How To Get A French Manicure
STEP 1
It's essential to prepare your hands and nails before applying
nail polish. First, exfoliate your hands by massaging them using a
small amount of body scrub. Rinse with water and dry thoroughly.
One of the main causes of chapped hands is not drying them
properly after washing.
STEP 2
File your nails. If they are brittle or tend to split, keep them
flat across the top with smooth, rounded edges. When filing, move
in one direction, from outer corner to centre-sawing movements can
damage the nail plate. Choose a nail file with a fine surface that
glides over the nail.
STEP 3
Coat hands in a layer of sweet almond oil, to norish and soften,
then wrap in a warm towel and relax for 15 minutes. Unwrap, and
gently push back cuticles using a rubber hoof stick (available
from most chemists). Never use cuticle clippers, as they can nick
the skin. Rinse hands with warm water and dry thoroughly to remove
any oil residue.
STEP 4
Apply one coat of base coat over your entire nail and allow a
couple of minutes to dry. This will help strengthen the nail. Some
products also level fine ridges and imperfections, leaving a
smooth surface to apply polish. There's a wide range of base coats
to choose from.
STEP 5
For a square look, paint a straight line across the tips; for a
rounded appearance, follow the curve of the nail; and to get a
pointed style, paint in from each side to the centre. Some
manicure kits include sticky strips to use as a guide. when
applying, lay your hand on a flat surface and keep the ball of
your painting hand steady and keep the ball of your painting hand
steady by resting it on the same surface. Leave to dry.
STEP 6
Finally, apply a coat of translucent shell-pink polish over the
entire nail to seal the whitened tip and complete the look. Allow
10 minutes for it to dry. For extra shine and protection, apply a
clear, glossy top coat.
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