Step 1: Important tools. Be sure to have the following in a cart always ready.

·         Nail-polish remover and cotton swabs or pads

·         Cuticle pusher and nippers

·         Callous/cuticle remover

·         Hand/nail moisturizer

·         Base coat

·         Nail polish

·         Clear topcoat

·         Nail clippers

·         Emery board and nail buffer

Step 2: Remove any previously applied nail polish.

Step 3: Shape nails. Clip your nails, if needed, then softly file them into shape. A slightly curved nail shape or square-rounded edge is usually the best way to go but you can be as creative as you want.

Step 4: Soak away. This is the most relaxing part. Place your hands in a bowl of warm water and add a bit of your mild face cleanser or shampoo to the water. Soaking the cuticle before trimming is crucial, but over-soaking damages skin and nails, so do this for three minutes or less.

Step 5: Apply cuticle remover. When cutting away the thickened skin around the nail, putting on a bit of cuticle remover will be a big help.

Step 6: Remove excess cuticle around the nail. With the cuticle pusher from your kit, softly push the cuticle back away from the nail, but don’t push it too far since it can damage nail growth or fray the cuticle.

Step 7: Moisturize. Massage a rich cream or silky oil into the cuticles and all over the hands to hydrate and refill skin. Use any moisturizer, lotion or butter cream.

Step 8: Prep for polish. Moisturizing elements left on the nail will avoid polish from adhering properly. Using a cotton gauze or pad, apply nail-polish remover over the nail’s exterior to remove any remainder. Although it helps to avoid getting remover on the cuticle because you want to keep that area moisturized, don’t worry if you do because you’re going to apply moisturizer on your nails over once the polish is dry. The most vital part of this step is to be sure the nail has undeniably nothing oily left on it.

Step 9: Paint nails in layers. If you have weak or brittle nails, use a base coat of ridge-filling nail polish to fill up the nail. A base coat also shields nails from staining (especially significant if you prefer red nail polish) and prevents chipping. Next, apply your polish in layers, letting each layer to dry between coats. Two coats of colour polish followed by a top coat to add gloss should do the trick.

Step 10: Reapply moisturizer! Keeping your hands and the nail area healthy-looking needs moisturizer. You can’t have great nails and hands without this important product.

If you have the right tools lined up and you use the right methods, you can absolutely give yourself a beautiful manicure. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with getting a professional manicure for special occasions or just to be pampered, but knowing how to do it yourself can save you a lot of time and money!