Start off with clean nails. Use an old toothbrush and good old-fashioned soap to scrub the nails and use an orange stick to clean any dirt or debris from underneath the fingernail. A good orange stick is important and the best kind to get are the ones with a point on one end and flat on the other.
Get your hands ready. Soak your hands in warm water or milk for 5 minutes to get the cuticles nice and soft. Your whole hand doesn't need to be in the bowl, just your nails.
Remove your nails from the water or milk and dry them off. Rub your hands with a rich moisturizer.
Use a strengthening nail polish remover to get every bit of polish off your nails. Make sure you get the polish on the sides and edges with a Q-tip.
Trim your nails. Try to trim them evenly so they are all the same length. If your nails are short or you want to grow them out, just file them.
File your nails. File them so the edges on them are smooth and round. Don't be too rough; you don't want to break your nails or cause nail bruises (the little white dots you get on your nails when you injure them). But go in one smooth direction. Don't go back and forth. It defeats the purpose of filing.
Shaped nails look so much better than scraggly ones with different lengths.Shape nails. If nails are different lengths, start by trimming them all to the length of the shortest nail. This will make your hands look nice, nails of the same length looks better than nails of different lengths! Sometimes toenail clippers do a better job since they cut a straight line and not the curved cut you get from fingernail clippers. Cut each nail straight across and then take the tiniest clip on the edges, just enough to remove the point but not enough to cut down into the side of the nail. Cutting and filing the sides of the nail will make them weak and prone to splitting. Once all nails are trimmed and the same length, take an emery board and smooth out all the edges. Move in one direction.Don't go back and forth. It defeats the purpose of filing.
Wash off nails again, this will remove all debris from filing. After they are washed, dry them well and get ready to apply the first layer of polish. Some people are allergic to nail polish, and the place the allergy will show up first is around the eyelids. This is due to the formaldahyde in the polish. Clinique is a brand that excludes this ingredient. There are others available; check on the Internet.
Fix your cuticles. Rub some cuticle oil in to heal them. Push them back with cuticle stick. A good rule is to use a cuticle oil or cream between manicures to assure they never get into bad shape. Perhaps keep it by your bedside or by the TV and massage the cuticles once a day if you can. Kiehl's cuticle treatment is a good one. In order to start with cleaning cuticles, get a good cuticle remover. OPI sells a great cuticle exfoliating cream but you can find cuticle remover at any drugstore. Follow directions and massage in and use flat end of orange stick to push back cuticles and remove dead skin. After this step is complete, wash fingernails again using soap and the toothbrush.
Buff your nails. Try to get a nail buffer with two sides, one for filing the ridges off your nails, and one for shining your nails.
Apply a clear basecoat. Use three strokes only. This is important to avoid streaks and lumps. Dip your brush in and move the coat first down the center of the nail and then on the right and left sides. Don't go back and touch up. It will only make a mess. If you do make a mess, use nail polish remover to start over. Always apply two base coats, as it fills in the ridges and makes the polish look nicer and last longer. Be patient and wait several minutes for the base coat to dry before applying polish.
Apply the polish using the same technique, one stroke down the center and then left and right. You will also need two coats and make sure to let nails dry to the touch between coats. After color is applied and is dry to the touch, apply one more layer of topcoat.
As needed, apply the clear top coat to help you to make the manicure last longer. Perhaps touch up the top edges of the nail as the polish wears off and then add an entire topcoat. Remember to use the cuticle cream daily and next time you do a manicure; you will have less dead skin to remove.
Store nail polish in the refrigerator for long term storage. If you have a favorite color, buy several bottles and keep them for future use.
Get a small train case or toolbox to keep your manicure and pedicure supplies. Make sure that if anything spills it will be safe. Keep tops on all bottles tight.
For a classic look, use a sheer pink on your hands and a red on your toenails, especially in the summer.
Check out your local beauty supply houses, like Sally's. You can buy emery boards and many manicure supplies in bulk for half the price as drugstores.
When gardening or doing yard work, wear gloves.
If you have a split nail, clean off o
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