Guides
Manicure at home
Prep, application, removal and the shapes and techniques of a salon manicure at home.
Complete guide
The salon manicure, done at home
A salon manicure at home has eight steps: remove old polish and soften the cuticles, trim and file, push back the cuticles and buff lightly, wash and degrease the nail plate, base coat, two thin coats of colour with the …
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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