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Do-It-Yourself Manicure
Sheila Dicks
Your hands are as obvious as any part of your body; you use them
to emphasize points in a conversation and to do daily tasks,
therefore they should look as well groomed as the rest of you. A
good manicure is important to your appearance. Whether or not you
use polish, your nails should be conservative, healthy, and
always well manicured. To keep your hands attractive give
yourself a weekly manicure.
Set aside about a half hour and have the following items before
you start: emery board, cuticle scissors, nail buffer, a bowl of
warm water, polish remover, nail brush, orangewood stick, cotton
balls, base coat or nail hardener, nail polish and top coat.
1. Remove old polish with a cotton ball dampened with nail polish
remover. Press the cotton ball firmly to the nail and hold until
for a few seconds. Pull the cotton ball down the centre so the
polish doesn’t smear on the skin around the nail. Use a clean
cotton ball to remove any stubborn polish.
2. Holding it on a slant, use an emery board to shape nails. Use
long strokes in one direction toward the centre of the nail
(don’t go back and forth). Don’t file the nails away at the
corners because it weakens the nails. Make the curve blunt and
don’t file your nails into sharp points.
3. In a rotating motion use your thumb to massage cuticle cream
into the rough skin at the sides and base of the nails.
4. Soak your nails in warm water for a few minutes to soften the
cuticle. Clean your nails thoroughly using a nailbrush.
5. Wrap the end of the orangewood stick in cotton and apply
cuticle remover to the blunt end. Use it to loosen dead skin from
around the nails.
6. Use scissors on hangnails only. Never cut cuticles.
7. Make sure your nails are free from polish and are clean and
dry. If you don’t wear polish, simply buff your nails lightly
lengthwise from the base to the tip and you’re finished. 8. Wipe
nails again with polish remover to make sure you get rid of any
traces of oil moisture or soap.
9. For normal nails apply a clear base coat to the entire surface
of each nail. If you have problem nails use nail hardener
instead.
10. Apply nail polish using 3 strokes, one from the centre base
to the tip and one on each side. Use only enough polish to do one
nail at a time. Don’t redo while wet.
11. When the first coat is completely dry (about ten minutes)
apply a second coat.
12. Finish with a coat of sealer for added protection and allow
to dry for at least 30 minutes. Avoid contact with water until
nails are completely dry.
© Copyright 2005 Sheila Dicks
Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who helps women
dress to suit their body type and look fabulous. Visit her at
http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download a copy of her
ebook "Image Makeover" and get "How to Build a Wardrobe: free.
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