A Simple At-Home Manicure, Step by Step

A salon manicure is lovely, but a simple at-home one can give you the same neat, polished feeling for the price of a bottle of polish and a quiet half hour. Here is a gentle, step-by-step routine you can repeat whenever your nails need a little attention.

Prep your nails

Set out a towel and work in good light. Remove any old polish with a cotton pad and nail polish remover. Trim your nails to your preferred length, then file in one direction with a soft file to avoid snagging. Soak your fingertips in warm water for a couple of minutes, then gently push back your cuticles with a soft cuticle stick. Try not to cut them, since pushing back is easier and keeps nails looking tidy.

A glass nail file (opens Amazon in a new tab)

A fine-grit file that feels gentle on nail edges and is easy to rinse clean.

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Paint with thin coats

Start with a thin coat of base coat. Then apply two thin coats of color, letting each dry for a minute or two. Paint a stripe down the center, then one on each side, and cap the free edge by running the brush along the tip. Thin coats dry faster and look smoother than one thick one. Finish with a glossy top coat and cap the edge again.

A bottle of pink nail polish next to a stack of blank paper on a pink table Save

Clean up any mistakes

Dip a small flat brush or cotton swab in remover and tidy any polish on your skin. Wait until your nails are fully dry before you do anything else, since a smudge is easy to make and hard to fix.

Keep it looking fresh

Rub a drop of cuticle oil into each nail every night. Wear gloves for washing dishes, and apply a fresh top coat every few days to keep the shine. If you are a beginner, a neutral shade like soft pink or milky white hides little imperfections nicely. A bit of hand cream afterward feels lovely too.

A cuticle oil pen (opens Amazon in a new tab)

A twist-up pen that makes it easy to moisturize your nails and cuticles on the go.

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