How To: DIY Manicure

Monday, 15th March 2021

The end is in sight!!
With days getting longer and the nights not as dark, can we nearly see the finish line!? The hair and beauty industry has been closed for far too long and like us all, our clients have had enough! We’ve offered lots of self help and care tips over the last few weeks and here’s a few more to keep you feeling prepped and ready for spring.

Like a lot of us, our nails are in desperate need of a little pick me up… Follow the steps below to give your hands, feet and nails a little spring tidy!

Step 1: Clean your nails with polish remover and a cotton pad
Ensure the nail polish remover does not contain acetone which can strip your nails of its natural oils

Step 2: Clip and file your nails
Clip nails first, if necessary.

Then file gently, moving in one direction to get your tips square, round, or somewhere in between.

Step 3: Push back your cuticles
Prep cuticles with cuticle remover—make sure it’s not an oil or a balm—to help dissolve dead skin and soften the area.

Then push back gently with a cuticle stick or hoof stick.

Your cuticles protect your nails from bacteria and keep them soft, so avoid cutting them.

Step 4: Exfoliate your hands & feet
Exfoliate hands, wrists, feet, ankles, legs and forearms with a scrub that eliminates dead skin cells and replenishes moisture.

Grab your orange stick again to gently clean any grime from under nails.

Wash hands, arms, legs and feet afterward and dry them thoroughly.

Step 5: Moisturise your hands, feet and cuticles
Moisturise now to avoid smudging almost-dry nail polish later.

A luxe, light alternative to hand cream that’s also ideal for cuticle hydration.

Take the opportunity to give yourself a mini hand massage—just because you’re not at a spa doesn’t mean you can’t relax for a minute.

To finish, swipe each nail with nail polish remover to get rid of residue

Step 6: Apply a base coat
Apply a base coat to hydrate and protect nails and prevent chipping and keep it from staining your nails.

Then chill for a few seconds.

Step 7: Apply your first coat of colour
Now for the fun part! Apply a coat of your colour of choice, being sure to get the brush all the way down to the cuticle and into the corners of your nail (leave a tiny gap to prevent flooding and staining of the cuticle).

Maximum coverage on the first coat makes the second coat a breeze. Just keep the layer thin.

Many of us overload the brush and do too many strokes, the key is to load just enough polish on the brush to cover the nail in one coat.

Stripe your nail three times: once down the middle, once on each side.

Another trick that helps: Try a polish handle, to keep your hand steadier as you paint.

Step 8: Apply your second coat of colour
After a nice full two minutes (set your phone timer if you know you’re going to cheat), apply the second coat of nail polish.

Sheer or pastel shades may require a third coat for full, seamless coverage. Just remember to keep it nice and thin.

Step 9: Finish with a topcoat
A topcoat protects your manicure from chipping and adds shine to nails—don’t skip it, or you’ll significantly shorten the lifespan of the paint job you just worked so hard on.

A word of warning: Be careful when you put your topcoat on, since a messy application can ruin your entire manicure.

Step 10: Clean up rough edges and let your nails dry
Tidy up any mistakes or wobbly edges by wrapping a piece of cotton wool soaked in nail polish remover around the end of your cuticle stick and carefully trace around your nails.

If you have nail polish remover pads, try folding one into a triangle for more precise application.

Then let your nails dry an additional five minutes—it’ll be worth it when you show off your nails and shock everyone by revealing they’re DIY.

Voila!!!

– Brooks Beauty x

hair.beauty@brooklands.ac.uk