Having a manicure is a great way to treat yourself and your nails. There’s the right way to manicure as well as the lazy way. To get your nails looking great, you should ensure you follow the professional manicure steps. There are no shortcuts when it comes to beauty and skincare. You have to follow the necessary steps to achieve the look you are going for.
How to do a professional manicure step by step
The first thing to do is to remove the old nail polish.
Never be tempted not to. The best way to remove your old polish is with a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover. This works best when you hold the stacked cotton pad over the nail for a minute so it absorbs the polish before wiping it off. This also ensure you wipe off your nail polish neatly without it spilling over to the sides of the nail.
Apply Cuticle Cream
Once the old nail polish is off, you should apply cuticle cream. This does wonders for your nails, especially when you lay your hands on the right one.
Shape the Nails
You should shape the nails using a nail file. Only use a scissors if you want to really reduce the length of the nails. Best to share with a nail file from edge to centre at an angle. File the tip downwards by holding the nail file vertically.
Buff and Colour
A good buffing of the nails is your next step, then colour. A base coat, 2 coats of colour and a top coat work great if you have the time. Most times, I just buff and apply a clear polish, and I am good to go. It all depends on the look you are going for. Also, it is best to paint from bottom to top vertically and make sure you are using good quality nail polishes to achieve the desired results.
I am not a fan of the quick nail polish drying method, I like to put my foot up and do nothing for a few minutes after painting my nails. However, if I need to do something with my hands, I wait until my nails are touch dry and then I run a cold water tap over them for a few seconds. This method helps the nails dry a lot quicker.
Do you have any professional manicure tips to share? Please sound off in the comments section, let’s hear all about your tried and tested nail care tip.
This post could not have come at a better time, up until a week or so ago my nails were lovely and long and strong but they seem to be all breaking now so need some tlc
Glad you found the post useful 😊
Wonderful post. Will definitely gove this a try ! 👏🏻
Please do 😊
This is a very helpful post for those who are so into manicure. Manicure for me is basically clean, cut nails and oil massage— that’s it. 🙂
Thanks Viano.
Perfect, just what my girls need, they love applying their own nail colour. This step by step guide is going to be extremely handy, so they know how to care for their nails too, thank you.
Thanks Azlin.
Needed this! I struggle at doing my own nails. It is such a pain in the butt!
It can be hard. I can relate.
I will try my best to follow these tips. I do try to paint my own fingernails but it just doesn’t look good. Haha. I hope your tips will make my nails look professionally done.
Keep trying. It took me awhile to get mine right.
I love manicure for my nails it makes me look glamorous 🙂 Great article
Thank you.
This is very helpful !! i Do my girlfriends nails. I was wondering do they have those matte finish nail polish ? and for a matte coat do we need to do two layers or just one layer would suffice ?
There are some matte finish polishes. It depends on the look you are going for. 1 coat for a lighter look or 2 coats for a heavier finish.
Owwww! Now I know.. They really shape the nails before the finishing touches begin.. Sorry, never been to a nail salon before..
I know 😊
I love a good “spa” day where I get to pamper myself. I have always done my own manicures.
Me too!