Mani-Monday: DIY Manicure

You are at a nail salon and get your nails done and spend about $20, more or less. WHAT! That is not okay. And that is about $20 or so every week or two. That definitely adds up. Sometimes we don’t have the money for that or we just do not feel like spending that much money. You can save up from those salon visits giving yourself a manicure at home and get yourself that pair of shoes you have been dying to get. I have been doing this every week and I love it. Ever since I started doing a salon manicure on my own at home, my nails have gotten stronger, my nail polish doesn’t chip as quick, my cuticles have been refreshed and are as pretty as ever, and most importantly I have saved so much money! It is quick and easy and SO relaxing. Here are the steps for the DIY manicure:

1.   Things you will need:

·   A bowl with warm water and you can add a little bit of moisturizing liquid soap.

·   Nail file

·   Cuticle pusher

·   Cuticle nipper

·   Nail buffer

·   Cuticle oil

·   Hand lotion

·   Cotton swab

·   Nail polish remover

 

2.   Start by filing your nails to your deisred shape. Do this before you soak your nails; you want to file your nails dry. Filing wet nails can cause peeling, splitting, and weak nails.

3.   Soak your nails in a bowl of warm water. I like to add a little bit of moisturizing liquid soap for cleansing.

4.   Next, use a cuticle pusher to push down your cuticles. Apply light pressure and do not push down too hard. You can use a cuticle nipper to trim away at your cuticles. But I do not advise it. Your cuticles protect your nails from bacteria so we need them there!

5.   Buff your nails and the tips of your nails where you filed. This smoothes the surface of your nails.

6.   Apply a cuticle oil to your cuticles and rub it in. The cuticle oil rehydrates your cuticles and gets them looking nice and soft and pretty.

7.   Apply a hand lotion. Try using a hand lotion that is moisturizing to the hands and cuticles.

8.   This step is my favorite part! When you get your nails done at a nail salon, the manicurist massages the lotion into your hands. That is exactly what you will do. Obviously it is not as great as someone else doing it for you. But really massage that hand lotion in and make sure to massage around your cuticles to combine the oil and lotion.

9.   Do this step if you are going to add a clear polish or any polish to your nails. If you are, then use a cotton swab or small cotton and dip it in nail polish remover and wipe the surface of your nails and around your cuticles to remove any extra oil or lotion that has gotten on your nails. This step is very important if you are applying any nail polish on because the oil and lotion on your nails will make your nails chip quicker or not allow the polish to stay. After that, THAT’S IT! You are done.

It is really that simple. There are many different ways to do your own manicure at home. A few steps may be different or done in a different order, but this is how I have been doing it and have been really satisfied with it. Sometimes it’s nice to pamper ourselves without spending any money.