Tuesday Tips - The Perfect Manicure

Material you'll need to get started:

• nail clippers
• nail file
• shallow bowl for soaking
• cuticle pusher
• cuticle nippers
• cuticle cream or oil
• lotion

Follow these simple steps for a perfect manicure.

First start out by clipping and filing your nails. It is important to file your nails before your soak because wet nails can become softer and tare more easily. Never seesaw file your nails as this can cause peeling and split. After you have achieved your desired length and shape fill your soaking bowl with warm water and antibacterial soap, for extra dry cuticle add a few drops of oil to your water. Soak your hand for approximately 5 minutes. Next gently push back your cuticle. If you wish your can put a cuticle remover/softener on prior to pushing them back, you can then use a nail brush dipped in water or rinse and towel dry your fingers before moving to the next step. After pushing back your cuticles you may cut any loose dead skin, take care not to clip live cuticle as this can cause infection (this step is completely optional). You can now buff your nails with a 2 way or 3 way nail buffer, this helps smooth out ridges and provides a great shine, which unlike polish will not chip and can last for weeks. Next massage cuticle oil or cream into your cuticles this step is important to do every day as it helps prevent hang nails and cracked cuticle. Finally you should apply lotion to your hands and arms. If you are apply polish place a small amount of nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol to a lint free nail wipe or paper towel and remove to oil from each nail. This step is very important because polish will not stick to an oily nail. Apply a base coat two coats of color and a top coat. Follow this procedure 2 times a week for healthy beautiful nails and hands.

Check out this great manicure box by Sparetime Crafts, this box comes in many colors and patterns, with custom orders available.