How to Give Yourself a Professional Manicure at Home

In these times of financial crisis, people are cutting out all of the extras. Trips to the salon just don't happen when you have bills that need to be paid. Professional manicures cost an arm and a leg. Why spend all that when you can get professional looking results at home? Here's how to give your self a professional looking manicure at home. The cost? Free.

The first thing that your want to do is to remove any nail polish on your nails. Use nail polish remover and a cotton ball. Soak the cotton ball and gently rub across the surface of each nail until it is polish free. Nail polish remover is also available in a little round jar which contains a sponge. To use this kind simply insert your finger into the slit in the sponge and twist several times.

Once all of your old nail polish has been removed wash your hands thoroughly. You'll want all of the nail polish remover residue off of your nails. This will also remove anything that might be under your nails as well. Once you've washed your hands dry them well. Do not apply lotion.

Next you want to file you're your nails. Use an emery board or a nail file to remove any nicks or splits. Trim broken nails first if necessary. Use the file to give the tip of your nail a slight curve. Do this by filing the sides towards the middle of your nail.

Once your nails are all files wash and dry your hands again. This removes any dust that is on or under your nail from the filing. Once your done it's time for the bottom coat. The bottom coat is the foundation coat. Use a nail strengthening clear polish. Do not apply to thickly or bumps and bubbles will result. Smooth it on, and smooth it out evenly over each nail and allow to dry.

Next choose your nail color. Nail polish is available in all sorts of shades and colors. Choose whichever you'd like to use and apply two even coats over the foundation coat once it is dry. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next.

After your two coats of nail enamel are dry you'll want to add one more coat. This last coat is called a top coat which protect the nail enamel from chipping or peeling. Once the top coat is dry you are done...unless you want to add decals.

Nail decals give your nails a twist. They add an extra touch that looks professional and beautiful. Nail decals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes from tiny roses to full nail size stripes. The options are endless. Choose the decals you'd like to wear and carefully apply them. Once you are done with the decals apply just one more top coat to seal them and to protect them. Nail decals last for weeks!

There you have it. A little time consuming, yes. However, the results are so worth it! Here's a recap. Remove all old polish. Wash and dry hands. File and shape. Wash and dry hands. Apply a clear foundation coat. Allow to dry. Apply two coats of color nail enamel. Allow to dry. Apply a top coat. Leave alone and be finished or choose to apply decals. Select your decals and apply. Add on more top coat to seal and protect them and you are done! Thanks for reading and take care!