Nails

4 Steps to a Perfect Manicure

Putting on nail polish can be a moment of relaxation or a real headache, but the beauty of hands should not be neglected. To have beautiful hands, you need a good manicure. We are here to help you and provide all the advice and tips for a successful manicure and fairy nails.

1 - Prepare the Nails Before Manicure

- File the nails: Use your nail file to smooth the nail. Be careful, never file the nails with back-and-forth movements. This can break and damage them. To file the nails properly, you should file them in one direction.
- Push back the cuticles: Never cut your cuticles! These small skins exist to protect us from infections. "It's an entry point for all kinds of horrors, and if you cut the cuticles, it's an open door for bacteria and fungi," explains Simcha Whitehill. The ideal is to soak your hands in a bowl of water to soften the cuticles before pushing them back with a cuticle stick. To make your cuticles more flexible, moisturize your hands and nails regularly.
- Polish your nails: Polishing the top of the nail is an important step to get a smooth surface before applying the polish. Tip: use a 4-sided buffer for a perfect finish.
- Apply a protective base coat: Don't forget to apply a "base coat," essential for the manicure. The base protects the nail and facilitates the application and retention of the polish. Ideal for ridged and soft nails, the base also serves to prevent nail breakage and yellowing of the nails (common if you use colored polishes).

2 - Apply the Polish Properly

- Roll the nail polish bottle between your hands: Never shake your polish before applying it. You can create microbubbles on the nail surface. It's better to roll the polish bottle between your hands to warm it up and mix the pigments well.
- Apply thin layers: To make the polish dry faster, it's better to apply three very thin layers of polish than one or two thick ones that will never dry.
- 3 strokes are enough: The ideal is to apply three strokes when polishing the nails. "Dip the brush into the bottle to get a nice layer of polish on the brush edge," says Simcha Whitehill. "Start at the base of the nail and guide the brush to the left, right, and then to the center."
- Use an old brush to clean the edges of the nail: Use the foam tip of one of your empty glosses to remove any traces of polish around the nail. Dip it in the remover and wipe the edges of the nail.
- Apply a top coat: Always apply a top coat after the polish layers. This will protect the manicure and improve the polish's adhesion.
- Apply cuticle oil: "The best way to make it look like you're coming out of a salon is to use cuticle oil," according to Simcha Whitehill. Apply the oil to the nail after polishing it. If you accidentally hit the nails against something, the oil will slide a bit and prevent them from breaking.

3 - Let the Polish Dry

- Dip the nails in cold water: Very cold water hardens the polish faster. When the manicure is done, wait for 5 minutes and then dip the nails in a bowl of cold water. Wait a few seconds: your polish is dry.
- Avoid hot water after the manicure: Doing your manicure and then washing dishes is not a good idea. Hot water is the natural enemy of polish. You should wait at least 6 hours after applying the polish to immerse your hands in hot water. Use gloves for dishwashing or use lukewarm water.
- Avoid "fast-drying" polishes: Don't abuse fast-drying polish. They are often dehydrating and dry out the nails.

How to Properly Remove Your Polish?

- Use a non-acetone remover as soon as possible: If possible, use a non-acetone remover. "Non-acetone remover doesn't dry out the nails as much. If you have a problem with broken or damaged nails, you'll need this formula, especially if you're trying to strengthen the nails."
- Remove glitter polish: Removing pearlescent polish can quickly become a real pain. To remove it properly, Simcha Whitehill suggests dipping a cotton ball in acetone remover, encircling the nail, and letting it rest for a few minutes. The shine should slide off with the polish more easily.