IlovetoSpree

Doing your own Manicure

1. Removing old lacquer
Using a nail-polish remover and cotton pad, remove the old nail polish color. Make sure you throughly remove all colors.
2. File your nails while they’re dry
You’ll get a better shape if you file before soaking.The best technique, file in one direction using smooth strokes. Sawing back and forth can break the nail. Dont try to file too much, if you want to obtain a shorter length, try to cut your nails first. Use a good regular file,( emery board/foam file/cushion file) try not to use metal files as they can be too harsh for our nails.After filling, use a bluffer to bluff the nails, smooth it across the nails.
For Square shape- lightly file the nail straight across the top. Make sure the sides stay straight and don't file them inwards . Then slightly file the sides, so it wont be too sharp. If your nails are short and you're just starting to grow them. File them so the edge just has a smooth surface in the same way.
For round shape -For a round shape, the easiest way to do this is to lightly swipe the file from one side to the other in a round shape. Go from one side to the other a few times and then start from the other side so you get a smooth round
3. Soften nails and cuticles in a bowl of warm water
Mix the warm water with essential oils/soap. After 5-10 minutes of soaking, dry off and apply cuticle cream or lotion. Gently ease cuticles back by making tiny circles against the cuticle with an orangewood stick- a thin wooden stick with a slant-edge tip at both ends.
Next, rub cuticles with a warm, damp, washcloth in the same gentle way. The circular motion helps slough away that white membrane, which is dead cuticle skin.
4. Wash away oil or lotion
Wash your hands again, to remove any oil.
5. Apply a basecoat
Roll the bottle between your hands to warm the nail polish. Open it, and scrape some of the excess nail polish off. Paint one stripe in the middle. Then, paint a stripe on the left, continuing to the right. Basecoat is like a double-stick tape for your nails. It holds polish in place so it lasts longer. It also prevents dark lacquers from tinting your nails. ( For healthy nails: You can use OPI Base coat/ Nail Tek Foundation ll. For soft brittle nails : you can use Nail Tek xtra/Nail Tek intensive repair/ Opi Nail Envy)

6. Sweep on polish -OPI Color recommended- dries faster!
Apply your first coat of color to your nails, using only three strokes per finger and painting in an upward motion. Don't worry if it looks too thin with the first coat. Let it dry then apply the second coat in the same way. Remove any excess polishthat is left on the cuticle carefully. It will be ideal to remove any excess polish, after every coat. This is to enable the excess polish to be remove easier. You can remove it by using the cuticle stick wrap with a bit of cotton or buy a correction pen for it.
7. Finishing
Use a topcoat’s designed to be shinny and protective. It will offer a harder, longer-lasting protective shell with a higher shine that fast- drying topcoat can provide.
If you are in a rush, you can use OPi Rapid dry topcoat or drip dropper, It will help to dry your nail polish faster and prevent any smudges later on.
Apply a topcoat every other day will help to prevent your nail polish from chipping and looking fresher. Also use the cuticle oil to keep your cuticle healthy ( Nail Tek REnew)
If you smudge, gently rub it out with a dab of polish remover. When dry, polish only affected area, then cover the entire nail topcoat.
Now you are ready to show off your beautiful nails ;)