Everyone dreams of having nails that they can flaunt always. Having well manicured nails is essential for anyone and not only for women. A proper manicure and pedicure is a must for anyone who wants to have a healthy nail whether it is in your fingers or toes. Manicures are one of the easiest ways to pamper yourself. They’re affordable, quick, and a great way to try out trendy looks without the commitment. Manicures also include physical health benefits through hand massage, which increases blood flow and circulation in the hands. And most importantly, treatments that are done without the use of harsh chemicals will protect the nails from becoming weak and brittle.
Pedicures are pretty much the same thing as manicures, except on your feet. The same rules apply here where the massage helps to increase circulation, and at the end of the pedicure routine, all you’ll want to do is wear your sandals because your toes will look so cute!
Steps for a Manicure and Pedicure at Home
Manicure:
If you have any previous polish on your nails, use a natural nail polish remover to give yourself a blank canvas.
Start off your pamper session by soaking your hands in a bowl of warm water. This will help to soften the cuticles. Use a nail brush to clean under and around your nails and nail beds. Exfoliate cuticle area with a scrub; we opt for a sugar scrub with a refreshing essential oil like lavender!
Next, push back cuticles gently with a cuticle pusher. Alternatively, a soft wash cloth can do the trick. It’s best not to cut the cuticles because they help to protect the nails from bacteria and infections.
To keep cuticles healthy, apply Argan Oil or coconut oil to each cuticle and massage into the skin. This is something that you can do daily to help protect your cuticles and prevent nasty hangnails.
Trim nails to your desired length and shape.
Next file your nails, but make sure not to file back and forth. This can actually cause the nails to weaken, splinter, or snag. Instead, file from one side to the center and then file from the other side to the center.
Apply your favorite hand cream and thoroughly massage your hands and forearms. Get that circulation moving! Do this step now rather than at the end of your manicure and pedicure, so you don’t risk ruining your paint job.
Prep for painting by removing any lotion or oil residue on your nails. If you skip this step, your polish will have a hard time adhering to your nails. You can do this by using a little witch hazel on a cotton swab, and wiping nails done one by one.
sparkle nail polish look
Base coat: start with one thin layer of base coat polish to foundation of your manicure.
Select your favorite nail polish and paint your nails! Start with the brush at the center of the nail, and then paint down each side toward the tips. Next apply a second thin coat; two coats is the usual go-to for the best opacity and longevity of the polish. Multiple thin layers is the key to success! If you blob on one or two thick layers It will slow drying time, and make your nails prone to dings and smudging.
To keep your manicure lasting long and looking shiny, apply our top coat polish and allow to dry for 15 minutes.
Pedicure:
Find yourself a large basin that you can fit your tootsies into. Fill it with warm water, and some detox bath soaks. This is a wonderful way to relax your feet, stimulate circulation, and give them a nice, soothing soak.
Scrub from your toes to your calves with a bath sponge or soft bristled brush to give them a good exfoliation. If you happen to own a pumice stone, you can exfoliate the rougher areas of your feet. Make sure you are gentle with it though. It shouldn’t be painful. Scrub your toes with a nail brush to get your nails squeaky clean.
Next, push back cuticles just as you do with a manicure. Like we mentioned before, it’s best not to trim the cuticles to avoid infection. Apply coconut or Argan Oil here too, to keep the areas around the toes moisturized.
Trim nails to your desired length. Be careful not to trim them too short as this can cause painful ingrown nails.
Next, file your toenails from one side to the center and then file from the other side to the center.
Apply your favorite body cream or foot cream to your feet to get them feeling baby soft. Then make sure to remove any residue from nails before painting.
Keeping your toes separated will help to make the paint job easier. You can weave cotton or tissue between your toes, or you can purchase nifty toe separators made from foam!
Apply the base coat polish followed by your favorite nail polish, then finish off with top coat polish. Let your nails dry a few minutes between coat applications. After the top coat is applied, allow nails to dry for about 15 minutes before walking around.
Why choose Gladys Beauty Saloon?
With years of experience, Gladys Beauty Saloon is the ideal beauty destination to head for exclusive beauty treatments such as manicure, pedicure, waxing, massage, and more.
