Manicure is not only decoration, but also hygienic hand care. But often there is not enough time or money to carry out such a procedure in a salon. How to do a manicure step by step at home so that it turns out no worse than a professional one?
Tools and tools
For a high-quality manicure at home, it is necessary, first of all, to prepare the necessary tools and materials for applying the design:
- Cotton balls or disks.
- Nail polish remover. It is better to give preference to liquids without acetone. They remove the old coating more delicately and do not injure the nail plate. Such liquids often have a pleasant, unobtrusive aroma and contain vitamins and moisturizers that nails need to nourish and look healthy and well-groomed.
- A shallow container, sea salt, disinfectant (shampoo, gel, liquid soap).
- A metal spatula or wooden stick to push back the cuticle.
- Metal pliers for edging.
- Nail file. When choosing this tool, it is important to take into account the naturalness of the nail, the strength of the nail plate, and thickness. The higher the abrasiveness of the file, the softer its blade. The base can be made from:
- metal (best used for men's manicure and artificial nails);
- ceramics (suitable for natural or split nails);
- glass (used for all types of nails, but quite fragile).
- Nourishing or moisturizing hand cream, cuticle oil.
- Means for applying the design: base coat, nail polish, decorative elements (glitter, rhinestones, foil, sand, bouillons, lace, stickers), fixative.
Step-by-step instructions for manicure at home
Step 1
First of all, you need to remove the old coating from the surface of the nail. Regular polish can be easily removed by simply running a cotton pad moistened with liquid over the nail. But to remove a manicure with glitter or a complex pattern, you often have to make an effort. To simplify this procedure, it is better to apply a piece of cotton wool with liquid to the nail and wrap it in foil for a few minutes. Remains of the design can be easily removed with a fresh napkin.
Step 2
Using a nail file, you need to give the nail the desired length and shape:
- Short nails. The most convenient length for nails is about 3-5 mm. These nails are as comfortable as possible for working at a computer or smartphone, or doing homework.
- Square shape. Smooth square nails visually reduce the length of the fingers, so they are suitable only for those with long and thin hands. This form is the easiest to correct, but untimely filing can lead to ingrown nails.
- “Soft square”. This shape is similar to the square one, but with more rounded edges. Looks great on short and slightly elongated nails.
- Almond shape. Assumes a slightly pointed nail tip. One of the most feminine shapes, suitable for long nails.
- Oval shape. A hand with this shape of nails looks delicate and neat. Suitable for any length.
Step 3
The next step is to soak your nails in the bath. To do this, you need to take warm water into a shallow bowl and pour in a little soap. You can add a pinch of sea or iodized salt and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Baths using them nourish and strengthen the nail plate. When using unedged manicure techniques, such a procedure is not necessary. A softener is applied to the cuticle, and after some time it is removed with a wooden stick.
Step 4
After steaming the nails (5-7 minutes), each finger, in turn, is removed from the water and wiped dry. Using a wooden stick or spatula, carefully move the cuticle as close to the nail hole as possible and trim it with tweezers.
Step 5
At the next stage, the hands are lubricated with cream, and the cuticles are lubricated with special oil. Constant trimming causes the skin around the nail to become rough and inflamed. The oil accelerates its regeneration, helps nourish the nail and relieves inflammation.
Step 6
Before applying the coating, the nail plate should be degreased with acetone or simply wash your hands with soap and dry. On wet nails, the polish can quickly crack.
Every girl should have beautiful and well-groomed hands. Since it’s very easy to do a manicure at home, you don’t need to spend any money to always be neat.
Nail preparation
The first step is to prepare the nail plate and cuticle for further processing. To get started you will need:
- Tweezers, trimmer;
- Scissors;
- File;
- Scrub, oils, cream;
- Degreaser (you can use alcohol or face lotion).
To learn how to do a cool European manicure, you need to remember that the most important part is preparation. In this step, the old coating is removed, the cuticle is trimmed, the nails are filed and their surface is leveled. To carry out the procedure, you can use a special apparatus or several files and hand tools (they must be sharpened before use).
