THE ULTIMATE MANICURE

If you are serious in your quest for beautiful nails, you need the right tools for the job. While nothing beats the indulgence of having your nails done professionally, you can also give yourself a manicure at home. All you need are the right tools and the know-how you will find in this post.





Manicure Kit Essentials

Manicure kit essentials _____________________________________________________________
Acetone-free polish remover: to remove nail polish before the manicure begins. Avoid acetone or its chemical relatives, which damage the surface of the nail, affecting the lustre, and weakening and thinning the nail plate.

Aromatherapy oils: for a relaxing mood or to relieve stress.

Cotton balls: for removing nail polish, and for wrapping orange sticks to push back your cuticles. Cotton balls are very absorbent and do not leave fibre behind.

Cuticle softeners: these include both cuticle cream and cuticle oil. Softening cuticles makes them easier to push back. Softeners also loosen stubborn skin stuck to the nail bed. They come in formulations from clear liquids you paint on to thick creams you massage into the cuticle. Avoid products containing potassium hydroxice , which can damage nails.

1. Cuticle cream: smoothing a specially blended cream around the cuticle area softens the surrounds and prevents hangnails from developing. These usually contains fats and waxes, such as lanolin, cocoa butter, petroleum jelly and beeswax.
2. Cuticle oil: vitamin E-enriched oils and sweet almond oil, applied regularly, will condition the cuticle area and maintain it at optimum health. Cuticle oils may also contain mineral oil, jojoba oil and palm nut oil.

Emery boards: a coarsely grained, double-sided one is best to shorten or smooth nails, a fine-grained version for final smoothing.

Finger bowl: for soaking fingernails; fill it with warm, soapy water.

Hand lotion: to promote supple skin by hydrating and helping to seal moisture into the skin.

Hand towel: for drying your hands, and to place under your hands as you apply nail polish.

Hoof stick: a manicure stick with a rubber tip shaped like a hoof, used to push back your cuticles.

Nailbrush: use a nailbrush in the morning and evening for cleaning hands, nails and cuticles. Replace it when bristles lose their density.

Nail buffer: these come in all shapes and sizes, usually combining three buffing surfaces that help to smooth any ridges from nail surfaces, as well as to add sheen. Used gently in a swift back-and forth manner, they will smooth, shine and buff the nails to give an excellent finish.

Nail cleansers: usually a liquid soap that is added to the water in the finger bowl.

Nail scissors: more gentle on the nails, scissors are often preferred to clippers for ultimate precision.

Nipper: this is a useful tool for trimming hangnails and should feature a pointed tip to allow a precise trim.

Orange stick: use an orange stick (traditionally made of orange-wood) wrapped in cottonwool to push back cuticles. It can be used instead of the nailbrush to clean under the nail.

Clear basecoat: to provide a foundation for the nail polish.

Clear or tinted nail polish: the main coat of polish in the colour of your choice; a clear polish will last longer without showing chips or peels.

Topcoat: a protective and durable coating for the polish. It lengthens the lifespan of coloured polish because it helps to prevent chipping.

White pencil: gently drawing the pencil under damp nails will help to stimulate the attractive look of a French manicure.