Happy National Nail Polish Day

If there’s one thing that quarantine has taught me, it’s that I’m pretty self sufficient when it comes to doing my own nails (and facials and peels and hair color – LOL). I’ve been getting my nails done by the same person since May of 2005. I tried several different products to keep my nails looking decent during the past few months of quarantine.

stock photo by Hellen Korb

Sometimes, life is all about finding pleasure in the little things, that’s why National Nail Polish Day is the perfect excuse to pamper yourself. You might not be jetting off on vacation this summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice at home manicure. Chances are, you haven’t had the opportunity to visit your favorite salon in a few months. So why not sit back, relax, and practice giving yourself a home manicure that even the best salons would envy.

Prep your nails properly

If you want a perfectly polished outcome, you need to start with a clean canvas. It’s always important to thoroughly clean your nails with nail polish remover to get rid of any old polish or dirt. Even better, most good quality nail polish removers will nourish your nails to keep them healthy and strong. Always remember to wash your hands with soap and water after.

Keep your nails in tip top shape

If you’re a salon regular, then you’ll know the next step in a perfect manicure is to shape your nails. Clip, file, and buff into your desired shape. Remember, buffing is important to keep nails looking bright and youthful. Once your nails are shaped how you like, apply a cuticle remover to soften the area and allow you to easily push your cuticles back with a cuticle stick.

Moisturize

Beautiful nails draw attention to your hands, which is why it’s important to keep your skin healthy and youthful. The skin on our hands is delicate and easily exposed to the elements, which means it can more readily show our age than other parts of our body. Moisturize now so you don’t ruin your nails later. Just remember to remove any residue with nail polish remover before continuing.

Apply a base coat

Base coats are vital for protecting your nails and keeping your manicure looking fresher for longer. Try not to hurry between coats and let your base dry thoroughly before moving on to polish.

Pick a beautiful color

Now for the fun part! Pick a color you love and apply a first coat. Let that coat dry thoroughly before applying a second coat to keep the color bright and make your manicure look flawless. A pro tip when applying polish is to keep the coats as thin as possible. Nobody like a gloopy mess on their fingernails!  For beautiful polishes with an array of colors check out some of my favorite brands like Zoya and CND Vinylux.

Add nail art

If you’re looking to spice up your manicure, now is the time to add a little flare. Try painting some fun art on to your nails or give some nail art stickers a go. Brands like Dashing Diva make cute, fun nail sticker designs that are easy to apply. I’ve been using them a bunch and am super impressed with them. They stay on great even with all of the hand washing I’ve been doing. I bought some from a second brand as well as some from a friend’s online shop that I plan to try too.

Finish with a topcoat

Topcoats are important for giving a flawless look and sealing all your hard work into place. Just remember, letting those previous coats dry is vitally important for achieving a clean finish. And just because it’s clear, don’t think a messy application won’t show! Keep it neat to seal the deal on your pro looking at home manicure.

There’s no better time to pamper yourself and practice those at home manicure skills. Who knows, maybe you’ll become a pro and end up saving yourself some time and money on future salon visits!