Wednesday Nail-day

THE PERFECT MANICURE IN           9 SIMPLE STEPS

(without leaving your front door)

One of my new years resolutions this year is to make sure not only my hair, but my nails look good when I’m at work. Something you can relate to? Your hands are your business cards so it doesn’t hurt to make sure they look well taken care of. But in order to take good care of them, you need to add some routine into the mix. It’s not hard, don’t worry, and we’ve lined everything up for you.

Make sure your nails are clean. I mean, a painter doesn’t start off with a palette that’s already been painted on right? Drop your usual acetone remover. It definitely gets the nail polish off, but it dries out your hands in the process. OPI has the perfect little wipes, without acetone, that not only removes the polish, it smells good and keeps your hands hydrated.

As soon as your hands are dry after using the remover, grab your nail file. One made out of glass is your best option because its structure is better for your nails. Plus it’s also very hygienic because it’s very easy to clean. Either go for a round tip or more of a boxy shape.

Sounds like a nice bit of R&L, and it is. Dip your fingers into a bowl of luke warm water with a couple of drops of oil for about five minutes. I understand that you might be tempted to grab your phone and check Instagram or Facebook or something, but this process is going to make your hands nice and soft and it’s one you don’t want to miss out on during a manicure.

Your cuticles are extremely important. After having soaked your hands, they will be soft and easier to take care of. Make sure you don’t push them back to hard because you might damage them and don’t start cutting everything without a plan. Get rid of any loose pieces of skin (sounds gross, I know, but you get what I’m talking about). OPI’s Cuticle Oil To Go will keep your cuticles soft, plus this dandy little tool is easy to tag along in your purse so you can keep them hydrated whenever you need to.

Alright, so your cuticles have been taken care of, now it’s time to focus on the rest of your hands. Use an intensive cream to keep your hands soft. Soaking your hands like you did before is good for you, but it can dry out your skin and therefore hydrating it is essential. OPI’s Hand & Nail Cream is what you’re going to want to have. It works as a protective layer and makes your skin flexible and soft. Plus it smells good too, another pro.

After hydrating your hands, you want to avoid the oily layer on your nails or else polishing them is not going to look pretty. Use a cotton pad to get rid of any excess lotion.

And this is when the polishing begins. Might sound like a long and tiring process, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, OPI has the Infinite Shine which allows you to enjoy the intense colors for at least a week without it peeling off – and without having to visit a salon. Three simple steps. Start off with a primer. This will give you the perfect base coast. Then go onto the color. Opt for two thin layers to make sure it’s all been polished on equally. The last step is to use a top coat which will make sure the color stays on as long as possible. Think of it as a final seal. Easy to dry (in regular sunlight).

Give your nails the time to dry. I am extremely impatient so this is a step I tend to struggle with and I prefer to grab the nearest blowdryer to help speed up the process. But guys, the best thing you can do is to just let it dry on its own. All I can say is be patient, you’ll be thankful in the long run. I mean, perfectly polished nails for a whole week or longer? I rest my case.

Last step of your very own home manicure is to finish off where you started: hydration. So get out that cream you used in step five and you’ll be good to go.