Step-by-step instructions on how to prepare your nails for a manicure at home:
- The old varnish is erased. Immediately after this, the marigolds are soaked in the bath. We recommend adding a little sea salt and iodine to the water - then the plate will become thicker and stronger;
- After 5 minutes of “soaking” the nails, you need to take out one finger at a time and check the cuticle. If it is easily deformed, then it can be cut. Using a file or a special stick, the peel is carefully brought to the hole itself, after which it is cut off. Depending on your experience, you can use a trimmer (for professionals) or tweezers (for beginners). The action is repeated with each nail;
- After trimming, you need to lubricate the cuticle with oil. Most often, spas use cocoa or shea for this purpose, which have excellent antimicrobial and regenerating properties;
- Next, the plate is leveled and the desired shape is given to the nails. For rough processing - shaping, hard tools are selected. For example, with diamond or mineral coating. For soft - cleansing the nail from growths and irregularities, more gentle - silicone or wooden;
- When the treatment is completely finished, all that remains is to degrease the surface and hole, remove any remaining oil from the cuticle;
- If everything is done, then the instruments must be sterilized. If the main work is carried out by machines, then they are disassembled and washed in a special solution. Hand instruments are rinsed in Chlorhexidine.
Photo - Preparing for a manicure In exactly the same way, trimmed pedicures are performed at home. After this you can start designing.
Unedged or European manicure is carried out without tools - it is easiest to do it yourself. The plate is cleaned of varnish and fat, then a special gel is applied to the cuticle. It is noteworthy that when using the unedged technique, you do not need to soak your nails.
After applying the softener, a few minutes should pass, then you simply move the skin closer to the hole. The cuticle is very pliable and soft. You do not need to use any trimmers or scissors to remove it. It can even be removed with an orange stick. All that remains is to wipe the plate with remover and cover it with a base for further coloring.
Simple edged manicure with regular varnish
The easiest way to do a manicure on short nails at home is with your own hands. In addition, it will look most advantageous on small plates. All points are carried out in the same way as written in the section above. After giving the desired shape and degreasing, the plate is covered with a base - it will fill the cracks and become a strong and even base for the paint.
You can make different types of manicure with regular polish:
- On the water;
- Gradient;
- Art design and many others.
Let's focus on the most common coating - it is very easy to do yourself and does not require much time. After the base has dried, a layer of colored varnish is applied on top of it. It must also be completely dry. If the shade is not bright enough, the surface is repainted.
To make the manicure last longer, a professional fixer is used. It performs several functions: it gives neatness, strengthens the plate, helps remove delamination and prolongs the life of the varnish. The fixative is often enriched with various vitamin and mineral supplements.
Video: doing a trim manicure yourself
Learn how to do French manicure
Doing a French manicure correctly is very simple; it does not require any special skills or tools, so it is often performed at home. The only thing is that it is recommended to buy white varnish with a thin brush. Of course, you can work at home using stencils, but any professional craftsman will tell you that only by painting with a brush can you give your nails the desired and beautiful shape.
Instructions on how to do a simple French manicure at home step by step:
Video: an easy way to create a French manicure
Lunar manicure with gel polish or shellac
The original moon manicure, which can be easily performed with both shellac and regular varnish, is becoming increasingly popular. Of course, if we talk about convenience, then it is best to do it with gel - it lasts longer and it is easier to draw holes with it. In appearance, lunar is the complete antipode of French. If in a French manicure only the tips of the nails are shaded with white (or another color), then in a lunar manicure the holes are shaded.
To make a professional lunar design, you need to prepare a manicure kit: these are accessories for trimming, tools for working with gel (removers, primers, etc.), and an ultraviolet lamp.
Fashionable manicure with gel polish with rhinestones at home step by step:
In order for this unusual manicure to look interesting and stylish, you need to select varnishes very carefully. Experts advise using paints in contrasting colors, for example, black and white, green and yellow. But, if you work in pastel colors (pink and white, brown and beige), you will get a more delicate design.
Video: 4 ways to draw a hole for a moon manicure
Matte and mirror for short nails
Recently, many girls have begun to create designs on their nails that are not shiny at all. Some even use varnishes that harden after application and become powder.
Matte or velvet manicure can be done at home in three ways:
- Use regular varnish, and while drying, hold your nails over the steam for a few seconds;
- Use a special matte varnish;
- Use special sand coatings. After application, they dry out and turn into textured varnishes.
You don't need any special training to make an interesting matte design. You just need to buy a polish without glitter - they are sold in any cosmetic store.
Step-by-step technology:
But the easiest and fastest manicure you can do at home is with foil. In order for the nails to be shiny and glossy, they are covered with special stickers. To do this, they use colored foil, on which patterns can be applied, or simple stickers that replicate the mirror coating.
How art is made mirror manicure with foil at home:
Glowing manicure is performed at home in the same way - here either fluorescent varnish or foil is also used.
Video: manicure with foil
Water manicure step by step
Despite its apparent simplicity, manicure on water or water design is quite difficult to perform. They can make the most unusual designs and patterns, but to do this you need to gain experience and purchase high-quality varnishes. To work, you will need a container with warm water (preferably disposable, because after nail art it will be spoiled), glue, a needle, and varnishes of the desired color.
