These tips and tricks will help you create a DIY manicure that screams professional job. Grab a mimosa, a magazine, and your favourite colour for a spa-quality manicure in your pj’s.
Prep Your Nails
A nail buffer is your new best friend. Use the grainy side to even out bumps, and then the smooth side to create a perfectly buffed surface.
Whatever you do, don’t cut your cuticles. This little bit of skin is what stops bacteria from entering your nail beds, and cutting it off is an invitation for an infection.
Soak your fingers in warm water for up to 10 minutes, then use an orange stick to gently push them back. For a super-relaxing soak, add a few drops of vitamin E oil and some Epsom salts.
Make sure your nails and fingers are completely dry before applying polish.
Use Base and Top Coats
A base coat provides a smooth bottom layer for your polish to sit on by filling in any dents or grooves in your nails. It also prevents dark polish from staining your nails.
Apply a thin layer of any clear base coat before adding any polish. Once all your layers of colour are on, apply a clear top coat. The top coat will seal the polish, and prevent your colour from rubbing off on any surface your nails may scratch (such as paper, walls, etc.).
Use a High-Quality Polish
The quality of the polish you use makes a world of difference to how well your manicure turns out.
Cheaper polishes tend to dry out more quickly, and this makes them gloopy and hard to apply properly. Once a polish loses its slick texture, it is more trouble than it’s worth.
A good nail varnish doesn’t need to be expensive, however; take a look at Sephora’s Formula X, which starts at $6 and comes in more than 70 shades.
Be Patient
This has always been the hardest part of anything for me. When it comes to doing a manicure, I somehow manage to smudge the polish before it’s dry.
Turns out, patience is crucial for smooth mani. It’s essential to let each coat of polish dry completely before adding the next one. If the underlying layers aren’t dry, the whole thing becomes thicker and takes longer to dry, making it more likely you will dent or smudge the polish.
After applying each layer of polish set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes. Use this time to read a magazine or catch up on your social media pages (as long as you can do it without touching your nails on anything!).
Once the time is up, apply the next coat and repeat. Apply up to three coats of colour.
To speed drying time, turn a fan on and aim it at your nails. A high speed can cause the polish to ripple, so keep the setting on low. Cold is your friend when it comes to setting nail polish.
Have Remover Tools Close By
Some tools are essential in order to achieve a great manicure. Here are the ones you'll be sure to need:
Polish remover
When you’re picking up your supplies, choose a remover that’s acetone-free. This variety is less harsh on the skin and doesn’t have as strong a smell.
Unfortunately, gel polish won’t come off with acetone-free remover.
Orange sticks
While not orange, having a handful of these nearby will make your manicure super easy. Whether you need to work on your cuticles, add a design, or wipe off a dot of polish, these sticks are there for you.
Cotton swabs
When combined with the polish remover, these little swabs are like an eraser for colouring outside the lines. Soak one end of the swab in remover, and wipe off any errant polish.
Paper towel
Spilled something? Not to worry, you’ve got paper towels standing at the ready. Put down a piece before you start to make a surface to work on.
Nail buffer
This tool is great for prepping your nails for colour, and for adding shine once the colour is completely set.
Try Gel Polish
For a guaranteed smudge-proof manicure with minimal drying time, invest in a gel kit. These kits contain an LED lamp, base coat, one colour, cleanser pads, and instructions.
While they are more expensive than just buying one bottle of polish, you only need to buy the kit once, and the LED lamp will work with any brand of gel polish that requires curing.
Gel polish lasts much longer than regular polish – about ten days, for the most part. Also, there’s no drying time, so the process is quicker than applying regular polish.
My favourite is the Sally Hansen Gel Nail Colour Starter Kit. It's reasonably priced, comes with enough supplies to do several manicures, and you can see which shade comes with the kit so you can choose your favourite.
Do you have pro tips for your manis? Let us know!
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