I love nail polish (actually a fanatic) and surprise!, so does my daughter. I do not go to the nail salon though. I promise you in my whole adulthood, I may have been a total of about 12 times. I had a stint where I went every 2 weeks for a manicure when I was in college that lasted about 3 months. After having children, getting my nails done wasn’t a priority of mine. After opening a home daycare, I cleaned so much, I could never keep my nails looking good long enough when I did go get them done. And even though I could probably go ahead and let someone else do my nails now, I kinda enjoy doing my own and seeing my daughters creativity. Maybe its the cosmetologist in me or the fact that I want to switch up at will whenever I feel like it. Nonetheless, a lot of trial and error has helped me to figure out how to get the best manicure at home that lasts 7-12 days.
1. Clean up your hands and fingertips. Remove any old nail polish with nail polish remover. Use an emery board to file your nails into an even shape. Soak your hands in a bowl of warm soapy water. Push cuticles back. Dry hands and wipe fingertips with nail polish remover or alcohol. This removes any oils from the nail bed.
2. Apply Base Coat. Base coats not only protect your nail but also provide a smooth surface for polish to adhere to. I’m serious when it comes to using a base coat. Otherwise, I may as well not polish my nails. It just holds up better!
3. 2 coats of nail polish of choice. I like to use a long lasting polish or Gel Polishes. Start with one coat on one hand and then one coat on opposite hand. Then apply second coat to both hands. That gives the polish just enough time to set in between coats. Shop for nail polish HERE.
4. Top Coat! It seals the deal! Adds shine and generally protects the polish from UV rays and chips.
5. Quick Dry Top Coat- A LIFESAVER!! Truly dries the polish within about 30 seconds. I cannot tell you how many times, I’ve polished my nails before falling asleep in bed and woke up to perfect mani! Without this last step there would have been smears and disappointments
And of course clean up any messes with a cotton swab and nail polish remover. Moisturize your hands with a great oil and moisturizer and you’re all set! On a side note… This all may seem like a lot of steps or polish but believe me, in about 7 minutes you’re done and ready to go!
