How to Give Yourself a Manicure

It is really easy to give yourself a professional looking manicure. First you have to gather together all of the supplies that you will need to accomplish the job. You will need to get the following supplies:

1. A bowl larger enough to fit your whole hand into.
2. A gentle hand soap
3. A soft terry cloth towel
4. Nail polish remover (with alkaline)
5. A cuticle remover tool
6. Four different textured buffers (rough, medium, fine and smooth), you can buy these that have 4 in 1 on it
7. A nail file to clean under the nail and to shape with
8. A bottle of nail strengthener
9. A bottle of cuticle lotion
10.Some hand lotion
11.A clear base coat
12.Your choice of nail polish

You will first want to remove any old nail polish from your nails along with any jewelry that you may have on. Put a little of the gentle hand soap in the bowl and add hot water about half full. Soak your hand in it for about 10 minutes. This will loosen up the cuticle and soften the nail. With the terry cloth, dry off the hand. Using the terry cloth, push back the cuticles. If need be use the cuticle remover to take off any excess cuticle that lays on the nail.

Next you will want to check your nails for any ridges on the surface. To do this run the edge of your nail from your other hand over top of the nail you are checking. If it is bumpy you will need to sand it down with a rough buffer. Starting at the cuticle use a back and forth motion across the nail to the tip. Repeat this with the medium, fine, and smooth buffer. Do this to all of the nails on the first hand. If the nail only looks dull you will only have to buff with the smooth buffer. You will know that you did a good job if the nails look like they have a clear coat of polish on them.