7 Tips for a Perfect Manicure ...

One of those all-important tips for a perfect manicure, prepping isn’t something you’ll want to skip if you want a salon-worthy mani! Seriously, imagine that gorgeous, attention-worthy new shade surrounded by cuticles and hangnails gone wild! Not the best picture, I’m sure you’ll agree! Nails are not the only ones to deserve pampering, which is why you should reserve some of that good stuff for the surrounding skin too, and use a cuticle softening method of choice to ensure a painless cleanup. Push cuticles back carefully, then gently buff the part of the nail they used to cover to remove any bits of skin and smooth out nail surface. Hangnails come next – they should be soft by now, allowing you to come in with your scissors and snip them off easily! Voila! All done!

No mani will look awesome without awesomely shaped nails, thus this tip for a perfect manicure, of course! Grab a nail file, then, and start working your way to a perfect-looking nail! I like to file the sides of my nails first to ensure a clean, symmetric, elongated look and remove any remaining traces of hangnails (and this is actually a much better alternative to more cutting), then either square the top or, if I’ve cut my nails short, file along the curve to make sure the line is completely smooth.

A great base is a great choice – don’t forget that! It smooths and perfects the nail surface, making the application much easier and the finished look much better, even when it comes to foily, unforgiving formulas. It also helps the nail color adhere much better, turning even the easiest to chip polishes into something you can wear much longer, plus it keeps your nails stain-free (ideal for dark polishes) and super strong!

This well-known manicure trick could save you a lot of brushstrokes, so keep notes and make sure you give it a test run the next time you decide to paint your nails. And with that said, here’s the big secret – three strokes! Place the brush parallel with the cuticle and as close as possible to it then pull to get a nice straight (well, as straight as possible) line along the center of your nail. One brush stroke for each side and voila – you’ve coated your entire nail in just three easy strokes! What this method does is help you get the polish on perfectly every time without that annoying pooling at the sides that can occur with runnier polishes. Not to mention that, when used with a brush that fans out nicely, this trick could help you coat a whole nail in one stroke! Awesome, isn’t it?

Cleaning up your work definitely is one of those manicure tricks that make a pro job look…well…like a pro job! Luckily, we’re not talking rocket science here, which means that you can get that pro-looking manicure at home with no extra cost! Use an old makeup brush, a makeup brush you found too stiff to use for your face or even a small painting brush – it can be slanted or oval like a foundation brush and it will help you clean your cuticles and the sides of your nails like a true pro! Ever wondered how those makeup bloggers manage to have that perfectly shaped gap between their cuticles and nail polish? Well, this is how! Dip the brush into your nail polish remover and use smooth but firm moves to clean up your cuticle line as well as all stains (if any). It might take some getting used to but the results are so, so, so worth it.

Ready for one tip for a perfect manicure that is sure to make you go, “Yay”? Well, here’s it is plain and simple – cheat! You’ve got special effect toppers, magnetic nail polishes, French manicure strips to make the application easy and perfect-looking even if you’ve never done it before, foils…you name it! The beauty industry of today has literally taken it all, put a big bow on it and handed it to you on a silver platter! All you have to do is to reach out and take it! Why not? It does mean having a bit more products than you’re used to but gives you the “WOW” appearance even if you’re not paying big bucks to get your nails professionally groomed!

You’re almost there! All that’s left for you to do is apply a top coat! Skip this step if you’re using a special effect topper of course but keep it in mind if you’re hoping to score a long-wear DIY mani! You can get a 2 in 1 base and top coat and save yourself the trouble of having two different products or opt for some of the many interesting clear top coats pretty much every brand has to offer. Apply it, wait for it to dry then wash your hands, gently pat them dry and apply a cuticle oil of choice! Voila! You’ve just mastered all the manicure tricks you’ll ever need in order to give yourself a seriously gorgeous looking manicure!

Is there an awesome manicure trick I’m foolishly ignoring? Well, the world must know about it, you’ll agree! Comment below and tell me what do you do to keep your manicure looking as gorgeous as it does?