Do-it-Yourself French Manicure
Do you want to have salon-perfect nails without spending half of your day’s pay? Are you planning to go to a party and have little or no time to visit a salon? Don’t worry! With just a little patience and practice, you can enjoy the pleasures of a fancy French manicure, right within the comforts of your home.
So, get ready to go through these simple steps and guidelines for making your nails look perfect in an affordable and convenient manner!
What do your nails need for that “perfect” look? Fortunately, with all the nail advances and technology in place, it is quite easy to give yourself a “perfect nails” look at home. Your French manicure requires very little preparation. Just get a clean towel, a small tub of lukewarm water, a mild nail cleaning agent, and a tube of your favorite hand cream in place. You need to invest in a French manicure kit and a bottle of white and sheer pink polish to complete the act. At this point, you are all ready to go!
Step 1: Trim Your Nails to the Appropriate Length
Start off by trimming your nails to the right size. You may choose to keep them shorter than the model flashing her nails on the glossy prints of your favorite beauty magazine or simply go all the way. Whatever you do, remember that your desired length should not come in the way of your daily work and your polished nails are easy to maintain. Another point to be noted in the French type of manicure is that the longer your nails, the better. This mantra goes for all women desirous of flashing their well kept nails in public. And yes, do ensure that all your fingers are evenly trimmed—that’s really essential.
Originally posted by Maja_Piraja
Step 2: Shape It Up, Baby!
Pause and figure out the exact shape that will suit the length of your nails/fingers and your other features, too. You can go in for a squarish shape or settle for the more classic round look—the choice is yours. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your file and trigger off the step of shaping up.
Step 3: Soak to Soften Cuticles
This is the step that makes you recreate the ambiance of a well-equipped spa in your own environment. Fill up a small plastic tub with warm water and place it on the table closest to you. Dip your hands till your wrist and let the warm water soak into its pores. Apart from softening your hand and the nails that crown it, the process also helps in easing out the dirt and grime lodged under your nails. After soaking your hands for about two minutes, wipe dry. Take your cuticle pusher or an orange wood stick and start pushing the cuticles backwards, gently. This step requires a lot of patience and a soft touch—you would hate to poke through your cuticles or hurt yourself in any way. You can also indulge in some multi-tasking with your cuticle pusher. Use its opposite end to remove all traces of dirt from the space under your nails.
Originally posted by zendayspa.com
Step 4: Application of the First Coat of Polish
Before starting off with the process of applying your first coat of nail color, remember to buff the nail tips and prepare them for the act. You can also consider cleaning your nails at this stage –with a cleanser recommended by your beauty salon or trusted store. After sanitizing your nails and wiping them dry, you can start with your paint job. Apply a thin layer of nail paint and leave on for a few minutes to dry thoroughly. If you are planning to go in for regular nail polish, then you can consider massaging a good cuticle massage oil into your nails, too.
Step 5: Time for the Base Coat
Your nails are all ready to get their base coat now. Use a thin layer of your sheer pink polish on them and dry totally. It may take a few minutes before the base coat is absolutely dry—so just relax! If you are planning to use nail gels, then place your nails under the LED light for about 45 seconds, nothing more. Repeat the entire process with a second coat of paint.
Step 6: Put Nail Guides in Place
Once your nails are dry, put on the nail guides carefully. Nail guides prevent the snagging of your white nail tips. This step is optional; so if you do not have any, then simply move on to the next step; but exercise more concentration and focus than required otherwise.
Step 7: Paint the tips White
Use your white nail polish to brush in color on your nail tips. Your strokes should be gentle and not overlap the sheer pink shade below the tip. Leave your nails alone and let them dry to perfection. If you are using gel nails, then let the same cure for about 45 seconds. Repeat the entire step with a second coat of paint.
Step 8: The Final Touch
Remove the nail guides and apply a top coat of nail polish. Your top coat needs airing and a good dry, which may last for several minutes. After completing this step, sit back and take good look at your pretty nails. Voila! You have just got yourself a great French manicure!
Originally posted by Kelly Renee
The Perfect Manicure – No Longer a Dream
Bright white nail tips balanced with a pale pinkish base are every woman’s dream — right? Such distinctive nails have come a long way and characterize the attributes and features of the popular French manicure. It’s true –they are the most common requests in salon globally too! The funny part about this manicure is that it is considered as an American invention in France, where it is lovingly referred to as “la French.” The procedure laid out above is best indulged in on lazy afternoons; when there are no other pressurizing tasks or errands getting in your way. Strive to avoid acts that may lead to chip offs on your nails or tarnish their glossy sheen. With a little bit of patience and care, you will soon have a set of nails that you will definitely be proud of!