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Lockdown has taught your girl a lot of things. Doing her nails like a pro is one of those. Having clean, beautiful hands and feet gives people the impression that you are a well-groomed person. It also makes you feel good about yourself. If you wish to have beautiful hands and feet without spending too much money, this is for you. You can give yourself a professional manicure and pedicure right at home by following the steps mentioned below.
WHAT IS YOUR NAIL TYPE?
Before doing manicure and pedicure at home, it is good to understand the kind of nails you have. Are your nails long or short? Do you have brittle nails or strong nails? Knowing about your nail type is beneficial for your overall nail health as you can consume nail supplements accordingly.
THE DIY MANICURE AT HOME
Your Nail Shape
Before doing manicure and pedicure, decide what nail shape you want. The options are oval, square, pointy, round, or a combination of the oval and square. Decide the length also (short, medium, or long).
Everything you need for a DIY manicure:
- Nail polish remover
- Cotton
- Nail clipper or scissors
- Cuticle remover
- Nail buffer
- Cuticle clipper
- Nail filer
- Orange stick
- Clear topcoat and base coat
- Nail polish
Shape and Smooth Your Nails
- First, wash your hands.
- Remove old polish using nail polish remover and cotton.
- Then, trim your nails to the desired shape and length.
- Use a nail filer to smoothen edges while keeping your desired shape.
- Then use a nail buffer gently with light pressure on each nail for a shiny surface as it prepares your nails later on for nail polish.
Pay attention to Cuticles
- Now it’s time to pay attention to your cuticles. It is the skin that runs along the bottom and sides of your nails.
- Take some cuticle remover and massage it onto your cuticles.
- Next, use your orange stick to carefully push the cuticles back. You’ll see any bits that need to be clipped.
- When cutting, go slow and work in a small area.
- DO NOT cut a large area at once.
Base Coat
- Use nail polish remover and cotton and then, wipe your nail to remove cuticle oil.
- Take your base coat and paint a thin layer of it on each nail to extend the life of your manicure.
- Let the base coat dry.
NAIL POLISH
- It takes time to master this step. All you can do is practice until your game is on point.
- All the nail polishes are different.
- Some are opaque; some are sheer. Others have glitter or shimmer in them.
- I prefer to buy nail polishes with a glossy finish which I can convert into a matte by putting my nails above the steam water while my nail polish is still wet. But be careful during this so that you do not burn your hand.
- If you are new to the world of nail polishes, do your own research, try different brands and colours and see what works for you.
- Select the nail polish you want to use and apply one coat, neither too thick nor too thin.
- Let it dry and apply a second coat. Let that dry.
- In case you made any mistake, dip the earbud into your nail polish remover. Rub the earbud over the polish that needs to be cleaned.
- Finally, apply a topcoat. Let it dry.
Now, guess what? You are done!
If you are like me and nail paint is not your thing, NO WORRIES!
I have discovered this powder nail kit that has changed my entire manicure game.
If you are new to dip powder nails, watch this-
Nail Art
- There is no limit to what you can do with your nails.
- You can be very creative.
- Mix and match different patterns.
- Use designs in different colours.
If you do not have a lot of time or like to try different colours frequently, continue reading…
- Let me tell you, there are nail stickers that look just like basic nail polishes.
- It is a boon for those who are not good at polishing their nails.
- Before using your nail stickers, always apply a base coat and let it dry.
- To apply, take your packet of stickers.
- Start with the fingers on your right or left hand.
- Find the sticker with the shape and size that matches your fingernail.
- Trim the sides if necessary to make it fit perfectly.
- Peel and stick the nail sticker by stretching it slightly so that it covers the entire nail.
- Use a pair of nail scissors or a nail filer to remove any excess sticker along the top of the nail.
- Repeat on all your other nails.
- Initially, it can be messy to use a nail sticker. However, after a few trials, you will improve.
Pedicure at home
Who does not like beautiful feet? There is something about pretty feet that makes us feel so feminine.
Now, for some reason, if you are unable to visit the salon for a pedicure, this DIY pedicure is for you.
There are some tools you need for doing pedicure at home:
- Nail polish remover
- Towel
- Nail clipper or scissors
- Orange stick
- A large bowl filled with warm water
- One lime.
- Epsom salt
- Flower petals
- Sugar for scrubbing
- Essential oil ( optional)
- Cuticle remover
- Nail filer
- Cuticle clipper
- Foot filer
- Cotton
- Body lotion
- Toe separators
- Clear topcoat and base coat
- Nail polish
DIY PEDICURE
- The primary step is to remove any old polish with nail polish remover and cotton.
- Next, clip and file your toenails.
- The best shape for toenails is its natural shape (square).
- File the corners down slightly so that they are not too sharp.
- Fill the bowl with warm water.
- Add Epsom salt, lime slices and flower petals to it. You can even add few drops of your favourite essential oils to it.
- Put your feet in the bowl and let them soak a bit —at least for ten minutes.
- Then, take half a lime and sugar and start scrubbing your feet with it. This will remove dead skin from your feet.
- Put your feet back in the water.
- Once the skin has softened, apply some cuticle remover on your nails and gently push your cuticles back with an orange stick.
- Gently clip the rough skin.
Calluses
- These are the areas of skin that have thickened on our feet because of friction (wearing uncomfortable footwears).
- Calluses can appear anywhere on our feet.
- To keep calluses in check, buy a foot filer or pumice stone and use it on alternative days during your shower after your skin has become a bit soft.
During DIY pedicure, gently file your feet once your skin has become soft post soaking your feet.
Nail Paint
- Rinse your feet and dry them with a towel.
- Take the lotion and apply it to your feet.
- Massage the lotion all over your feet.
- Take the nail polish remover and wipe your nails.
- Take the toe separators and insert them between your toes. Toe separators are used to keep your toes away from one another so that your nail polish does not get messy.
- Select your favourite colour.
- Coat your nails with a base coat, two coats of nail polish, and a topcoat.
- Let each coat dry well before applying the next.
Once everything is dry, good job! You are done.
Soft feet hack
- Whenever you feel like your feet are dry.
- Take some petroleum jelly or shea butter and massage it on your feet properly. Make sure you apply it on damp feet as this would lock the moisture in.
- Wear some thick cotton socks and leave them overnight.
- In the morning, your feet will be as soft as a flower petal.
- Do not do this immediately after a pedicure.
- You do not want to destroy your freshly painted nails.
Doing manicure and pedicure at home might be messy in the beginning. But with time, I promise you that it will become so rewarding. It will become one of the outlets for your creativity and self-love.
Quick tips for beautiful hands and feet:
- Clean all your tools after using them. We do not want any infections while doing manicure and pedicure.
- Do manicure and pedicure at home only when you have an hour or two. You can make it a mindful activity.
- Do not wear nail polish all the time. Give your nails some break from time to time. This will prevent and cure discolouration in nails.
- Use some oil on your cuticles every night.
- Do not forget to use moisturiser and SPF on your hands and feet.
- Use gloves while doing household chores, especially when you are washing dishes.
- If you have brittle nails, try some nail supplements.
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