I can count on one hand the amount of manicures I have paid for. As far back as I can remember, I have done my own. Not only because of the money part of it, but because I don’t like to be pampered by salon girl. I feel it’s such a waste of time. You either love it or hate it. I hate it.
My sister and I came up with a few tricks when we were in high school (150 years ago) to make it appear as though we know what we are doing. ???? I was asked to share over on Instagram, so that means I share here, too. Here are my tips and tricks for a home manicure.
I soak my hands in a bowl of water with a mild soap. I really use nothing special… just soap. This is just to get my cuticles soft and ready for the work.
I apply A LOT of cuticle cream to all ten nails. This will soften them up even more and making the JAMMING of my cuticles a little easier. I swear, Deb won’t let me do this to her. She thinks it feels terrible. ????
I file my nails while the cuticle cream is doing it’s thing. My favorite is SHORT and SQUARE. I have longer nail beds so when my nails are filed to the tip of my fingers, they still are a good length. Any over hanging nails are too long. I get sour about that. ???? It really puts me in a bad mood when my nails are too long.
I jam those cuticles. ???? I really don’t… but that’s what Deb says I do. I gently push my cuticles back using this wonderful tool. It truly is my favorite. It kind of scrapes any extra off of your nail that is attached. And, then I trim away any hangnails, etc.
Using a fine nail file, I gently buff off where my cuticles were and the entire top of my nail to rough it up a bit. I think it makes my polish adhere better. Depending on the weather and how dry it is, I will add a little more cuticle cream and let it soak in a bit. Remember, I’m watching Netflix at this point, so I have all the time in the world. Before painting, I wash and dry my hands really well.
This is the tip that my sister and I came up with in high school and it works like a charm. I start painting my nails at my pinky and work my way up to my middle finger… wiping off any polish from my skin on those three fingers using my thumb. I repeat that same process on my opposite hand. My pointer finger and my thumb remain. Depending on how sloppy I am, I may have polish all over each thumb. At this point, I use my pointers and my thumbs to take off any extra from my skin with a cotton ball. And have a Q-tip with nail polish remover available.
I then paint my pointer fingers using my thumbs again, to wipe off any extra that may have gotten on my skin. I’m down to both thumbs. Since I am right handed, I start with my left hand first and paint my right thumb. And, lastly, I paint my left thumb since I can normally do that with out an sloppage. ???? I do the same for the second coat and the top coat.
I have been using Sally Hansen Insta-Dri and Essie Speed Setter Top Coat and can get about a week out of my manicures. A week is plenty perfect for me. My nails grow SO FAST. And after a week, they have overages and I’m ready to snap. So I end up needing to file them down again. BUT… if I notice any small chips toward the end of those 7 days, I just touch those up with my polish and then add another top coat. That will for sure give me another few days.
This method has worked so well over the last 150 years that I thought I would share my technique.
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Your nails always look great! I do love the pampering of a mani/pedi but I rarely have a manicure ~ you know, that $$$ thing. ???? As an fyi, the girl did tell me to file the nails first and then do the soaking, cuticles, etc. The theory is that the water softens the nails, thus leading to possible nail damage, especially for those with weak & fragile nails, like me! Anyway, keep sharing all your wonderful tips about everything!!!
I thought I was the only one in the world who cannot sit through a manicure. It is truly a waste of time! And like you, I hate any more than 1/16th of an inch past my finger. So glad the short nail look came into style. I never actually even touch my cuticles, but I think I will look into your system for taking care of them! My big tip for taking care of hands and nails is this: I use Cetaphil (the big tub of it!) on my hands, and put on gloves when I go to bed. Everything is nice and soft in the morning.
Tried it, it works! May never go back to the salon.
Yay.... keep me posted.
I’m so happy that you did this on your blog! I wanted to catch it on your IG stories but I missed that day and was freaking out. I’m not a salon manicure kind of gal. It’s too expensive, too touchy and I hate having to come up with chit chat during it. I don’t feel so alone now that I see you’re not really into salon manis either. Thanks for your great tips & tricks!
hahahaha I HATE sitting there.. I do my own while I'm watching Netflix and it's a lot more comfortable for me.
Great tips! I have long nails (although used to be an extreme nail biter). I’m almost 56! Yikes...and have never had a manicure before.
I do my own. I’ve had a pedicure once and now do my own. Way too much $$$ to spend on this here in Ontario ????????
Thanks for that info always good to know little tips and tricks.
I just broke up with my nail girl after she last charged me $60 bucks for my last gel/manicure!!! WTF!?? What happened to $35?? Anyway, shits getting too expensive, so thanks for the tips! Great timing!
XO
Diane