DIY: Manicure

I was asked awhile ago in a comment about my manicures. Whether I do them myself and if I do my pedicures too. It was such a good comment it inspired me to do this post! (Thanks McHuggs!) I do like to get my nails and toenails done once in awhile! Just not as often lately as I've been spending the money on cosmetics instead. Plus, you really don't want to see my feet. However, I cant do a spring pedicure products and favourite colours post if people are interested. In the mean time, here is the products I use for my manicures, Enjoy!

1. First you're going to need a good polish remover. I love the ones that have a sponge with slots in it to put your fingers inside. It seems weird but the polish is so much easier to remove. Especially glitter polishes. After I remove my polish remnants I like to quickly wash my hands as I find polish remover to be very drying if you leave it on for any length of time.

2. Good, clean nail tools are the most important part of making your manicure look good. I like this little kit of Revlon ones (plus some extras) which includes a pair of tweezers, a pair of nail clippers, a metal file, a cuticle stick and a cuticle cutter (which doesn't get used often as cutting your cuticles is not a good idea generally. It can lead to infection, so instead just push them back). Cut your nails and shape them to the desired look. Round is the easiest shape, but there are a variety of shapes you can choose from :D.

3. After shaping my nails (approximately the same from nail to nail- something I struggle with at times), if my cuticles are in really bad shape I like to use the Revlon Gentle Cuticle Remover. At first I was a bit leery of this product- a topical product to remove my cuticles? This is either not going to work at ALL or it's going to sting like crazy! However, this product is great. It doesn't remove your main cuticle what it does is loosen the very thin base cuticle that grows onto your nail. This also helps loosen you main cuticle enough so that you can more easily push it back. I generously gloop this on with the polish wand and then apply a second layer a minute or so later. Then I take one of my reusable cuticle sticks and gently using the bevelled edge push back my cuticles.

4. After washing my hands again I usually moisturize my hands with focus on my cuticles. This the Body Shop Strawberry Puree Body Lotion is very light and non-greasy. It sinks in fast too (though it could do with some more moisturization properties). Usually I use whatever moisturizer I happen to have on hand, and this one was the closest!

5. Now, finally I start the painting part. First is one to two coats (depending on the condition of my nails) of Nail Tek II Intensive Therapy. I use this as a base coat as it does wonders for strengthening my nails.

6. Colour! Here is Sephora OPI's Caught with my Khaki's Down, and I've used two coats for this manicure. Of course this varies from polish to polish :D. The best way to apply I find is from the bottom of the nail to the top in as wide a stroke as you feel in control of. The less strokes per coat the better, as you'll have less streaks and imperfections. Keep in mind, practice makes perfect!

7. Lastly, because I can't wait patiently to save myself and because I'm guarenteed to destroy my manicure if I don't- Quick Dry Top Coat. I love China Glaze's Fast Forward as it is really really fast and it makes the polish very shiny. Also, I adore this top coat for the fact that it levels and hides small imperfections from my colour coats. To wrap up the manicure it's a good idea to take your top coat along the tips of your nails- both on top and beneath your nail. This will seal the edge of your nail and make your manicure last longer.

Finally the finished product! I am loving this colour- perfect sage green, sometimes green and sometimes grey. Adore!

New sheets and it matches perfectly!