Isla Bennett
Beautiful nails are achievable through a combination of a well-balanced diet, a thoughtful beauty regimen, and good personal hygiene. To make your nails look beautiful, start by removing any old nail polish and soaking your nails in a bowl of warm water for about five minutes. Next, trim your nails and file them into your desired shape. Apply a cuticle cream, push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher, and then wipe off the cream. Buff the top of your nail beds with the rough side of the nail file, and then wash your hands and apply lotion to finish the treatment. You can then paint your nails with your favourite colour and finish with a clear top coat.
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What You'll Learn
Soak nails in warm water, trim, file, and buff
So, you want beautiful nails? Well, you've come to the right place. The first step to achieving gorgeous nails is to soak them in warm water for around five minutes. This softens the nails, making them easier to trim. Indeed, the next step is to trim your nails. Use a pair of sanitized nail clippers to create an even, consistent trim. Cut your nails straight across with a slight curve around the corners to help prevent ingrown nails.
Now your nails are the perfect length, it's time to file them into your desired shape. If you haven't already filed your nails, you can use a nail buffer block to do this. Start with the most coarse side, filing the tops and sides of your nails. Remember not to file back and forth, as this can damage your nails. Use smooth, quick motions, working the tool in a single direction.
The next step is to buff your nails. Buffing removes the shine from your nails, giving nail polish something to grip onto and making your manicure last longer. It can also make natural nails look glossy and healthy. Use the rough side of the nail file or buffer block to buff the top of your nail beds for a few seconds. Then, flip the file or buffer over and use the other side to buff your nails again.
Finally, wash your hands and apply lotion to finish the treatment. If you're using a nail buffer block, you can then move on to the shine side of the block and use little circular motions to give your nails a healthy-looking shine. Finish by rubbing in some cuticle oil to nourish and moisturize your nails and fingertips.
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Apply cuticle cream and push back cuticles
To make your nails beautiful, it's important to have healthy habits that keep your nails strong, shiny, and beautiful. One of the steps to achieving this is to apply cuticle cream and push back your cuticles.
Firstly, apply a cuticle cream to your nails. Let the cream sit for about 3 minutes. You can also soak your hands in a nail dish with warm soapy water to help the cuticles soften. Make sure the cream or oil is still on your cuticles and continue to soak for 5-10 minutes.
Next, gently push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher or an orange stick. Be careful not to apply too much pressure or push too forcefully as this can cause damage to the nail bed. Cuticles are the thin skin growing at the base of your nails. By pushing them back, your nail beds will look longer, giving your nails a more elegant appearance.
After pushing back your cuticles, use the other end of the cuticle pusher or a cuticle trimmer to carefully remove any excess dead skin for a polished look. Finish by applying a nourishing cuticle oil, lotion, or hand cream. Regular moisturization means softer, more flexible cuticles that resist fraying.
Repeat this process about once a week to maintain well-groomed cuticles and healthy nails. Remember, it's important to keep your cuticles and nails moisturized to maintain their health and appearance.
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Moisturise with hand cream and cuticle oil
Moisturising your hands and cuticles is an important step in maintaining beautiful nails. After washing your hands, apply a small amount of a rich, nourishing hand cream, massaging it into your nails and cuticles. You can also use a cuticle cream or balm to target this area specifically. Cuticle creams are designed to lock in hydration and protect your nails and cuticles from drying out. Look for ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, peptides, keratin, vitamin E, and natural oils such as almond, avocado, olive, or jojoba. These oils are also available in pen form, which is convenient for on-the-go application and can be applied after hand washing or as needed throughout the day.
For an intensive treatment, you can apply a thicker ointment or balm to your cuticles before bed. This will add extra hydration and help soften your cuticles and nails, making them more flexible and less prone to breakage. Ointments and balms can also help to seal in the moisture from your hand cream, ensuring that your nails and cuticles stay hydrated for longer.
In addition to hand cream and cuticle oil, you can also use natural oils such as vitamin E, coconut, almond, olive, or avocado oil to moisturise your nails and cuticles. These oils can be applied directly to the nail and cuticle area, or you can create your own blend by mixing a few drops of each oil together.
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Choose your colour and paint nails
Choosing a colour and painting your nails is a fun part of the process of achieving beautiful nails. It is important to remember that painting your nails is only one part of a wider process, and that you should focus on nail care, too.
Firstly, you should select your colour. This could be a colour that you like, or one that is in fashion. You could even select a few colours to create a two-tone look or a mini work of art. You could also opt for a dip powder manicure, which adds a shimmer to your nails and is low maintenance.
Once you have selected your colour, you should prepare your nails for painting. This includes removing any old nail polish with a good nail polish remover, and ensuring that your nails are clean by using a cotton ball to wipe over your nails. You could also use a nail brush to dip in some remover to go around the sides of your nails, creating a professional look.
Now, you are ready to paint your nails. Angle the brush forward and press gently to spread out the bristles. Start by painting a stripe down the centre of each nail, and then paint stripes on either side. Let the first coat dry, and then apply a second coat in the same way.
Finally, apply a clear topcoat to seal in the polish and add shine. Painting the tips and edges of your nails will help to seal your manicure completely.
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Seal with a clear top coat
Sealing your nails with a clear top coat is the final step in a manicure. This step is important because it seals in the polish, adds shine, and helps your nails stay beautiful for several extra days before chipping.
To start, angle the brush forward and press gently to spread out the bristles. Apply the top coat in the same way as the coloured polish: do a stripe down the centre of each nail, then stripes on either side. Also, paint the tips/edges of your nails to seal them completely.
Once the top coat is dry, your manicure is complete. However, you can add an extra step by using a separate shine enhancer, such as a glossy seal top coat, to give your nails a mirror-like gleam.
To clean up any mistakes or wobbly edges, wrap a piece of cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover around the end of your cuticle stick and carefully trace around your nails. If you have nail polish remover pads, fold one into a triangle for more precise application.
Finally, let your nails dry for an additional five minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
Start by removing any old nail polish and soaking your nails in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes.
Trim your nails and file them into your desired shape.
Apply cuticle cream and let it sit for 3 minutes. Then, push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher and trim away any dead skin.
After applying your chosen nail colour, seal it with a clear top coat. This will add shine and help your manicure last several extra days before chipping.
