- Do-It-Yourself Manicure
- BY: Sheila Dicks
Your hands are as obvious as
any part of your body; you use them to emphasize points in a
conversation and to do daily tasks, therefore they should look
as well groomed as the rest of you. A good manicure is important
to your appearance. Whether or not you use polish, your nails
should be conservative, healthy, and always well manicured. To
keep your hands attractive give yourself a weekly manicure.
|
Set aside about
a half hour and have the following items before you start: emery
board, cuticle scissors, nail buffer, a bowl of warm water, polish
remover, nail brush, orangewood stick, cotton balls, base coat
or nail hardener, nail polish and top coat.
1. Remove old polish with a cotton ball
dampened with nail polish remover. Press the cotton ball firmly
to the nail and hold until for a few seconds. Pull the cotton
ball down the centre so the polish doesn’t smear on the
skin around the nail. Use a clean cotton ball to remove any stubborn
polish.
2. Holding it on a slant, use an emery
board to shape nails. Use long strokes in one direction toward
the centre of the nail (don’t go back and forth). Don’t
file the nails away at the corners because it weakens the nails.
Make the curve blunt and don’t file your nails into sharp
points. |
|
3. In a rotating motion use your thumb
to massage cuticle cream into the rough skin at the sides and
base of the nails.
4. Soak your nails in warm water for a few
minutes to soften the cuticle. Clean your nails thoroughly using
a nailbrush.
5. Wrap the end of the orangewood stick
in cotton and apply cuticle remover to the blunt end. Use it
to loosen dead skin from around the nails.
6. Use scissors on hangnails only. Never
cut cuticles.
7. Make sure your nails are free from
polish and are clean and dry. If you don’t wear polish,
simply buff your nails lightly lengthwise from the base to the
tip and you’re finished. 8. Wipe nails again with polish
remover to make sure you get rid of any traces of oil moisture
or soap.
9. For normal nails apply a clear base
coat to the entire surface of each nail. If you have problem
nails use nail hardener instead.
10. Apply nail polish using 3 strokes,
one from the centre base to the tip and one on each side. Use
only enough polish to do one nail at a time. Don’t redo
while wet.
11. When the first coat is completely dry
(about ten minutes) apply a second coat.
12. Finish with a coat of sealer for added
protection and allow to dry for at least 30 minutes. Avoid contact
with water until nails are completely dry.
© Copyright
Sheila Dicks |
Beauty Secrets of the World