Instructions on how to make a beautiful water manicure at home step by step:
Drawings obtained using water manicure are very original and interesting, but require a lot of time. Therefore, it is often much faster and easier to make them with acrylic paints.
Video: making drawings on water for water manicure
Newspaper and ombre
Color gradient designs are popular due to their simplicity. If it is done in salons with a special airbrush, then at home it can be done even with a simple sponge. This is ideal for New Year, birthday or any other holiday.
The life of a modern representative of the fair sex consists of a constant search for an original, new and unforgettable image. A manicure is at first glance an insignificant, but in reality a very important detail that can highlight your beauty, add the finishing touch to your look and complete your look. Ordinary standard varnishes are almost a thing of the past, as the modern nail industry has offered us a more effective and durable product - gel polish.
Gel polish is an undeniable favorite in nail care - keeping your hands well-groomed and tidy has become much easier and simpler, and its unique strength allows you to maintain the original attractive and fresh look of your manicure for up to three to five weeks.
In addition, the gel polish has a multifaceted palette of color shades, which allows you to create absolutely any fashionable design on your nails. Also, which is important, various decorations in the form of beads, patterns, and so on are glued to the gel polish very firmly and for a long time.
Advantages
Flaws
Before you start applying gel polish, you need to get your nails in order - they should be in perfect condition. To get a flawless manicure that will give others a good opinion of you, it is important to take seriously the choice of nail shape and careful removal of cuticles and hangnails. Otherwise, your efforts may turn against you, since the manicure will look sloppy and sloppy.
Gel polish application process
Under no circumstances touch the nail surface after drying under the lamp: oil from the skin remains on the nail, which can make the coating brittle, and then your manicure will only last for a few days.
- Degrease the nail surface and wait for the product to be completely absorbed. This is done in order to remove any excess residue from the nails.
- . It is necessary to increase the service life of our manicure.
- After this, cover the nail with a thin layer of base coat and dry it under the lamp for 2 minutes. Now the main color will lie as evenly as possible.
- After drying, apply with a brush thin layer of colored gel polish(top coat) and dry the nails again under the lamp.
- Apply a second thin layer of gel polish in the same way and dry it under the lamp. Remember: the thinner the applied layer, the more natural your manicure will look. In addition, when using gel polish in a manicure, you can apply several layers, but each of them must be dried under a lamp after application.
- To consolidate our spectacular result, apply clear gel polish, which will extend the life of our manicure up to five weeks and keep it looking fresh.
- Now blot a napkin with boric alcohol or a degreasing compound and remove the sticky layer that forms as a result of drying under the lamp.
Under no circumstances should you remove gel polish from the nail surface without first softening it - scratches and snags will remain, which will greatly spoil the appearance of your nails. To speed up the process, you can use a buff - it will help remove remnants of gel polish and remove the dispersed layer.
Training on how to create a manicure and apply gel polish through video tutorials
Visual perception plays a very important role in our daily lives, helping in learning and making it possible to convey important information quickly and clearly. First we look, then we process what we see and in a matter of minutes we understand what needs to be done.
In the modern world, most women perceive visual information much better than huge canvases with many letters. So I suggest you watch the video several lessons on creating a manicure with gel polish coating. I tried to make for you a selection of the most useful video materials, which at one time helped me a lot in becoming a professional in the field of creating gel polish manicure.
Videos for beginners
Video tutorial No. 1 “Full review: starter kit for gel polish. Part 1"
Video tutorial No. 2 “Full review: starter kit for gel polish. Part 2"
Video lesson No. 3 “Removing the old coating and making a new one”
Video tutorial No. 4 “Gel polish manicure at home with a detailed discussion of all sorts of subtleties”
Video tutorial No. 5 “How to apply/remove gel polish”
Video master class from professional cosmetologists
Video No. 1 “Step-by-step instructions for applying gel polish”
Video No. 2 “Three effective ways to remove gel polish”
Video No. 3 “Removing gel polish with a cutter + hardware manicure. Part 1"
Video No. 4 “Complicated repair, extension and straightening of nails. Part 2"
Video No. 5 “Gel polish correction. Combined manicure for beginners with one cutter. Part 1"
Video No. 6 “Applying gel polish under the cuticle: leveling + strengthening + highlights. Part 2"
Current nail design made with gel polish on video
Video tutorials for beginners
Video No. 1 “Quilted manicure with gel polish”
Video No. 2 “French manicure”
Video No. 3 “Moon manicure”
Video No. 4 “Ombre gel polish”
Video No. 5 “Malachite and rhinestones”
Video No. 6 “The easiest flower design”
Video master class from professional cosmetologists
Master class No. 1 “French gel polish”
Master class No. 2 “Summer manicure with gel polish”
Master class No. 3 “Gradient gel polish”
Master class No. 4 “Gentle Magnolia manicure”
Master class No. 6 “Foil nail design”
Master class No. 7 “Gradient + stamping”
A neat manicure is a decoration for women's hands. Unfortunately, due to the frantic pace of life, many girls cannot find time to visit a salon. What to do in this case? Everything is very simple! You need to learn how to do simple procedures yourself, at home.
