Importance of Base Coat

Always wear base coat and then apply Nail color, it will protect your nails creating a sticky adhesive base for the nail polish to "hold" onto to remove stains from nails. As long as you wearing a good nail base, its okay to use any brand Nail colors. If your base coat has Calcium then its even better as it help in strengthening and help in the growing of Nail faster. Most good quality Base coats contain Protein, Aloe Vera, vitamin E, and/or Calcium. These nutrients replenish brittle, dry nails with moisture, prevents breakage, splitting and peeling.

Cuticle Care

Do NOT cut your cuticles ... if you having manicures at the salon and they practice cutting off cuticles then that is WRONG! Make sure you tell them not to cut your cuticles but gently push them down. You can trim the hang nails with the help of the nail clippers.

Cuticles play an important role in the health of your nails. They provide a protective cover for the tissue that grows new cells that build the nails. If you cut them then this can lead to bleeding or severe infections.

It is wise to pay some attention to these little details of your nail.

Your manicures may look fantastic and absolutely gorgeous for first few days but if the technique is wrong it will only worsen your skin and you would be going back again and again to do Manicures but no long time satisfaction results. So take huge precautions.

Also make sure they use sterilized tools for your treatment.

Apply moisturizer to your hands often and If you have really bad cuticles apply almond oil and massage your nails every night before sleeping or get the cuticle oil. Its easily available in Nazih or any beauty supply shops.

How to do Home-Manicure

The basic manicure normally involves filing and shaping of the nails, treatment of the cuticles, application of polish on the nails and finally a moisturizing treatment for the hands. Many people wrongly consider manicures and pedicures to be as risk free as other beauty regimes which is wrong. The added risk comes from the risk of breaking the skin with tools that might not have been properly sterilized after being used on another person that might have a disease like HIV or Hepatitis. So always clean your tools.

Your hands are as obvious as any part of your body; you use them to emphasize points in a conversation and to do daily tasks, therefore they should look as well groomed as the rest of you. A good manicure is important to your appearance. Whether or not you use polish, your nails should be conservative, healthy, and always well manicured. To keep your hands attractive give yourself a weekly manicure.

• To begin with remove all traces of your nail polish. Use as many cotton balls as needed.
• Use a nail file or an emery board to shape your nails. File in one direction only. Do not use the seesaw motion. To shorten the nail, use the course side of the emery board first and finish with the finely textured side.
• Work on your nails carefully and with respect. Do not go overboard with your manicure.
• To check if your nails are well done run your nails over a pair of old pantyhose. Your nails should not snag the hose.
• Apply cuticle remover cream and gently push back the cuticles using a cotton bud. Never cut your cuticles. Massage away dead skin using circular movements.
• Apply hand lotion and massage your palm of your hand with the thumb of your other hand. This will improve blood circulation. Work your way all over your hand and repeat with your other hand.
• Before you paint your nails, clean them with an orange stick that has been wrapped with cotton and dipped in nail polish remover and rub over the surface of the nail. Remove any creamy residue, if there is none then you can polish your nails.
• While polishing your nails being in the center of your nail. Paint one stroke down the center and then the sides of the nail. You should paint a nail in three strokes. Let it dry completely before applying the second coat.
• Apply color after your nails are completely dry. Use a base coat before applying nail polish. Then apply a color of your choice and do not apply a new coat before the previous one dries. You should apply three coats of color. After applying color apply topcoat and it will give added protection and help your nail color to last longer without chipping.
• Store nail polish in the fridge. To prevent the cap from sticking apply a little Vaseline around it.

Hope you enjoy having a Manicure all by yourself ;)

Stay Beautiful ;)
AK

Tips for Nail Care

Your nails are an important part of your hands and they too need to be taken care of well. Well-kept hands with neat, clean, painted nails are a pleasure to behold. Dirty and unkept nails will make your hands look ugly. Your nails need to be strong and healthy for your hands to look beautiful. Here are a few tips on nail care.

• To harden soft nails soak them in warm olive oil for about 20 minutes on alternate days.
• For strong nails soak them in a mixture of horsetail.
• To remove stains from your nails, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water and soak your nails in this liquid for a few minutes.
• It is not a good idea to remove the cuticles from your nail, as it will make the nail susceptible to infection.
• If you use nail polish then do not use acetone polish removers.
• When you wear nail polish, give your nails a break from time to time. Leave them without polish for a few days.
• For natural nail polish rub petroleum jelly on your nails then buff with a soft cloth.
• If you have brittle nails or split or dull nails then here are a few vitamins that will help you:
• Organic Silica: this will increase the growth of nails and prevent them from becoming brittle.
• Essential Fatty Acids: Found in most oils are good for healthy and strong nails.
• Vitamin B especially B5: Important for healthy skin and nails.

Beautiful, natural nails require care and proper manicuring. A shortish nail that is straight across the top with rounded edges is the current in style shape.Here are nail care tips for polishing your nails so they will look beautiful and stay looking fresh longer.

Filing Nails:
File nails when the white part of the nail tip has grown 1/4" from the pink part of the nail. Filing nails before the nail is 1//4" long can weaken the nail. Allowing the nail to grow to a length longer than the base pink nail length will be sure to make them break easily. Nail files from side to side would weaken nails. When filing, go from the corner to the center in one direction. Follow the groove on the side of your nail.

Buffing Nails:
Buffing nails can give them a shinier finish. Start at the cuticle and work your way down to the tip with medium pressure. Don't use a back and forth movement as heat builds up and this can damage your nails. Continue lightly until all ridges on the nail surface have disappeared.

Clean Nails:
Be sure that nails are clean and dry, free of any oil or lotion, before applying polish. Remove any old polish from nails.

Base Coat:
Always use a Base Coat and let it dry for at least 1 minute. The Base Coat helps to keep nail polish from chipping and makes polish last longer.

Applying Polish:
Apply two coats of polish. You should be able to cover the nail in three stokes, one on each side and then one in the middle.

Drying Time:
Always allow your polish to dry thoroughly for several minutes before you apply the next coat. This will avoid the new coat from dragging on the surface of the previous coat and allow the next layer adhere better. Darker shades take longer to dry. Avoid fast drying polish. It does not last as long.

Top Coat:
Once your nail polish has dried, apply a clear Top Coat to seal it. Continue to apply the Top Coat daily to keep nails looking fresher longer.


Remove with a nail polish remover that contains hydrating oil.

Hope the above tips are helpful :)

Stay Beautiful ;)
AK

Do It Yourself French Manicure

• Using a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover, wipe off any old nail polish prior to painting. Wash hands and soak in warm water for a few moments.
• With an orange wood stick, gently push back the cuticles so they are all even with each other once the water has softened your skin.
• With nail clippers, beauty scissors or a nail file, shape your nails evenly.
• With a steady hand, carefully paint only the tip of each nail with a white hue. A second coat may be desirable, depending on the thickness and opaqueness of the polish. Allow polish to dry between coats.
• Using a slightly transparent pink or nude color, paint the entire nail once the tips have dried. A second coat may be necessary. Allow nails to dry thoroughly.
• Once all the coats have dried, apply a clear topcoat to protect your new French manicure. To lengthen the manicure's lifespan, make an effort to paint a clear coat on each night. Be sure it has ample time to dry completely.
• If you are feeling especially creative and ambitious, kick off your shoes and match your tootsies to your fingertips.

This procedure is best performed on a lazy morning or evening when no other pressing errands or tasks will get in the way. After painting your nails, avoid doing things with your hands while they dry.

Stay Beautiful ;)
AK