Your hands do a lot for you – they open doors, do the dishes, embrace a loved one. Why not show your appreciation and turn your hands into small works of art with these DIY nail care tricks for beautiful nails! With this guide, you can get tips and techniques for healthier nail beds, cuticles, and polish that will make you feel like a million bucks.
1. Simple Steps to Achieve Picture-Perfect Nails
Having perfectly manicured nails isn’t just a fun beauty ritual, it’s also a great way to make sure you look your best for any special occasion. Here are some simple steps you can take to get picture-perfect nails with minimum effort.
- Clean and buff: To get beautifully shiny nails, start by buffing and cleaning them with gentle nail polish remover. This will get rid of any dirt or oils on the nails.
- Shape and buff: Once your nails are clean, use a sharp manicure scissors to cut and shape your nails. Then use a four-way buffer to file and buff them. This will give your nails a more uniform shape and a nice shine.
- Moisturize: To avoid chipping and peeling, make sure to add a thin layer of moisturizing oil or cuticle cream to your nails. This will help keep them strong and healthy.
- Base coat: Apply a base coat before applying any nail polish. This will protect your nails from staining and make your manicure last longer.
- Add color: Now it’s time to add the fun part – color! Choose a nail color that matches your skin tone and apply it in even coats. Let each layer dry before applying the next.
- Top coat: Finally, seal your nails with a top coat. This will add extra shine and help extend the life of your manicure.
By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to achieve salon-worthy nails at home. And the best part is, your beautiful nails will last up to two weeks! So why not treat yourself to perfectly polished nails – you deserve it!
2. Elevate Your DIY Manicure with These Professional-Grade Tips
A great DIY manicure should be a relaxing and enjoyable experience with spa-worthy results. To take your home manicure game to the next level, follow these professional grade tips and tricks for stunning looking nails.
- Prep Your Nails
When it comes to a professional at-home manicure, the prep work is just as important as polishing. Start by removing any existing polish and filing your nails to your desired length and shape. Then lightly buff the top of your nails with a four-way nail buffer to promote a proper manicure foundation.
- Soften Cuticles & Clean Around Your Nails
Massage a few drops of cuticle oil into your nail beds to soften the cuticles and make it easier to gently push them back with an orange wood stick. Next, use a small brush dipped in an oil-based solution to further clean around the edges of each nail.
- Base Coat Essential
The base coat serves an incredibly important function in your at-home manicure – to provide a clear surface for the polish to adhere to, prevent the polish staining your nails, and help produce a smooth finish. Plus, many brands offer base coats with strengthening properties so your nails won’t be left worse off from a few days wearing polish.
- Pay Attention to Time & Temperature
Before you apply each layer, make sure the one before it is completely dry. Additionally, if your room is too humid, the polish might take longer to dry completely or come out with air bubbles, so take extra caution to make sure the room is a temperature for optimal polish application.
- Glossy Finish
Before you move onto the next step, evaluate the surface of the polish. If it’s textured or bumpy, you can smooth it out with the help of a glossy topcoat. The gel-like texture will give your mani a salon-worthy, super glossy finish everyone will be envious of.
3. Nail Care Essentials: Grooming, Polishing & Maintenance
Nail care goes beyond regular trimming and moisturizing. Achieving and maintaining healthy nails requires attention to details and the use of the right tools.
Grooming
Grooming is the most important part of nail care. It involves cutting, filing, and buffing the nails properly to keep them looking tidy and neat. Use a nail clipper to clip them short with clean-cut edges. A nail file will be helpful to shape them and smooth out any jagged edges or ridges. A buffer is used to further refine the nail surface for a polished look.
Polishing
Achieving a polished look goes hand-in-hand with grooming. Use of a cuticle remover helps soften and remove cuticles to give your nails a cleaner appearance. A nail polish remover should be used to get rid of the previous color and keep your nails free from smudges and chips. Finally, choose a color and use a nail polish brush to apply it evenly on the nails.
Maintenance
Ensure your nails remain healthy and well-groomed with regular maintenance and care. Maintain a healthy diet by including foods high in vitamin A and C. Use a moisturizer or almond oil to keep the nail bed hydrated and moisturized. Each week, use a hand scrub to exfoliate the nail area to get rid of buildup of dead skin. Here is a list of things you may need to ensure proper nail care:
- Nail polish remover
- Cuticle remover
- Moisturizer
- Nail clipper and scissors
- Hand scrub
- Nail buffer and file
Proper grooming and maintenance will ensure beautiful and healthy looking nails. Schedule a nail care routine on a weekly basis for the best results.
4. Achieving Long-Lasting Nail Health & Beauty
Having a beautiful set of nails can give you an extra dose of glamor and confidence. But, as with all things beautiful, having healthy and long-lasting nails requires continuous work. From weekly maintenance regimes to mindful dieting and lifestyle choices, there are plenty of steps you can take to keep your nails looking flawless.
Weekly Nail Care Routines: Taking the time to give your nails some TLC during the week can help them stay healthy and strong. It’s important to remove products, dirt and oil that accumulate during the day with a warm washcloth and mild soap. It’s also essential to remove any polish that you may have applied, and to always use a cuticle oil to help keep the cuticles healthy and moisturized. Finally, always be gentle with the nails when filing, pushing the cuticles or buffing the nails.
Hands-off Approach: As our hands are constantly on the move, giving them some time off can be great for allowing the nails to properly rest. Avoid manicures and nail polishes for a few weeks, and get a manicure or pedicure every two weeks instead of weekly. This will give the nails enough time to recover.
Diet and Environment: The appearance of your nails can be heavily influenced by both your diet and the environment. Eating foods that are rich in protein, calcium and vitamin A can help strengthen and repair the nails. Avoiding excessive exposure to water as your nails will be extra sensitive to it. In regards to the environment, make sure to always wear gloves when doing activities like washing dishes, gardening, cleaning, etc.
- Create and maintain a weekly nail care routine
- Avoid overdoing manicures and nail polishes
- Enhance your diet with protein, calcium and vitamin A
- Reduce exposure to water and wear gloves when doing activities
- Always be gentle with nails when filing
The steps for achieving long lasting nail health and beauty may seem daunting, but with proper care, patience and discipline, anyone can get beautiful and healthy nails.
Go for some bold nail colors and nurture your nails with some of these simple nail care tricks. Before you know it, you’ll have the best looking nails around!
