Nail polish is all the rage these days with more and more women using nail polish as an accessory. Whether you like to have your nails done professionally or you’re a DIYer, a healthy nail is a must! As with so many of our New Year’s resolutions to be healthier in 2019, it is equally important to consider your nails and how they look and feel.
@1nailguru
Healthy nails begin with proper care and maintenance. For those feeling like their nails are weak, thin or peeling incorporating a Hair, Skin & Nails vitamin could make the difference. Biotin or B7 is a personal favorite that can help strengthen weak or brittle nails. A Hair, Skin & Nail Vitamin or Biotin can help build the proteins in nails that are needed to maintain healthy nails. Adding moisture to the nails and cuticle by massaging a cuticle oil or something as simple as olive oil can add the necessary moisture to promote healthy nail growth.
As a manicurist, having the right tools for a manicure can make all the difference. If you opt to manage your nail game at home, you need a few essentials that can be purchased at any drug store, Target, Walmart, Sally’s or online. For an at-home manicure you will need the following:
- Nail clipper
- Cuticle pusher or orangewood stick
- Cuticle Nipper
- Nail buffer
- Nail file (a fine grit emery board is best for filing/reducing damage to the nails)
- Acetone-free nail polish remover (*Zoya Remove+ and Cutex Ultra are fave’s!)
- Cotton balls/swabs
- Nail brush
- Basecoat
- Nail polish
- Top coat
- Cuticle oil
Now that you have the right tools, knowing what to do with them is imperative to creating that “salon” look. Here are some key steps:
- Remove any old polish from your nails
- Clíp and file your nails (it might seem natural to go back and forth but filing in one direction in a downward motion on either side of the nail is best to prevent damage)
- Push back cuticles/remove excess cuticle around the nail plate with a nipper
- Buff nails (don’t over buff-over buffing can weaken the natural nail)
- Apply cuticle oil
- Massage lotion on hands
- Remove lotion/oil from the nail with acetone free polish remover.
- Apply a base coat (let dry 2 minutes…I love “Orly’s Rubberized Base Coat)
- Apply 2 coats of polish (let dry 2 minutes in between coats)
- Apply top coat (let dry 5 minutes…”Seche Vite top coat” is my go-to every time!)
Don’t soak your hands! The moisture from the water will expand your nails (the nail plate specifically) which can cause cracking and chipping once the nails are dry completely and the nails shrink back to normal.
@1nailguru
With the proper tools and the steps to create a “salon” manicure, now you can create that perfect manicure. Take your time and polish pinky finger to thumb finger. Polishing pinky to thumb will prevent your polishing hand from overlapping the nails that are drying. You can best avoid smudging this way! When applying polish, use 3 thin strokes to avoid a long drying time. Maximum coverage on the first coat of polish makes the second coat easier to complete. Allowing the polish to dry in between coats will prevent chipping too. Once you have painted, be patient! There are many ways you can rush the drying time of polish from fans, sprays and drying oils but allowing your nails to dry naturally will yield the best results.
As we enter into a new year, you may want to try something new. Whether you want to go with the traditional nail polish or try the long wear gel polish that many salons are raving about these days, finding the right routine for you is important. Traditional nail polish air dries, can be applied at the salon or home, is fast and simple to do and perfect for that fashionista that needs to change polish with outfit changes. Nail polish does chip but can be removed easily. Gel polish should be applied by a licensed nail professional. Gel polish last 2-3 times longer than nail polish. It remains shiny and chip-free until removed. Nails tend to grow longer because of the added strength gel polish provides over traditional nail polish. Gel polish is great for someone who uses their hands a lot. It cost 2x’s as much and should not be worn on weak, peeling or unhealthy nail beds.
💅🏾: Claudette Carrion-Wardlaw is a natural nail technician licensed in Pennsylvania with 10 years experience. She specializes in nail care and trendy hand painted nail art on very small canvases. Follow her on Instagram @1Nailguru
