French Manicure 101, articles, fashion beauty

French Manicure 101

by �milie Canuel-Langlois
published December 22, 2009

rating: (77 Ratings)

It’s been said that your hands say a lot about you. Beautiful nails project an image of elegance and femininity; wouldn’t you love to treat your nails to a lovely French manicure? If you can’t afford the salon visits, divine.ca has the solution for you—a quick, easy French manicure you can do yourself!

What you’ll need:
·Nail polish remover;
·Cotton balls or pads;
·Nail clippers;
·Base coat, creamy white nail polish (matte), rose-tinted clear polish, and top coat;
·Nail file;
·Cotton swabs;
·Orange stick (for pushing back cuticles);
·Sweet almond oil;
·Moisturizer;
·Exfoliating scrub (if possible, choose one meant for your hands);
·Nail brush (you can also use a vegetable brush or an old toothbrush).

STEP 1: Remove any old polish from your nails, using a cotton ball or pad dipped in nail polish remover.

STEP 2: Wash your hands with lukewarm, soapy water. Then, rub your nails with the brush to get out any incrusted dirt.

STEP 3: Still using lukewarm water, rub the exfoliating scrub all over your hands to remove dead skin cells, then rinse.

STEP 4: In a small bowl, mix a few drops of sweet almond oil into some warm water. Soak your fingers for a few minutes: the almond oil helps nourish the keratin in your nails, while the warm water softens your cuticles. Then, dry your hands well.

STEP 5: Push back your softened cuticles with the orange stick.

STEP 6: Cut nails into a square shape with some nail clippers. Your nails should be about 2 to 3 mm long.

STEP 7: File your nails starting at the side and working towards the centre. Use two short strokes at each edge of the nail, followed by a long stroke straight across. Do not file back and forth across the nail, as it can cause splitting. Repeat filing until you have the desired shape.

STEP 8: Make sure your nails don’t have any oil on them, otherwise the polish will not adhere. Remove any leftover oil with a bit of nail polish remover.

STEP 9: Apply one coat of fortifying, clear polish, which will prevent the pigments of the coloured polish from penetrating the nail. Allow to dry.

STEP 10: With the white nail polish, carefully paint the tip of your nail (the white “half-moon”). If you go past the outline, use a corrector like Sally Hansen’s No More Mistakes or a cotton swab soaked in nail polish remover. Let dry.

(You can buy guide strips that you apply to the nail just below the tip. Paint from the top of the guide strip to the end of the nail; this should give you a clean, straight line).

STEP 11: Apply the clear polish. Do this in three steps: first, apply it in the centre of the nail, then to the left, and finally to the right. Make sure you go over the white polish, too.

STEP 12: Apply the top coat for a brilliant shine, and to protect your nails from daily wear and tear. This means you also won’t have to redo your manicure every week!

STEP 13: Before going to bed, apply moisturizer to your hands, then put on a pair of cotton gloves. Your hands will be extra soft. During the day, prevent age spots from appearing with a cream with a sun-protection factor.

Tips:

*To get your polish to dry faster, dip your fingertips in ice-cold water.

*If you’re going to garden or do any other dirty work, run your fingers on a bar of soap—the soap residue will keep dirt from accumulating under your nails.

*Make sure you’re getting enough magnesium, vitamin A, calcium and zinc. These nutrients are essential for the beauty of your nails.