How can I get the perfect manicure for my nails? What are the precautions to be taken?

Manicure – The secret of beautiful nails

The word manicure is taken from the Latin language and stands for two words ‘Manus’ and ‘cura’ meaning hand care.

Once considered as a luxury, nowadays it has become a necessity for women.  The beautiful nails you see on the women of today may be the gift of a manicure.  You too can get this kind of nails by taking some basic tips –

·        File your nails according to the shape of your finger with back and forth strokes.

·        Soak your hands in  lukewarm water mixed with shampoo for 5-10 minutes.  This softens the dry skin and cuticles.  Exfoliate with a good exfolliator in a mixture of soap, salt or sugar.

·        To ensure your nails are the same length after filing, line each nail with its counterpart.

·        Before polishing, clean the nails with a cotton ball soaked in water and apply nail polish remover to remove excess oils or soaps.

·        Don’t shake the nail polish bottle, instead roll it between your palms, so as to mix the polish without forming any air bubbles.

·        Before you apply a polish to your nails, you should first lace it with a blue coat.  This will prevent the nail polish from drying quickly or form darker shades.

·        Once the base coat is prepared, then apply your polish in 3 strokes, allowing it to dry.

·        Hold the brush between the thumb and middle finger while resting your forefinger on the top of the cap.

·        Once your manicure is complete, run an orangewood stick dipped in nail polish remover along either side of nail to fix any mistakes.

·        If nails are stained or yellow in color, apply a drop of lemon or lavender oil onto the nails and use buffer to remove the stains.

·        Don’t expect perfect results right away.  The more you practice your manicures at home, the less of a beginner you will be.

·        Change your nail polish once in a week or as often as needed.

·        Manicure kit – Nail polish remover, cotton pads, nail filer/ emery board, a wooden stick called orange stick.

·        Always buy high quality products as they last longer.