How to Give Yourself a Manicure at Home

A trip to a day spa is always a treat but often times, there isn't enough time on the weekends to make a special trip just to do something nice for you. Between the kid's soccer games and hubby's projects around the house, women often find that their needs and wants come last. And sometimes, down time comes at inopportune times... Target is closed, the whole world is sleeping, what do you do with extra "Me Time" if it's after midnight?

A good idea is to give yourself a manicure in the privacy of your own living room. It's relaxing and surprisingly easy if you have the right set of tools in your box. All you'll need is a good set of nail clippers, a nail file, a cuticle stick, water, soap, olive oil and your favorite shade of polish.

Start by removing any old nail polish, and then fill a shallow bowl with warm water and a few drops of soap. Soak your fingertips in the sudsy water for about five minutes, than using a cuticle stick, gently push back your cuticles. Next, trim and file your nails into a natural soft square shape, taking them as short as you like them or keeping them longer if you prefer. Nail length and shape is a personal preference, although short, well-manicured nails are the classiest option.

Next, rub some olive oil on your cuticles and allow it to absorb for several minutes. Warming the oil first is an additional treat, and the bonus is that the oil will work faster to soften your cuticles and nail beds. After allowing the oil to soak in, simply wash your hands with warm soapy water as you normally would.

After ensuring that your nails and fingers are completely dry, it's time to add some color. Soft pinks and mauves are classic and timeless, but bright shades of pink, purple, and even orange can be a lot of fun! Steady your hand before painting, and make sure there isn't too much or too little nail polish on your brush. Give each hand a thin coat of polish and then repeat the process, giving each of your nails two coats of color. Lastly, apply a high shine, quick drying topcoat to seal in color and provide fabulous sheen.

You'll want to spend a few minutes relaxing with your hands free to allow polish to set before moving on to other activities. This step is very important, you wouldn't want to waste all that time by messing up your polish job at the last minute. Allowing color to set completely also helps ensure that your manicure stays fresh longer. If you do get a chip or a snag, simply remove the polish on that nail, and start the painting process over again.

Voila! Beautifully manicured nails in no time flat, for a mere fraction of the price charged in a salon. Enjoy!