Not all great manicures are done in a salon... they're also done at HOME! All it takes is the right tools and a little bit of practice to give yourself salon-style manicures without leaving home.
Here's a list of basic nail grooming tools that you should have.
Nail file or emory board
Cuticle trimmer
Nail buffer (block)
Cuticle sticks/pushers
Non-acetone polish remover
Cotton balls
Cuticle oil with vitamin E
Clear nail polish base/top coat
Nail polishes in your choice of colors
Hand lotion with aloe
Q-tips or nail polish corrector pen
Begin by washing hands thoroughly with lukewarm, soapy water. Dry thoroughly (water and excess oils on the nails will cause polish and other elements not to adhere properly). Using wooden cuticle stick, gently push cuticles back. If hangnails are present, gently trim with cuticle cutters. Do not cut the actual cuticle. While pushing cuticles back, you may use a cotton ball to massage cuticle oil onto and around nailbed. Be sure to wipe excess off nail before polishing. To gain a perfect polished look, first apply base coat. Let dry. Apply 2 coats of polish, allowing adequate time to dry between coats. Apply a strong topcoat. You may want to purchase a quick dry finishing spray to encourage faster drying time, but you will still need to be careful with your nails for about an hour after polishing. You can correct any mistakes by using a small q-tip dipped in polish remover or a nail polish corrector pen.
When you need to remove polish, be sure to use a non-acetone remover so that your nails will not become overly dry. You may want to try a product such as Pretty Nails, a container of polish remover that contains a sponge. Fingers are quickly dipped into sponge and polish is removed. Be sure to wash hands thoroughly and apply moisturizer after using a polish remover. If your not wearing colored polish, it is best to wear one to two coats of a clear nail protector in order to encourage nail maintenance.
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