the nail then repeat on the right side. You can make multiple applications until you get an even surface. Wait till the first layer is dry before applying another layer.
Clean smudges. It’s okay if there are smudges of nail polish around your nails. This is to be expected especially when you’re hands are not steady during application. Fortunately, you can rectify this by using a nail polish remover to make your mistakes disappear. Dip an old makeup brush in a nail polish remover and swipe it on the edges of your nails to remove excess nail polish.
Don’t forget the top coat. Just like with the base coat, the top coat plays an important role in your nails. One, it protects the nail polish from damage, and two it seals in the color so that it will last longer. If you want to speed up the drying process, dip your nails in a bowl of ice water. The cool temperature will dry the pain faster.
With these steps in mind, it won’t be difficult for you to achieve the desired results. Keep in mind that it will take some time before you manage to get the best results but don’t worry, you’ll get it right soon enough.
