Perfect At Home Manicure

We all wish we had the time and patience to sit at a nail salon each week and get a manicure; but let's be honest, 95% of us don't have time for that. I treat myself to a manicure about once a month but I generally do my nails myself once a week. Below I've listen the steps I take to achieve a perfect manicure at home. 

Step 1: Cuticles

If your cuticles look like crap, sorry to tell you but so will your manicure. This is the most important step in my opinion. Prior to painting your nails apply a cuticle oil, or lotion and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. After the cuticle oil has set in, wipe your nail beds clean with warm water so there is no oil reside left on the nail when you paint them. 

Step 2: Base Coat

If you had to pick between doing a base coat and doing a top coat I would suggest spending the time on the base coat. It's the same concept as priming walls before painting them. Applying a good base coat will create the perfect foundation to apply your nail color to. Choose a base coat that offers to do something for your nails, some help to strengthen, some help with length; if you're going to take the time to apply it, it might as well do something good. 

Step 3: Nail color

The best piece of advice I could give you regarding painting your nails would be to use a good nail polish! If your nail polish is chunky, or takes 5 coats to build up then your manicure will not come out looking great. My favorite line of nail polish is Essie because of two things: 1. the formula is really great, not gooey but not watery and 2. it dries really fast, which I love because I have absolutely no patience. Below I'm wearing my favorite color called 'Clambake' 

Nail Products I love:

OPI Base Coat

Essie First Base Base Coat

Butter London Melt Away Cuticle Eliminator
Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil
Sally Hansen Cuticle Rehab
Essie Summer Nail Polish Collection

I hope you've enjoyed this post and are able to achieve the perfect mani!

XOXO

Niki