Perfect Manicure

Image from natsnailartlincoln.com

After trying to achieve the perfect at home manicure, I think I finally found a way to have a beautiful DIY manicure (and pedicure). With the help of pinterest, I found several tips to quicken drying time and a more polished, polish.

First, I trimmed my nails, filed and buffed them out to make them look nice and shiny.

Next, I used Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Balm, in this set; and put the balm around my nails with a brush (you can use a Q-tip too). Make sure you do not get any of the balm on the nail! Your nails must be clean, smooth and dry in order to have a pretty polish.

Then you can start with your nail polish! Remember to use a base coat to help ensure less bubbles and a smoother application of color. I put on the base coat on all my fingers, then start with color right away. Usually I do two coats. Next, without letting the polish dry and become easily pliable, I put on the top coat.

Here comes another important step: A bowl of cold water. After putting on the top coat, wait two minutes for the polish to dry, then immerse your nails in a bowl of cold water for three minutes. The post on pinterest says you are done after this, but the nail polish is still not fully hardened- if you go to sleep after or do normal activity, you end up scratching your polish. I then wait about five minutes, then immerse my nails again in the water for about two more minutes to ensure a harden and dry nail polish.

*I only put my thumb nails in the water for the extra time, and when I woke up the next day (I do my nails at night), I had scratches all over my other finger nails. I just put another top coat on those nails and they look perfectly fine! (And feel smooth).*

Tip: If you are doing your toes and your fingers, always start with your toes first. You don't need to put your toes in water since they will be dry by the time you finish your fingers.

Here are my results:

The colors I used were Essie's Poppy Art Pink & Lady Like. (Base Coat & Top Coat were OPI).