A beautiful manicure looks and feels elegant, but the cost of salon manicures can quickly add up over the course of a year! Furthermore, the circumstances have made it difficult for us to leave our homes and travel to a salon. You’ll need our essential steps for a DIY manicure at home—for a fraction of the cost—if you want to save time and money on manicures. If you’ve ever discovered yourself looking blankly at the combat zone that is your peeled-off gel manicure, it might be time to learn how to start giving yourself a salon-worthy manicure from the comfort of home. Here’s a six step method to do a natural Manicure at home.
Step 1.Gather Supplies:
- Nail polish remover
- Nail clipper
- Cotton pads
- Nail buffer
- Cuticle pusher and nipper
- Cuticle remover or cuticle cream
- Hand moisturizer
- A base coat for the nails
- Your favourite nail polish
- A clear topcoat
Step 2.Remove any previous nail polish:
It should go without mentioning, but beginning your manicure with a blank canvas, i.e. unpolished nails is essential. If you’re wearing regular polish, remove it with cotton balls and, you guessed it, a gentle remover.
Step 3.File your nails:
If necessary, clip your nails first. Then, file gently in one direction have your tips square, round, or somewhere else in the middle. “Hold the file flush against your nail and tilt it gently underneath to file.” This allows you to see exactly what you’re doing and protects you from overpowering. Use a nail buffer to buff your nails. Buffing your nails is similar to brushing your teeth—it brightens them and makes them appear youthful.
Step 4.Soak your hands:
Fill a large glass bowl (large enough to hold your palms) with warm water. Soak your hands in baby shampoo or a gentle cleanser for a few minutes (maximum 3 minutes). Clean the nails and the skin around them with a gentle nail brush to remove any dirt. Remember to scrape under the nails. Over-soaking your nails and hands can cause damage.
Step 5.Prepare your cuticles and hands:
To help dissolve dead skin and soften the area, use a cuticle remover that isn’t oil or a balm. Cuticle oils and cuticle removers, contrary to popular belief, are not the same thing and should not be used interchangeably. Oils help to moisturise, whereas removers act as an exfoliant for your nail beds. Then, using a cuticle stick, gently push back. Also, use a hand moisturiser or body butter to keep your hands hydrated.
Step 6.Paint and Polish your nails:
Begin by applying the base coat. Apply a clear base coat or nail hardener to the nail. This will smooth out any ridges or unevenness on the nail, act as a primer for the polish, make the polish last longer, and keep the colour from staining your nails. Choose a nail polish that you adore. For about 10 seconds, roll the nail polish bottle between your hands.
Shaking the bottle causes air bubbles in the polish, making it more difficult for the polish to adhere to your nails. Begin by applying a thin coat of nail polish to the nails. Dip the brush into the polish bottle and gently swirl it around the inside rim of the bottle to remove excess polish. Paint a vertical stripe down the centre of your nail, then another stripe on either side of it.

If you move your nails too much, the polish will smudge. Allow 10–15 minutes for the polish to dry. Applying a second coat too soon will only smudge the first. You might be able to speed up drying with a fan, but don’t get too excited. Finish with a clear topcoat for a hard, smooth, scratch-absorbing, chip and flake-resistant shield, which is especially important for designs that don’t have a lot of flaking.