Do it Yourself French Manicure

You may have passed by these little kits on your way through the cosmetics aisle, without really acknowledging that they could be a useful product. After all you get your nails done ‘professionally’ at the salon for a nice chunk of change every few weeks. But is it worth it to try these little $6.00-8.00 kits? Definitely—and here’s why.

What’s in the Kit?

Each kit comes with instructions, a color coat (comes in a variety of natural colors to opalescent purple), a white tip coat, and nail guards. If you want a more natural look to your manicure, you should try the ‘clearly buff’ or the pinker shades, which will not draw too much attention to the base color of your nail. If you are looking for something flashier, try the ‘Sheerly Opal’ set, which is pink, with a purplish gleam when the light hits it. The kit includes everything you need to make a nice French manicure, except the file and top coat, which you will have to purchase separately.

Prep work

To prepare your fingernails for this French manicure experience, you should take the time to file them. Make sure you only file in one direction, not back and forth, as this damages and weakens your nail. File them either straight or rounded, depending on the look you want and how your fingernails look more natural. Some people have a straight line of white on the tips of their fingernails and others have a rounded shape naturally, so you should try and follow this when filing them all the same length. Next you should use a cuticle softener and gently push your cuticles back so that you will have more nail surface to work with and a cleaner look. Make sure your nails are dry before you start the French manicure.

How do I do it?