DIY French manicure
Are you fed up of having stubby, untidy nails but want to avoid shelling out in the salon? Then you can get professional-looking nails by following our simple guide to a self-styled French manicure.
Get the kit!
The beauty section of most high street chemists should stock a French manicure kit containing, at the very least, base coat, white varnish and a clear topcoat. Below are some manicure products you can pick up in Boots.
Get rid of the old stuff
Using a cotton wool ball soaked in nail polish remover, wipe off any old nail polish prior to beginning your DIY manicure.
Do some handywork
There's no point in doing your nails if the hands they're attached to are like a builder's! So, before you get cracking on your nails, you need to exfoliate your hands with some body scrub, rinse them in warm water and dry them well to avoid cracked skin.
Get filing!
If your nails are brittle or tend to split, file them flat across the middle with smooth, rounded edges. Use a fine file which gently and easily glides over the nail – don't violently see-saw over your nails as it will damage the nail plate, which will weaken the nails.
Wrap and relax
Coat your hands with a layer of sweet almond oil to nourish and soften them, wrap a warm towel around them and relax for 15 minutes. Then take the towel off and press the cuticles down with an orange stick or rubber hoof stick (available from most chemists). Avoid using cuticle knives or clippers as they can cut your skin. Rinse your hands with warm water to remove as much of the oil as possible.
Put your base coat on
Apply one coat of pink or clear base coat over all of your nails and let them dry for a few minutes to help strengthen them. A nourishing base gives a good cover for the next layer, although there are many types of base coats available. Others also level fine ridges and imperfections, leaving a smooth surface to apply polish.
Whiten the tips
Paint thin white lines along the tips of the nails using the white varnish, starting from both ends and letting the line come together in the middle. Some manicure kits include sticky strips to use as a guide. For a square look, paint a straight line across the tips, for a rounded appearance, follow the curve of the nail, and to get a pointed style, paint in from each side to the centre. Leave to dry.
Finish them off
Once the tips have dried, apply a coat of translucent topcoat polish over the entire nail to seal the whitened tip. Allow another ten minutes for it to dry, then finish the nails with another glossy topcoat for extra shine and protection.
More manicure tips:
• The DIY manicure is best performed on a lazy morning or evening when you've got time on your hands to focus.
• After painting your nails, avoid doing things with your hands while your nails dry.
• To help your manicure last longer, make an effort to paint a clear topcoat on each night, but be sure to allow the nails to
dry completely.
• If you're feeling especially creative and ambitious, kick off your shoes and make your toenails match your fingertips!
• Don't forget to use hand lotion as well to keep your skin nice and soft.~
