How to DIY Nails

A well done new set of nails will give you a clean and beautiful appearance. But professional nail services are often quite expensive and time consuming. Why go to a nail salon when you can do it yourself at home? Read on to learn how!

Table of Contents

Prepare

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Gather tools and accessories. To have gorgeous nails, you need the right tools and accessories. It may cost you a little at first, but next time you want to paint your nails, you’ll have enough tools. Please purchase the following products:

Nail polish remover
Cotton balls or cotton swabs
Cuticle cutting tools
Nail Polisher
Nail clippers
Nail file tool
Cuticle or hand cream
nail polish
background paint
Coating

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Prepare a seat for nail polish. Nail polish and nail polish remover can damage many surfaces such as fabrics, wood polish and plastic. You should wear an old T-shirt and not wear precious accessories, sit at the table and line the table top with old paper (do not use newspaper to avoid ink stains). Remember that the table on which you sit to paint your nails and everything nearby is not too precious or important, as chemicals can drop or spill and seep through the items, such as you shouldn’t do your nails. near the computer.

Remove old nail polish. Use nail polish remover and a cotton ball or cotton swab to remove the old polish. Some nail polish removers can dry out your nails and the skin around them. You may want to look for one that won’t dry out your skin and nails, but don’t bother with this unless you have a severe allergy.

If you want to keep false nails like acrylic nails, choose a nail polish that will not peel off the fake nails, and do not soak the nails for too long.
Unless you use it once a month or less, don’t choose nail polish removers that contain acetone. Although acetone makes it easier to remove nail polish, it can damage nails.

Cut and file nails. Use a nail clipper to trim your nails. Do not cut too closely; You need to leave at least a little bit of white on the tip. Use a nail file to file it neatly and smoothly. Gently pull the file over the nail instead of pressing on the nail. Too strong back-and-forth “saw” force will weaken the nail and lead to nail breakage. You should run your hand in each file to create a smooth curve instead of an angle. Don’t file too close: you should only smooth out sharp or rough spots after trimming your nails.

If you want to remove your false nails, for example, because your nails have grown so long that they look odd, see how to do it here.
Do not cut corners on either side of the nail bed. This cut can lead to ingrown toenails. You need to be especially careful with your big toe, which is probably due to the fact that shoes are prone to ingrown.

Nail polish. Use the white tip of a stick or sponge nail polisher and the polishing powder to lightly polish the surface to smooth and remove any raised ridges. Remember not to over-beat; Nails that are too thin will be weak. A perfectly smooth nail surface is neither practical nor necessary. The soft and flexible polisher will make it easy to polish the edges as well as the center of the nail.

You can polish the nail after pushing the cuticle on the nail to clean the mark left by the cuticle. This part is thin, soft and does not cling too tightly so it will come off easily.

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Soak nails. Place warm (not hot!) in a bowl or stoppered sink and add a few drops of soap to the water. Soak your hands in water for just a few minutes. Water and soap will help loosen dirt, dead skin and dust when filing and polishing nails, and soften cuticles. Use a nail brush to gently scrub the nails and surrounding skin to clean. Gently scrape underneath the nail to remove any residue if necessary. If you want your nails and cuticles to be easy to work with, you can soak them in Dawn dishwashing liquid.

If you have dry skin or brittle nails, you should not soak your nails, just wash them.
Don’t shave too much, as you can damage the nail if you remove the white powder – which is actually part of the nail.

Cuticle care. Dry your nails and apply cuticle cream. Use the cuticle pusher to push the cuticle inward. Do not push hard and never cut your cuticles. Even if the instrument is disinfected, epidermal removal can still cause infection and leave a fragile skin border. Wipe the cream off with a tissue in the direction of the cuticle push.

A small profile clip is great for pushing cuticles. Make sure the clamp is clean and free of dents and sharp edges. Bend the paperclip handles down so that they are close to each other. Use your thumb and index or middle finger to grasp the flat edge of the clamp, the handle of the clamp in the direction of the tip of the little finger; the flat back edge protrudes past the thumb and forefinger. Now you’re ready to push the cuticle on your other hand (then switch hands to do it with the hand currently holding the tongs).

Apply hand cream or lotion. Use hand cream or lotion to massage your hands. If your hands are very dry, use a moisturizing lotion, otherwise you can use any lotion. Remember to apply the cream both inside and around the nail, then let it soak for at least 30 minutes.

This step will also be done after applying nail polish and waiting for the nail to dry completely, similar to before painting. With very dry skin, you should apply a little sticky lotion, wear cheap cotton gloves to your hands when going to bed so that the lotion works for a long time.
Nail polish won’t stick to your nails if the moisturizer is still on your nails, so dip a cotton swab in the nail polish remover solution and quickly wipe the lotion off your nails. Wipe off the nail polish remover immediately afterwards to reduce damage to your nails.

Nail polish

Paint the base coat. Coat your nails with a clear base coat or nail polish. This step will help smooth out ridges and roughnesses that may remain on the nail. Base polish acts as a base for nail polish, making the nail polish last longer and the color not staining the nail.

This is also the time to apply false nails if you like.
Wait for the base coat to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Nail polish. Pick a bottle of nail polish that you really like. Roll the paint can between your hands for about 10 seconds. Do not shake the can, as this will cause air bubbles to form in the paint and make it harder for the polish to adhere to the nail. Start nail polish with a thin layer. Dip the brush into the bottle of paint, and when you lift it, gently sweep around the inside of the mouth of the jar to remove excess paint. Slowly paint a streak down the center of the nail, followed by another streak next to it. Try to paint to the edge of the nail, but if you leave a small border it is still better than painting the skin next to the nail.