We don't always have the time or funds to create a professional manicure in a salon. And sometimes, you just want to surprise your friends.
In this article you can learn in detail about how you can get a beautiful manicure without leaving your home. Especially for you, we have photo and video tutorials for creating the perfect manicure.
A manicure will look most beautiful on well-groomed hands - all masters will tell you this. Delicate and beautiful hand skin always attracts attention.
To preserve the natural beauty and health of your skin, you need to choose the right cosmetic products, because the skin on your hands is very delicate and sensitive. Try to avoid products containing a lot of silicones and parabens, because they can destroy the natural structure. Choose only high-quality cosmetics based on natural ingredients, rich in vitamins and healthy additives.
Preparing for a manicure
Before you start manicure, you need to follow some rules:
- Removing old varnish. Wipe off old polish from your nails, being careful to use a non-acetone liquid.
- Give your nails the desired shape. If you have long fingers, then your nails will look better with a square shape, if you have short ones - oval or sharp, they will help visually lengthen your fingers.
- Remove cuticles by first making a softening hand bath. The cuticle should be removed using tweezers or special scissors.
- Polish your nails with a buff file. This will help apply the polish more evenly. Then rinse off the residue with cold water.
After all this, you can safely start applying varnish.
Some tips when applying varnish:
- Covering your nails with a base coat will help keep them healthy.
- After the base coat has dried, the varnish should be applied in two layers for a better effect. Start painting from the center, then paint over the empty spaces left at the edge.
- Wait until the varnish dries and then apply a special coating or clear varnish. This will help your manicure last much longer.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated in a regular manicure. You can additionally use a brush or needle to draw designs on your nails. We will tell you about this in video tutorials.
It is the classic manicure that is always in fashion. Now there are hundreds of beautiful shades, you can choose any suitable one for yourself. For summer, it is better to choose bright and playful colors. And in winter they are soft and warm.
What colors are in fashion now? Black and red are classics that never go out of style. But bed colors, burgundy and emerald, are now at the peak of popularity. 
The new trend of the season is a regular manicure, but with one or two nails painted a different color. A combination of two colors is a great option for a manicure that will make you stand out from the crowd.
This manicure is very easy to do. You just need to wait for the polish to dry and then stick on the rhinestones as you wish. You can stick rhinestones on the holes, make them in the form of a French manicure, or even cover one nail completely. There are many ideas, it all depends on you!
You can buy rhinestones and glue at any cosmetics store and they are inexpensive.
Step-by-step instructions for creating a manicure
If you are new to creating manicures, then these tutorials are just for you.
This is a short guide for those who, for one reason or another, decided to do their own manicure. It's not that difficult if you approach it wisely. Read and get started...
To keep your hands and nails always looking well-groomed, you need to get a manicure about once a week. This procedure can be performed by a master in a beauty salon - quickly and accurately.
But some people don’t have the opportunity to do a manicure in a salon, while others have the time and desire. We recommend learning how to do a manicure at home yourself. With a little practice, your nails will look like you regularly visit a beauty salon!
Types of manicure
There are many types of manicure and first of all, it is worth determining which one suits you best.
Edged or classic
The classic manicure procedure includes removing the cuticle using metal tweezers or sharp nail scissors. A trimmed manicure is suitable for those with rough and thick cuticles. This type is the most traumatic. If you are careless, you may get hurt or cut off too much skin. Because of this, inflammation may occur, and the cuticle will become even coarser and begin to grow more intensively.
Unedged (European)
This type of manicure involves removing the cuticle using a special product based on soft acids (lactic and fruit). Unedged manicure is suitable for women with thin and delicate skin on their hands. The product dissolves the cuticle painlessly and delicately.
The whole process takes much less time than with a classic manicure. However, this method of removing cuticles is not suitable for those with sensitive skin, as allergies may occur to the components of the product.
