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Complete guide
Prep, application, removal and the shapes and techniques of a salon manicure at home.
Complete guide
Acetone or acetone-free remover: what dermatologists say and when each one is right
Acetone removes polish faster with less rubbing; acetone-free is slower but milder on dry skin. When to use each, soak times and dermatologist aftercare.
Clean-up with a brush: the salon edge at home
Clean up nail polish edges with a small flat brush dipped in acetone: trace the cuticle line and side walls, wipe the brush, repeat. Then oil the skin.
Cuticle care without cutting: soften, push, oil
Push back cuticles after softening, never cut them: the cuticle seals the nail matrix against infection. Softener, a steel pusher, then daily oil.
Dotting tools and striping brushes: sizes, control, cleaning
Use a nail dotting tool by dipping the ball tip in a drop of polish on a palette and touching it to the nail; hold longer for a bigger dot. Sizes and care.
Dry times per layer: how long to wait between coats
Wait 1 to 3 minutes between thin coats of nail polish, until the coat is no longer tacky. Polish is touch-dry in 3 to 5 minutes and fully hard after hours.
Easy nail art for beginners: five first designs, the tools and the steps
Five easy nail art designs for beginners: dots, a single line, a half moon, a gold tip and negative space. The tools, the steps, dry times and fixes.
French tips at home: the smile line, three ways
Do French tips at home with a sheer pink base, a thin white tip painted freehand or with a guide, and a clean-up brush for the smile line. Steps and fixes.
How to remove gel nail polish at home without damaging your nails
File the shine off, protect the skin, wrap acetone-soaked cotton in foil or cling film for 10 to 15 minutes, then lift gently. Why peeling damages nails.
How to remove glitter nail polish: the foil method, the peel-off base and the timing
Remove glitter polish with acetone-soaked cotton sealed under foil for a few minutes, then one wipe. Or use a peel-off base next time. Steps and aftercare.
How to remove magnetic and chrome nail polish: air-dry, gel cat-eye and chrome powder
Air-dry magnetic polish wipes off with ordinary remover. Gel cat-eye and chrome over gel need filing and a 10 to 15 minute acetone soak. Steps, aftercare.
How to remove nail polish: press, hold, wipe once
Remove nail polish by pressing a remover-soaked pad on the nail for 30 to 60 seconds, then wiping once from cuticle to tip. Acetone is fastest. Oil after.
How to repair a split nail without losing the length
A split nail in the free edge can be repaired at home with a tea-bag wrap or nail glue in about 10 minutes. When to file, when to cut and when to see a GP.
Nail prep: the ten minutes that decide how long polish lasts
Prep nails for polish in three moves: file the free edge in one direction, buff once with 240 grit or finer, then wipe with alcohol. No water soak.
Nail shapes explained: which shape is strongest, which suits your hand, and how to file each one
Seven nail shapes compared: round, oval, square, squoval, almond, coffin and stiletto. Which are strongest, who suits which, and how to file each one.
The salon manicure, done at home
A salon manicure at home takes about 45 minutes: soften cuticles, file, buff, degrease, base coat, two thin colour coats, top coat, oil. Steps and timings.
The three-stroke method: how to apply nail polish neatly
Apply nail polish neatly in three strokes: centre, then each side, starting a hair's width from the cuticle. Thin coats, capped edge, 1 to 2 minutes apart.