Tilt the brush forward slightly, press lightly to spread the bristles out into a neat curve, and paint with a gentle, smooth tug on the nail. Don’t drop a drop of nail polish on your nails to spread around. Paint dripping or dripping means you have applied too much paint or painted too slowly; Thin paint lines will be flattened all around by gravity (self-levelling), but too thin paint dots means you’re applying too little paint or pressing too hard.
Complicated nail polish styles can be tricky to do, so it’s a good idea to go for something simple to get good results the first time.
If there is some polish on your finger or around the nail, use a toothpick (preferably a toothpick with a flat tip, (not round or pointed) to clean it while the polish is wet. If the polish has dried, dip a cotton swab in it. nail polish remover to wipe it off, or use a nail polish remover that is available at many pharmacies.Be careful not to touch a cotton swab or eraser to your nails, or you will have to do it again.

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Wait for the paint to dry. Try not to move your fingers too much to prevent the paint from smearing. Wait 10-15 for the paint to dry. If you apply the second coat too soon, it will only smear the first coat. You can use a fan to dry your nails faster, but don’t be too optimistic. The fan will banish the smell of paint and make you forget the paint is still wet.

After the first coat has dried, you can apply a second coat if you like. This step will make the paint darker and more even.
After the nail polish dries, you can decorate your nails with paintbrushes, spray guns, masks or stencils, stickers, beads, or other materials.
Skipping the base coat, even applying just one coat of color (depending on paint type and technique; some will produce a more even color with uneven thickness), usually produces acceptable results. However, multiple coats of paint will give the original paint a better quality.

Paint topcoat. Finish the nail surface with a clear coat to create a hard, smooth, scratch-resistant and peel-resistant film. This step is especially important for nail designs that do not cover the entire nail and help increase the shine of the nail. Wait for the top coat to dry completely, then you can enjoy your freshly made nails!

Experiment with different nail styles

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Paint your nails with splatter paint. This interesting variation features a multicolored pattern painted over a single background color.

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Apply ombre nail polish (shift from dark to light or vice versa). A set of nails with a light color that gradually changes to dark will be very attractive and very fashionable.

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French nail polish . This classic polish highlights the white tip and retains the natural color of the nail bed.

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Add uniqueness . Apply a layer of glitter, crack paint, shiny polish, or some other interesting nail polish to make your nails stand out.

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Draw tiny artistic flowers. You’ll need multiple colors on top of your base coat to create this pretty nail look.

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Shape a tuxedo jacket. This unique design uses two colors to create a tuxedo jacket on a white shirt background.

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Paint nails with beach motifs. This lovely nail polish is a great way to welcome the summer months.

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Shape tiny strawberries. The beautiful little red berries on the nails will make you very excited.

Advice

If you put the nail polish bottle in the fridge for about 5 minutes, the polish will be smoother.
Do not apply a thick layer of paint. Instead, paint in thin layers. This way the paint will be less smudged.
Buy a multi-compartment box or toolbox to store nail tools and accessories. Make sure any spilled bottles are kept separate and don’t stick to valuables that could be damaged. Be sure to tighten all jar caps.
If you have a lot of time or skill, you can try painting complex patterns. But often the simpler style is better!
If you have to type a lot, you should only leave the tips of your nails short so that before the nail polish fades, the nails are not too long. Otherwise, your fingernails will touch the key, clink together, and the paint will be damaged by impact, unless you intentionally control your hand and slow down your typing with odd gestures. .
Feet can also be “manicured”. Do both manicure and pedicure. It is most effective if you do each nail step by step before moving on to the next step. Plan ahead so you don’t have to walk when the paint on your toenails is wet and the carpet can be damaged. Have flip-flops handy to reduce this risk if you really have to walk.
You can patch up the nail polish when it starts to peel off to give it a nice fix, but if there’s not just a scuff or scratch on an already beautiful nail, it’s best to remove the polish to repaint. .
You can do nail art by painting one color and creating textures with tape, then painting another color on top. When you peel the tape off, you’ll have a multicolored nail look!
Remember to prepare all the necessary tools before starting the manicure. You don’t want to have to run to the store with your nails wet.
For a matte finish that doesn’t shine, try a matte top coat. Use this polish with glitter nail polish if you want to look elegant.
Don’t bite your nails. If you have a habit of biting your nails, you can buy something to put on your nails to have a bitter taste when you accidentally bite your nails.
Don’t type with your fingernails. This risks breaking the nail.

Warning

Do not over-polish your nails. You can weaken the nail, even wear and tear it, causing pain and risk of infection. You just need a smooth and unremarkable surface, not a perfectly smooth and glossy surface – nail polish will take care of this.
Keep nail polish and nail polish remover away from heat or fire (including smoldering cigarette butts) as they are highly flammable.
The cuticle has its job: to keep the nail from getting infected. You don’t cut the cuticle! Trim the cuticles that are damaged to prevent further thrush.
Do not inhale nail polish or nail polish remover.

Things you need

Old paper (to protect the nail)
Nail polish remover
Cotton
Nail clippers
Nail file tool
Nail Polisher
Nail polish powder if the nail polisher requires a separate powder.
Nail soaking bowl or sink stopper
Warm water
Soap
Nail polish brush
Towel
Cuticle cream
Cuticle pusher or small file clip
Hand cream, lotion or other skin moisturizer
Cheap cotton gloves (for overnight moisturizing)
background paint
Nail polish
Coating
Fan (for quick drying)
Toothpick (flat type is good)
Cotton swabs, such as Q-tips
Nail polish remover
Decals or other covering material (for French manicure)

Steps