Top Tips for a Flawless Manicure at Home!

A good manicure with a lovely colour has the ability to make us feel like a million bucks, at least it does me! It can definitely be challenging to perform a manicure on yourself especially when working on the hand you usually use! This is when being ambidextrous would be so helpful! I tend to sit where I can rest my hands on something steady. Before I start I always make sure I have a cup of tea to hand, a good TV show on and am sitting somewhere that I wont be disturbed for an hour.

I have put together my top eight tips for achieving the best long lasting manicure at home. When I used to work as a beautician I would follow these tips for every customer to get the best results possible. ⁠ ⁠

ONE

Always start a manicure by giving your nails a quick wipe down using nail polish remover. Even if you don’t currently have any nail polish on. This removes all the natural oils and provides a good base for the nail polish to adhere to. ⁠ ⁠

TWO

Only ever file your nails in one direction working into the middle of the nail. Using a nail file like a saw will damage your nails. ⁠ ⁠

THREE

Be sure to apply a cuticle oil to your cuticles and massage it in well. Use an orange stick or cuticle pusher to tidy up your cuticles. ⁠If I have time I will soak my nails first in a little hand wash with warm water, this will help to soften up the cuticles. ⁠

FOUR

Apply a thin layer of Base Coat and make sure to wait until its totally dry before going to the next step.⁠ ⁠

FIVE

When applying your choice of nail polish be sure to apply thin and even coats. ⁠ ⁠

SIX

Make sure you leave long enough for each layer of nail polish to fully dry between coats. This is where Netflix and a cup of tea comes in handy! ⁠Depending on the nail polish coverage the ideal number of coats is on average 2 or 3. ⁠

SEVEN

Cap your nails – I think this is one of the most important steps. On your last coat of colour paint the end of your nails as well as the top. This helps prevent chipping and will make your manicure last longer. ⁠The end of your nails is where they are most likely to chip over time as  ⁠

EIGHT

Finish with a thin layer of a top coat not forgetting to cap the ends.⁠ ⁠ I know a lot of people skip using a top coat however this step really helps to prolong the life of your manicure. With a top coat if you damage your nail polish it will be the top coat that is harmed first protecting the colour underneath. It can also add a shine, matt or glitter effect to any nail polish!

Do you already do all these things? Or has this helped you? Comment below, we would love to hear from you! ⁠ ⁠

If this blog has inspired you to give a home manicure a go yourself you can check out all of our cruelty free, vegan, natural nail products here!