How to get a Salon-worthy Manicure at Home

Well-groomed fingertips can add instant character to your look. Here’s how to achieve the elegant brushwork of your manicurist, from the comfort of your couch!

GETTING STARTED

Start with clean, polish-free nails. If stubborn nail polish won’t budge with acetone, try soaking your nails in warm water with some baking soda (or an Alka-Seltzer) to help remove staining. Now that’s an impressive household hack!

THE PERFECT LENGTH

Use a nail clipper to cut back long nails, and then shape with a nail file. Always file in one direction to avoid snagging, and then round to the length of your fingertips.

YOU’VE BEEN DOING THIS WRONG...

You shouldn’t soak your fingertips before applying colour. Soaking your nails actually causes them to expand, which will result in chipping when they retract.

CUTICLE T.L.C

Use an orange stick to push back cuticles. Your cuticles are the “living” part of your nail, so they need extra T.L.C. Exfoliate the area with a specialised scrub before applying a cuticle balm to moisturise.

GLASSY FINISH

Buff your nails until they look glassy. If the surface is bumpy, air will gather and cause ridges that lead to chipping.

POLISH IT OFF

Apply a basecoat or nail hardener to give your polish something to grip onto. Then, once dry apply a thin layer of white nail polish on top. Why? A white base will make your nail colour more vibrant.

If you tend to shake your nail polishes to mix the colour – don’t. Instead roll the bottle between your palms to avoid air bubbles gathering.

Brush on two coats of colour, using a maximum of three strokes on each nail. And finish off with a high-quality topcoat for a mirror- like finish. 

Words by: Photographs by: Oriflame marketing team