Give a Manicure
Manicures can make you feel pampered and pretty even though they're so quick, easy and cheap! But manicures can go wrong; this guide may help you out! Remember, the key is to be gentle!
Steps
- Get the person to wash and dry his or her hands.
- Move him or her to a table and roll up a towel for a hand rest.
- Have some lukewarm water ready to go in a big glass bowl.
- Use a soft facial/body exfoliator to exfoliate the person’s hands and remove dead skin, then rinse and dry. Or try to create your own exfoliator using sugar (not salt, as it can burn cuts), a few drops of liquid soap, and an oil like lavender (it's a relaxing scent).
- Using a cotton ball, wipe the nail remover on the nails to get out all the old nail polish (if there is a few spots left from the last manicure) and the oil.
- Using a nail file, file the nails using one way gentle strokes; don't saw.
- Apply some cuticle softener to the cuticle and allow hands to soak in small bowl of lukewarm soapy water.
- Push back cuticles with a soft tip cuticle pusher. Don’t use the metal ones and definitely don’t cut the cuticle. This can cause infections. Make sure all equipment is thoroughly washed and sterilized.
- Wash hands again and dry thoroughly.
- Apply a hand cream by massaging in starting in the center of the hands using your thumbs and massaging to the fingers.
Warm Oil manicure
- Pour some oil into a small bowl. Almond oil, grape seed oil, and sunflower oil are the best.
- Heat the oil. Put the small bowl of oil in a larger bowl filled with hot water. This will warm the oil evenly and keep it from becoming too hot.
- Remove old polish. Use nail polish remover to remove any nail polish on the nail. Be gentle to avoid harming yourself or the person.
- File the nails. Be sure to file only in one direction so that you don't break the nail.
- Apply buffing cream. Place a small amount on each nail and massage it in, moving down away from the nail and back up.
- Apply exfoliating scrub. Massage it into the skin for a minute. To remove, use a hot towel or mitts.
- Soak the hands in the oil. Take the small bowl out of the large bowl place both hands, fingertips first, into the oil bowl. Soak for one to three minutes.
- Take one hand out of the oil. Use a cuticle knife and very gently in circular movements go around the cuticles to lift them up.
- Use a hoof stick to gently push back the cuticles. Be very gently, as doing this too hard can be painful.
- Remove excess oil. Use a warm, damp towel to remove any excess oil on the hands.
- Massage the hands and arms. This will help soothe any tense muscles.
- Buff and Polish the nails. Paint the nails with the desired color.
- To polish, start off with a base coat to prevent staining and wait to dry. Then, apply your chosen polish (keeping in mind that some nail varnishes may need a second coat). Finally, apply a top coat to avoid chipping of the nail varnish and to give the final look a shine.
Tips
- Be very careful and gentle, you want it to be a pleasant experience.
- Coconut oil is the best oil to use as a cuticle softener as it helps the nails to grow stronger.
- Olive oil works for a cuticle softener too.
- Make sure all equipment is totally clean and sterilized; no one likes infections and rashes.
- Play soft, relaxing music while doing your manicure.
- You can use an Orangewood Stick and cotton rope. Rip a small piece of cotton rope or rip a small piece from a cotton ball and twist around the end of the Orangewood Stick. Dip the stick into polish-remover and gently remove any excess polish that may have gotten on the skin during and after polishing.
- Use well-known products that are in the average price range, don't go for cheap stuff though.
- Check ingredients of products and try organic products.
Related Articles
- Use a Cuticle Pusher
- Give Yourself a Manicure
- Start a Beauty Salon
- Give Yourself a Manicure Using Salon Techniques
Sources and Citations
- Videos provided by Vivid Photo Visual
