How to Get a Salon-Quality Manicure Done at Home?

We realize that sometimes people don’t have a lot of spare time to pamper session, but they’re always going somewhere to get pampered. More and more people are opting out of the typical salon experience and sitting at home to make their nails, or just not doing them at all. We’ve got a solution for those who don’t have the time or energy to visit the salon. It’s quite easy to give yourself a good manicure at home, and we’re here to give you some advice about how to do that.

We all know that paying for a manicure every week or every other week will take a serious toll on your bank account. Follow these 10 simple methods to give yourself a salon-quality manicure at a fraction of the cost.

Essential tools: Make sure to have the following in a tote that you’ve already assembled and ready.

• Nail-polish remover and cotton swabs or pads
• Nail clippers
• Emery board and nail buffer
• Cuticle pusher and nippers
• Callous/cuticle remover
• Hand/nail moisturizer
• Basecoat
• Nail polish
• Clear topcoat

1. Clean your nails with polish remover (if any)

Please keep in mind that non-acetone nail polish removers are softer than acetone removers. Even the acetone-based remover can work even better and contact the skin for a shorter time than the non-acetone-based remover. If you’re trying to remove gel nail polish at home, you’ll need:

• Cotton balls, 
• Acetone-based nail polish remover, 
• Aluminum foil, 
• A nail file. 

Buff the surface of your mani with a nail file to remove the gloss, soak the cotton ball in acetone-based remover and position it directly on top of your nail. Follow by covering each finger with a small piece of foil, and after 10 to 15 minutes, the gel manicure can slide off with a cotton ball. If any substance is stuck to the nail, you should use a wooden or metal stick to remove it gently.

2. Shape nails

Clip your nails, if necessary. Then carefully put them into shape. A slightly oval nail shape or a square-rounded edge is usually the easiest way to go, so you can be as creative as you like.

Avoid aluminum or too large nail files to minimize splintering. Instead, use a gently abrasive emery board or a crystal nail file. Smooth the nails’ tops and sides with a slightly abrasive buffer to ensure a smooth surface, But don’t forget, if you buff your nails too smoothly, the polish isn’t going to stick as well and will slide right away.

3. Push back the cuticles

Soak your fingers in a tub of warm water with just a drop of a soft face cleanser or a shampoo. Soaking the cuticles before pushing back or removing them makes the entire thing much more comfortable and more soothing. When you have soaked your fingers, apply a cuticle remover or lotion to your cuticles so that they soften a little more. Once soft, gently press back the cuticles. You should avoid cutting your cuticles because your cuticles protect your nails from infection. If you need to trim the cuticles, be careful not to pull, lift, break, rip, push, or cut the cuticle in any way. What you need to do is nip off your free edge with a pair of metal cuticle nippers. You can also use these cuticle nippers to clear any hangnails.

4. Exfoliate your hands

Exfoliate hands, wrists, and forearms with a scrub that extracts dead skin cells and replenishes moisture. Grab your orange stick again to clean the grime from beneath the nails softly. Please wash your hands afterward and dry them properly.

5. Moisturize

Apply a moisturizer to seal your hands and arms with a nourishing manicure. Before you continue to paint, you must clear anything oily from your nail. Wipe a cotton swab or pad covered with a nail polish remover over the nail surface to remove any residue.

6. Please apply a base coat

Apply the base coat to hydrate and protect the nails and avoid chipping. Then chill for a couple of minutes.

7. Apply your first coat of color

Now For the fun part, apply the coat of your preference of color. Make careful to bring the brush down to the cuticle and the corners of your nail. Full coverage of the first coat makes the second coat a breeze. Keep the layer thin. The trick is to load enough polish on the brush to cover the nail with one coat. We recommend stripping the nail three times: one time down the middle, one time on each side.

8. Apply your second coat of color

After a good full two minutes, apply the second nail polish layer. Sheer or pastel shades may require a third coat for total, flawless coverage. Just remember to keep it perfect and thin.

9. Finish with a topcoat

A topcoat protects your manicure from chipping and gives gloss to your nails — don’t miss it, or you’ll significantly shorten the life of a paint job you’ve worked so hard on. A word of warning: be careful when you put on your topcoat because a messy application will ruin your entire manicure Topcoats by tightening when they dry, which is what will create the little ridges if you don’t put them on properly.

10. Clean the rough edges and let the nails dry

Tidy up any flaws or wobbly surfaces by wrapping a piece of cotton ball soaked in a nail polish remover around the end of your cuticle stick. Then carefully trace it around your nails. If you have nail polish remover pads, consider folding one of them into a triangle. Let your nails dry for another five minutes. It’s going to be worth it when you show off your nails and shock everybody by showing that they’re DIY.

Tips to make your manicure last longer

• Use a cotton swab to wipe the white vinegar nails before applying a base coat.
• Don’t soak your nails until you paint them.
• Put the nails in a shape that reflects the cuticle, which makes them less likely to break.
• Stop putting any polish on the cuticles that remove the nail color, which leads to the chipping.
• Use a sticky base coat to make it last longer.
• Dry, nails in the cool air   
• Reapply a transparent coat layer every two to three days to avoid chipping and improve shine.
• Wash the hands with mild soap instead of using a hand sanitizer that dries out the topcoat’s nails and ruins.
• To keep the nails from drying out and breaking, use nail oil every day.

Bottom line

Keeping your hands and nails healthy-looking requires a moisturizer. Without this vital product, you can’t have great nails and hands.

If you’ve got the right tools lined up and you’ve got the right methods, you can gift yourself a perfect manicure. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having a professional manicure on special days, but knowing how to do it on your own will save you a lot of time and money!