Ann's Beauty Choice: DIY Manicure

Step by Step Manicure Guide

Things that you'll need for your manicure:

1. A shallow bowl (Daiso)

2. Small hand towel (Daiso)

3. Hand and nail cream (Clarins)

4. Cuticle oil (O.P.I Avoplex)

5. Nail Strengthener (O.P.I Nail Envy for sensitive & peeling nails)

6. Nail buffer (O.P.I Brilliance)

7. Nail filer (O.P.I crystal filer)

8. Cuticle pusher (Sally Hansen)

9. Cuticle nippers (O.P.I)

DIY Manicure

Start off with clean nails (as you can see my cuticles and nails are dry/untrimmed).

Fill your bowl with warm water.

Soak your fingers in the warm water for about 5-10 minutes (this will help soften the cuticles).

After 5-10 minutes, dry your hands with the hand towel.

Using your cuticle pusher, start pushing the cuticles back (the Sally Hansen one that I am using is made out of plastic and in my opinion more gentle than using a wooden/metal cuticle pusher).

And work your way from one end to the other.

Once you have pushed all your cuticles back, they should look tacky and ready to cut off.

Using your cuticle nipper, start cutting your cuticles from one end of the nail to the other. By cutting your cuticles, this will expose more of the lunula (the white crescent shape at the bottom of the nail) therefore making your nails look longer and more appealing.

Once all your cuticles are cut, start buffing your nails with the rougher side of your buffer. This will help remove any excess cuticle and smooth out any imperfections on the nail.

Then take your nail filer and file it to the shape you prefer (here I am creating a rounded shape however you can also create a squarer shaped nail if you like). Start from one side of the nail to the other. Your filing strokes should be in one direction.

Once your nails are filed, dip your fingers in to the water to remove all the excess nail trimmings.

Your nails should look neater already.

Take your buffer again and this time use the smoother side to polish the nails. This should create a nice glossy shine to your nails.

After you have polished your nails, take your cuticle oil..

..and apply some to your cuticles (make sure you get the very sides of your nails too).

Rub the oil into your cuticles.

And with the remaining cuticle oil, rub it all over your hands..

..or any particular dry areas.

Apply some hand and nail cream and rub thoroughly into hand and nails.

Lastly, take your nail strengthener and apply this to your nails however avoiding the cuticle area. You should apply two coats to start off with and then one coat daily for the next 5 days (paint it on as if it were nail polish and let it dry between each coat). This will help prevent your nails from peeling/breaking.