12 tools you need for a manicure
This arsenal is simply necessary to perform a quality manicure.
1. Sharp nail scissors
If you are planning to radically change the length of your nails, then nail scissors will come in handy.
2. Nail file
Do not use metal files, they injure your nails, which then begin to peel. It is better to purchase a glass file or a cardboard file with a fine-grained abrasive coating. The former, by the way, will serve you much longer than the latter.
3. Metal tweezers if you are doing a trim manicure.
When purchasing tweezers, pay attention to the material from which they are made. Those made from surgical steel will stay sharp longer.
4. Orange wood stick or metal spatula, which you will use to push back the cuticle.
5. Necessary products for the bath:
- olive oil,
- sea salt,
- essential oils and more.
6. Nail polish remover
Choose one that does not contain acetone. This liquid will easily and gently remove nail polish without damaging them. If you have nail polish remover with acetone, then experts advise adding a little glycerin to it. It will retain moisture inside the nails, which is usually “taken away” by acetone, and will not allow the nails to be damaged. Removing nail polish with this cocktail is also easy.
7. Cotton balls or disks
Helps remove polish from nails and around the nail bed.
8. Softening cuticle oil
Apply before the removal procedure.
9. Cuticle remover
Helps quickly remove cuticles without using scissors.
10. Hand cream
It must be used constantly to keep the skin soft and not flaky.
11. Base coat and sealer
Allows the polish to stay on the nails longer.
12. Nail polish
It is best to have a large assortment to choose according to your mood and clothing ensemble.
Manicure technique: 4 stages
If you follow all the steps of a manicure, your nails will look beautiful and healthy.
1. Bath
If you decide to do a trim manicure, be sure to do a hand bath. This procedure will soften the cuticle, and it can be removed easily and without injury.
Fill a bowl with enough hot water to completely immerse your fingers in it. Add two to three tablespoons of olive oil, two tablespoons of colorless sea salt, a few drops of essential oil (for example, lemon, which lightens yellowed nail plates).
The oil will soften the skin and nourish your nails with valuable vitamins, and the salt will make them strong. Immerse your fingers in this solution and hold for about 10 minutes. Once the cuticle is soft, start removing it.
2. Cuticle removal
Taking out one finger at a time, use a spatula or stick to push the cuticle to the base of the nail.
You need to act with sufficient force, however, do not overdo it - you can damage the base of the nail. Then, using the sharp side of a stick or spatula, remove any remaining skin from under the cuticle.
If there are any nicks left, remove them using tweezers. Using tweezers you need to bite off the skin, not tear it off. This way you will avoid cuts.
With an unedged manicure, the cuticle is removed using a special product – cuticle remover.
Apply the gel around the nail, not forgetting the area under the nail.
Then carefully use a stick to remove the product along with the dissolved cuticle.
It is better not to apply it to all fingers, as the remover dries quite quickly. Treat two nails at a time.
Many manicurists advise applying cuticle remover to nails that are coated with varnish. Since some of them have a rather aggressive composition, which has a destructive effect on the nail plate.
3. Nail shape correction
If you decide to shorten your nails as much as possible, use nail scissors. Trim your nails in one confident motion.
Choose your future nail shape. There are several of them: pointed, stiletto, oval, square, round. If you have long, strong nails, then you can afford pointed nails. And if you are the owner of weak nails, then it is better to give them a square shape.
When filing your nails, point the file in one direction to prevent your nails from peeling. Make sure that all nails are the same length.
4. Varnish application and care
To ensure that the polish lays evenly and does not go beyond the boundaries of the nail, follow these instructions:
- First, degrease your nails with nail polish remover so that the decorative coating lays flat and without bubbles.
- Apply a base coat that will not only protect your nails from yellowing and the harmful effects of nail polish, but will also smooth out the surface of your nails.
- Now take some nail polish on your brush. Swipe the brush from the base to the edge of the nail.
- Make the second and third strokes also from the base of the nail, drawing a kind of arc with the brush, towards its edges.
- Finally, use a topcoat that will add shine to your manicure and prolong its life.
- If you are in a hurry, use the so-called “drying”. Just one drop of “drying” at the base of the nail - and the polish will dry almost instantly.
- If you go beyond the edge of the nail, touch up any imperfections using a small brush, a Q-tip and nail polish remover.
- Don't forget to constantly use a moisturizing or nourishing hand cream that will relieve your skin from dryness and flaking. Also, take care of your cuticles. Use nourishing oil, which should be rubbed into the cuticle until completely absorbed, and it will always look neat.
Experts advise in this video how to properly perform a manicure at home:
