How to do a manicure at home? Basic instructions for everyone

Although getting a manicure at a salon is a wonderful self-care option, it’s not always practical or affordable. The good news is that all it takes to get salon-caliber results at home is a few basic tools and a little perseverance.

When you perform your own manicure, you can tailor the procedure to your preferences and needs. You’ll get the best results whether you’re looking for a full pampering session or just a quick polish change if you know the basics.

We’ll take you through each step of this tutorial so you can create a gorgeous manicure in the comfort of your own home. You’ll discover how to treat your hands with the respect they deserve, from cleaning and shaping your nails to adding the finishing polish.

How to do a manicure yourself?

You must lay the necessary foundation, or perform a basic manicure, before applying bright varnish or doing intricate nail art. We’ll walk you through the process at home.

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What you need for a manicure?

Naturally, there are a lot of variables that affect the list of requirements. Consider your preference for a trimmed or untrimmed manicure. However, the typical toolkit you’ll require looks something like this:

• liquid for removing varnish,
• cotton pads or lint-free wipes,
• nail clippers or manicure scissors,
• orange stick or cuticle pusher,
• cuticle remover,
• nail file,
• nail polishing file,
• hand cream,
• base coat for nails

Simple unedged manicure at home: step-by-step instructions

Have you made all the necessary preparations? After that, make sure your workspace is well-lit, and adhere to our directions precisely.

First, use cotton wool or a lint-free cloth soaked in nail polish remover to remove any leftover old polish. It is actually preferable to use a cloth for this, if at all possible, as cotton pads tend to leave behind tiny lint particles that cause the polish to be applied unevenly. Additionally, use nail polish remover to degrease the nail plate even if your nails are not polished.

To cut your nails, use nippers or scissors. You can skip this step and start using a nail file right away if your nails aren’t too long or if you don’t intend to drastically cut them.

For natural nails, use a nail file with an abrasive grit of 180–200. Here you can learn how to select the appropriate tool, and our comprehensive guide will assist you in selecting the appropriate nail shape. Avoid moving the file in a "right-left" pattern as this can cause the nails to delaminate. Instead, move the file smoothly in one direction. Extreme caution should be used when rounding the nails; excessive force applied to the sides of the nails may cause ingrowth later on.

The nail plate needs to be completely dry before using a nail file, so never use one right after showering!

To prevent delamination, lightly file and polish the edges of your nails with a polishing file. Again, though, avoid aiming for a mirror shine as nail polish will not "stick" to a perfectly smooth surface.

Gently push back the cuticle and pterygium, the thin film that makes up the lower layer of the cuticle, with an orange stick or a specialized pusher.

After using a specialized cuticle remover, wait 20 to 30 seconds.

Gently push back the cuticle once more with an orange stick or pusher, being cautious not to apply too much pressure. Use a greasy cream in its place if you don’t have a specific remover on hand.

Use nippers or scissors to remove hangnails if needed. Apply cream to the skin on your hands.

Use a liquid that contains alcohol or a liquid to remove nail polish after you have removed the cuticle. This will assist in degreasing the nail’s surface and removing any leftover remover. Additionally, there are nail degreasers available from some beauty brands that are both easy to use and highly effective.

Use a base coat if possible, as this will improve the adhesion of the varnish and stop the nail plate from yellowing. With the base slightly retracted from the cuticle, spread it out in a thin layer. Even if you intend to apply a light polish to your nails later, do not omit this step.

Video tutorial on creating a manicure

A straightforward and understandable video tutorial on applying a basic manicure at home has been prepared by beauty blogger Lena Sevelenium. Look!

Is it worth doing a trimmed manicure?

With the above-mentioned creation schemes, the unedged (European) manicure procedure is becoming more and more popular. In this type of manicure, the cuticle is pushed back after being softened with a specific product called a remover.

It is best to avoid trimming the cuticle if you typically maintain an unedged manicure because doing so makes the nail rougher and more difficult to remove.

Furthermore, the cuticle shields the skin from infections by acting as a sort of barrier. If you would like to transition from the trimmed (classic) manicure to the European one, simply stop cutting your cuticles, start using a remover, and have patience. Thankfully, the process is reversible, and with consistent European manicure, the cuticle will eventually become softer and thinner if you choose not to cut it.

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How to do a French manicure at home?

One of the traditional manicure styles is French. You are looking at a French manicure if there is a contrasting stripe that highlights the tip of the nail. The traditional rendition recommends "pink translucent varnish plus a white stripe," but modern French manicures increasingly use a variety of color schemes and textures, including shimmery, glittery, and matte.

The latest styles suggest that the colored line at the nail’s tip doesn’t always have to be even. But this is the main issue that you will need to resolve if you want to create a traditional French manicure.

The most popular method for creating a French manicure is to use specialized stencils. All you have to do is glue the stencil (starting a little distance away from the nail base instead of right at it) and use varnish to mark the tip. Peel off the stencil once it dries, and a flawlessly even strip will stay on the nail.

Moreover, a French manicure brush can be used to quickly and easily draw an even strip with a semicircle "cut" in the middle rather than a straight or beveled edge. These brushes are exclusive to specialty shops, so you’ll need to search for them, but they’ll save you a ton of time when applying a French manicure.

Purchasing customized stickers for a French manicure is the third method, which is also possibly the simplest. All you have to do is attach a pre-made strip in the selected color to the nail’s edge using glue.

French manicure: step-by-step photo instructions

The French manicure will be simple for people who know how to use manicure brushes. The thinnest brush imaginable, a transparent base, a light pink or other shade of varnish, white or any other colored varnish that you want to use to draw a strip on the nail’s tip, and a fixing varnish are all that you’ll need.

The French manicure is characterized by the signature "smile" that is meticulously drawn on the nail tip using a thin art brush and white or colored varnish.

How to do a quartz manicure?

One of the most popular nail designs of the past few years is a nail plate that imitates veins and streaks, much like on a quartz surface. How can I get this look again? First, gather supplies: a toothpick or needle, white varnish, a base and top coat, and a soft pink varnish with a translucent texture.

After applying a base coat, paint your nails in multiple layers of a soft pink translucent varnish (a traditional French manicure varnish would work well). This time, the texture—rather than the exact shade—is more crucial. The thick varnish will prevent the quartz effect from being achieved.

Await the proper drying of the pink varnish layers before beginning to create the distinctive white "veins" that set this manicure style apart from others. Use an old or pearlescent varnish coat and a toothpick, needle, or special manicure brush to draw them. Draw erratic lines on your nails, and then, while the varnish is still wet, apply another coat of transparent pink nail polish to slightly haze the lines.

It’s not as hard as you might think to do a manicure at home. You don’t even need to leave your house to get salon-caliber results with a few simple tools and easy instructions. You can have gorgeous nails whenever you want by following this guide, which will walk you through all the necessary steps, from cleaning your nails to applying polish.

How to do a matte manicure?

The simplest way to achieve a matte manicure—which is now seriously competing with the traditional glossy manicure—is to use a special matte coating, which is available from many nail brands. The coating comes in two varieties: colored and transparent. The transparent variety can be mixed with any other glossy varnish to create a matte finish.

• You will need: nail polish remover or degreaser, cotton pad, colored varnish of any shade, matte top coat.

Use a specific degreaser on your nails or use a cotton pad dipped in nail polish remover to wipe them off.

Use two coats of any varnish you have in your collection. It may have a pearlescent, metallic, shimmering, translucent, or dense texture. It is important to note, though, that a matte top combined with a standard single-color varnish with a thick texture will look more striking.

Verify that the coating is flawlessly smooth and free of even the smallest imperfections. It is preferable to repaint the nail if you are not happy with anything because a matte top will draw attention to flaws. Remember that applying a matte coating can alter the varnish’s initial color, perhaps making it lighter. Give the nail a matte coating. The manicure is prepared!

This article will teach you some more creative ways to achieve a matte manicure with homemade supplies.

How to do a marble manicure?

Because marble manicures are made using the same principles as quartz, they look similar. In this instance, it is suggested to paint a design on the nails that resembles the surface of a marble tile with veins of various colors. How can I make it quickly?

• You will need: a base transparent coat, white polish, black polish, gray polish, a manicure or thin art brush, a sponge, a transparent top coat.

Depending on how dense the texture is, apply one or two layers of white polish. Making a coating without "bald spots" is your aim. Hold off until the polish completely dries.

Use black nail polish, a specialized manicure brush, or the thinnest art brush to create a haphazard pattern of thin stripes on your nails.

Apply a few dots to your nails using gray nail polish. To avoid smearing the prior polish layer, do this after the black lines have had time to dry.

Apply a fresh cosmetic sponge to the nail’s surface with caution; this will help produce the highly "marbled" streaks.

DIY mirror manicure

With a special glitter powder (rubbing), available in specialty stores, creating a mirror manicure is the simplest. Additionally, you will need to use gel polish rather than regular polish. Special coatings for gel polish (both basic and top), a UV lamp, and a cosmetic sponge are also required.

To allow the coating to solidify, apply a special transparent base for gel polish and place your nails under a UV lamp for two minutes.

Apply two coats of wine or burgundy gel polish, and allow each coat to dry under a UV lamp.

Each nail should have a transparent top coat applied and dried for two minutes under a UV lamp.

Apply shadow rubbing as soon as possible, as the nails did not have time to cool. Distribute the sponge. The result will be a more saturated color the hotter the nail plate is when applied.

Lunar manicure: creation scheme

"Reverse jacket" is the second name for the lunar manicure. Its performance can be adjusted in a few different ways. The first is the one where a unique color or pattern is used to identify a semicircular nail hole. In the second option, a strip that mimics the shape of the nail tip highlights the base of the nail. Let’s examine each of these pictures in more detail.

Option No. 1

If this is your first time doing a reverse French manicure, a moon manicure in soft pastel colors is a good choice because mistakes won’t be as obvious as they would be with darker varnishes.

• You will need: base and top coats, soft pink varnish, light green varnish, a thin brush made of artificial bristles.

An essential step in creating any manicure, and one that you shouldn’t omit this time.

To draw the outline of the nail plate, use a thin artificial bristle brush (you can use a regular art brush or a special manicure brush) and dab it with a soft green paint. The strip should be a little broader at the nail’s base. If the line is uneven, don’t worry; you can correct it in the following step.

Apply pink nail polish to the remaining portion of the nail, working your way outward from the center.

For the longest possible wear, protect your moon manicure by applying a clear top coat to your nails.

Option #2

When performing a moon manicure, the nail’s lunula is frequently filled with an intriguing pattern or design rather than just being marked with a different color. We chose to demonstrate one of the simplest methods for producing an amazing moon manicure. To replicate it, you’ll need a clean orange stick, a base coat, a top coat, and two vibrant colored polishes (we used pink and blue).

At the base of the nail, use the beveled end of an orange stick that has been painted blue to create the appearance of an eye. Mark the arc first, and then add a big dot to represent the pupil. You can also add "eyelashes" to finish the appearance.

How to do a water manicure?

One of the most well-liked and, crucially, straightforward methods for getting a unique manicure is the water manicure. A container with warm water, two or three different shade varnishes (you can use more), a toothpick or needle, greasy hand cream, paper tape, and nail polish remover are all you’ll need to repeat the process. then adhere to the guidelines.

To create a colored film on the water’s surface, add a few drops of the first shade of varnish to a bowl of warm water.

Place a drop of the second shade’s varnish in the middle of the formed circle. If you want to use more than two shades in a single look, add a drop of each distinct varnish separately.

Using a toothpick or needle, combine all the colors to create a lovely multicolored design. However, you can omit this step if you’re worried about receiving an unexpected outcome.

The skin surrounding the nail plate will undoubtedly become stained by the varnish when the design is transferred from the water’s surface to the nail. Tape masking tape to the skin around your fingers to stop this from happening.

Dip your fingers into the water one at a time until a varnish film covers each nail. The multicolored pattern will transfer to the nail plate’s surface as soon as you remove your finger from the water.

After the varnish has dried, take off the tape and, if needed, use nail polish remover to get rid of any extra varnish.

It is worth noting that the water manicure technique facilitates the creation of various manicure options, such as marble, which were previously discussed. Watch our video instructions on how to create a water manicure to help you better retain what you have learned.

How to do an ombre manicure?

The popularity of gradient manicures, which feature a seamless transition between shades, never goes out of style. It’s time to acquire the necessary skills.

• You will need: nail polish remover and a cotton pad, base and top coats, any two different shades of polish (darker and lighter), a clean makeup sponge, a thin synthetic brush or a cotton swab.

To ensure better adhesion of colored polishes to the nail plate, follow standard procedure: degrease the plate first, then apply a clear base coat.

To create the gradient effect, apply polishes in both shades onto a clean makeup sponge and apply each shade to your nails individually, blurring the color boundaries. Remember to reapply polish to the sponge each time you begin working on a fresh nail.

Apply nail polish remover to a thin synthetic brush and use it to remove any polish that may have gotten on your fingers.

Step	Instructions
1. Prepare your nails	Remove old polish, wash your hands, and trim your nails to your desired length.
2. Shape your nails	Use a nail file to shape your nails, moving in one direction to avoid splitting.
3. Soak your hands	Soak your hands in warm, soapy water for a few minutes to soften the cuticles.
4. Push back cuticles	Gently push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher or an orange stick.
5. Moisturize your hands	Apply a moisturizing cream or lotion to your hands and massage it in.
6. Apply base coat	Apply a thin layer of base coat to protect your nails and make the

Taking care of your nails at home can be as easy and satisfying as doing a manicure. You don’t need to leave your house to get results that look professional—all you need is a few simple tools and some perseverance. Your nails will remain healthy, trimmed, and polished if you follow the instructions provided.

Keep in mind that preparation is the secret to a great manicure. From the trimming and filing to the polish application, take your time. Take your time; enjoying the process of self-care is just as important as the final product.

As you practice, your confidence in your abilities will grow. Manicuring your own nails will become second nature to you soon. So get your materials ready, schedule some alone time, and enjoy creating the best possible manicure.

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Beautiful manicure | How to do a manicure at home? Basic instructions for everyone