How to Give Yourself a Professional Manicure

A manicure is a cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingernails and hands enjoyed by both sexes. A manicure can treat just the hands, just the nails, or both. A standard manicure would usually include filing and shaping of the nails and the application of polish. French manicure is the latest and popular method in the nail fashion. A similar treatment performed on the feet is a pedicure. A manicurist can also apply treatments to real nails, such as painting pictures or designs on the nails or applying imitation jewels.

Regular manicures make fingernails strong. You can also give your hands a luxury treatment at home. Manicure is the care of hands, nails and arms. The term "manicure" is derived from the Latin word 'manus' which means hands.

Required items to perform manicure:
* clean hand towel
* cuticle cutter
* hydrogen peroxide
* cotton
* polish remover
* bowl of soapy water
* emery board
* cuticle oil
* nail polish
* top-coat sealer
* moisturizing lotion
* cuticle pusher
* Favorite nail polish and clear polish
* Nail polish remover (if your nails have color)

Step 1: Clean off old polish with cotton pad soaked in polish remover. Take care not to push the old polish into the cuticle by starting from the base of the nail and working down to the tip.
Step 2: Be sure your nails are dry before you file them. Begin at the side with the emery board and sweep to the center. Never use a “saw-like” motion, and don’t round off the nails too much for that can cause them to break easily. The longer you want your nails, the more “square” they should be. But always take the “square” off the corners.
Step 3: Soak your fingers in warm soapy water for 2 to 3 minutes to help clean the nails and soften the cuticles.
Step 4: Apply cuticle remover or oil to your cuticles. Push cuticles back gently with towel or cuticle pusher " stick". This is also the time to clip away any loose cuticle. Do this gently or you may hurt yourself or cause hangnails.
Step 5: Apply a base coat. This semi-transparent “polish” puts a smooth protective layer on the nail and is especially helpful for brittle and weak nails. Use strong brush strokes from the base of the nail to the tip.
Step 6: After the base coat is dry, apply your polish. Thin it down if necessary with polish remover. This is one of the secrets for professional-looking nails. Wait until each coat of polish dries before applying the next. In applying polish, brush the color across the base of your nail first, keeping clear of the cuticle, then make two strokes along the edges of your nail from base to tip. Finally, fill in the middle with one strong stroke from the base to the tip. Never go back over wet polish or you will get ridges. If you smudge a nail, apply a little polish remover on the smudged part while the nail is still wet, then smooth it over ever so lightly with the nail polish brush.
Step 7: Apply top-coat sealer. Sealers prolong the wear of your polish, delay chipping and make your nails thicker and stronger. Let nails dry for twenty minutes.

French Manicure

The French Manicure is the manicure where the tips of nails are pure white. This is a look that is very popular because it makes your nail look healthy and clean. It's suitable for all occasions since it is ultra natural.

Method of french manicure at home
* First step is to file and shape your nails and wash them with clean water. Apply the base coat and let it dry for few minutes. Base coat is applied to protect your nails and to help prevent chipping.
* Paint each nail in a direction extending the brush stroke from the top of the nail to the end of the nail.
* Once the tips are dry dissolve leftover adhesive by rubbing it gently with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
* One can paint a straight line of white paint for giving a square look. If one wants a rounded looks of nails, follow the curve of the nail.
* In the last step of French manicure, apply a single coat of translucent shell-pink nail paint on the complete nail for sealing the whitened tip. Let leave them for a few minutes for dry. One can also apply a glossy topcoat on nails for protection and extra shine.

Try giving yourself a manicure at least once a week to for great looking hands.