Self-care is one of the most important things you can do for both your physical and your mental health. However, many people feel that they simply can’t afford to take care of themselves in the way they might see others practice their own self-care. But luckily, there are plenty of ways to still indulge and take care of yourself without having to spend a lot of money.
For many women, one of the best ways to do this is to give themselves a manicure at home. And while you may not have had much success with this in the past, there are likely some tips or tricks that you didn’t know that could help you do a salon-quality manicure all on your own.
To show you how this can be done, here are three tips for better at-home manicures.
Don’t Soak Your Hands Beforehand
When you get a manicure at a salon, the first thing they usually do is soak your fingers in warm, soapy water. Because of this, this might be the first step you’d attempt to take when doing an at-home manicure. However, this could have some negative results that you don’t want.
According to Janell M. Hickman, a contributor to Self.com, soaking your nails before painting them causes them to swell. After you apply the nail polish, the swelling will reduce and could cause your polish to begin chipping off much sooner than you’d like. To combat this, try just doing a dry manicure instead.
Paint Done Right
Painting your fingernails on your own can be a challenge, especially when using your non-dominant hand to paint the nails on your dominant hand.
One thing you can try to make the actual painting of your nails easier, according to Jacqueline Kilikita, a contributor to Refinery29.com, is to try to paint your entire nail in just three strokes, similarly to how they do it at a salon. Ideally, you should use a flat, wide polish brush and start in the middle of your nail with a big stroke. Then do one more stroke on both sides of your nail to finish up. This can help your polish look much more professional.
Take The Time To Dry
While most salons have lights or nail dying kits they use to ensure you don’t leave with wet nails, many people don’t have these accessories in their own home, which can make waiting for your nails to dry a real pain.
But when it comes to having a gorgeous manicure, you’ve got to take the time to let your nails set and dry. To make this easier, Bobbie Thomas, a contributor to Today.com, advises that you let each layer of nail polish dry for at least one minute before applying another coat. This can help your entire nail dry faster and prevent any creases or dents in your polish.
If you’re wanting to do a salon-quality manicure on yourself at home, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.
