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Manicure Tips
Properly groomed fingernails are not only
attractive, they are practical. While maintaining
your nails, keep in mind that with a great manicure,
you're less likely to have to repair them later.
Painting your
fingernails is an art and it's fun! This
do-it-yourself fingernail guide is intended for
those who don't have the time to visit a manicurist
and wish to do it at home, or simply don't want to
spend the money.
Filing and
Buffing Your Fingernails
Before you begin an
at-home manicure, Place your metal nail tools in an
antiseptic solution for about 15 minutes to kill any
bacteria and germs.
- Remove your old
polish before you begin.
- Never file the nail
in a back and forth motion. Instead, go from side
to side, in one direction.
- Your nails should be
shaped into oval tips.
- Buff the surface of
the fingernail after filing.
- Soften your cuticles
by soaking in a small bowl of soapy, warm water or
cuticle cream.
- Gently loosen your
cuticles with cuticle remover or an orangewood
stick.
Painting
& Decorating Your Fingernails
Be creative when you
give yourself manicures! Add wild colors, decals and
stickers specifically designed for your fingernails.
But first, you'll need a good surface to work with.
- To avoid air bubbles
in your polish, don't shake the bottle. Roll it
gently in the palm of your hands before applying.
- Apply your fingernail
polish in three strokes, one in the middle and one
on each side, taking special care to avoid your
skin and cuticles.
- If you're in a hurry,
or plan to redo your nails soon, apply only two
coats of polish. Allow the first coat to dry
before adding the second coat.
- For longer staying
polish, apply one base coat, two coats of polish,
and finish it off with a top coat to prevent
chipping.
- Metallic nail
polishes stay on much longer without chipping, but
they're much harder to remove.
- Apply the polish to
the edge, underneath the tip of the nail to
reinforce the area.
- When you're finished,
clean up any additional polish on your skin and
cuticles with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish
remover.
- Let your nails dry
completely for about 30 minutes before doing
anything, and don't go to bed with wet polish.
- If your favorite
polish is getting old and thick, add a bit of
polish thinner or remover to revive it.
Manicures -
Artificial Nails
Before you
begin, it's important to lay down some paper or an
old dish towel for a work surface. This will help
prevent any glue or nail polish from getting on your
table. Have all of your tools handy beforehand.
First, buff
the surface of your natural nails. This will clean
them and rough them up a bit, allowing the glue to
adhere better. Then dry the surface of your nails
and apply the artificial nails. Gently rock them
back and forth to get out the air bubbles. Press
tightly and apply glue just under the tips where
there is usually a gap.
After the
glue dries, file your nails as you normally would
and clean off any access glue. Paint as usual.
- Longer nails are more
prone to chipping and breaking.
- Trim down the nails
before you glue them on.
- When removing
artificial nails, soak them in acetone and remove
them with a cuticle stick.
Home Fingernail
Repair Tips:
The sooner you repair a
broken nail, the less damage there will be. It's
best to always have nail clippers and a fingernail
file in your purse and at work for a quick-fix.
- To remove a polish
smudge, dip your finger in nail polish remover and
tap lightly.
- For a chip in your
polish, smooth the edges with nail polish remover
and polish the bare area sparingly.
- For a torn nail, clip
and file. For a big break, file off the rough
edges and apply glue to the surface of your nail.
Hold your nail in place while it dries. Buff out
to smooth.
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