What’s a simple yet elegant way to lovely hands? Lovely, painted fingernails. Whether your preference is a single shade, various colors and/or authentic nail art, manicured, painted fingernails are fashionable and fun.
A manicure is a cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingernails and hands performed at home or in a nail salon. A manicure consists of filing and shaping of the free edge, using a cuticle pusher to push down the cuticles, clipping the nails, treatments, massaging of the hands and the application of the polish.
While investing in a professional manicure is a feel-good luxury, a do it yourself manicure works just as well for a polished, professional looking finish.
Manicure Fun Fact: To add extra oomph and pizzazz to your fingernails, paint pictures or designs on the nails, or apply small decals or fancy jewels. Other nail treatments may include the application of artificial nail gels, tips, or acrylics, such as French manicures.
The English word manicure comes from the French word manucure. The word manicure is derived from the French usage, meaning “care of the hands”, which in turn originates from the Latin word manus, for “hand” and cura, for “care”. Interesting!
Whether you prefer smooth, lacquered polish or glittered polish, painted fingernails are festive, fun and fabulous.
Common Manicure Tools and Supplies:
Tools Needed:
- Bowl of warm water or finger bath
- Nail clippers
- Cuticle knife and clippers
- Cuticle pusher
- Nail file or emery board
- Buffer
- Scissors
- Brush
- Manicure table
- Nail art brushes/tools
Supplies Needed:
- Nail polish remover
- Hand cream
- Sanitizing spray
- Cotton balls or Q-Tips
- Hand towels
- Cuticle remover
- Nail polish
Decorations:
- Nail jewels (self-adhesive or nail glue)
- Nail art
- Decals
- Glitter
How to Perform a Do It Yourself (DIY) At Home Manicure:
- Remove any old or chipped nail polish (nail polish remover).
- File the nails to your desired shape.
- Soak your fingers in warm soapy water to soften the cuticles.
- Rub cuticle cream into the nails.
- Use a Q-Tip or nail stick to gently push back the cuticles.
- Wipe the nails with a damp cloth to remove oils or residue. Pat dry the nails.
- Apply a clear base coat of polish to the bare nails and let dry.
- Apply the fingernail polish color or colors of your choice. A good, thick polish should only need one coat.
- Once dry, apply a final coat of clear nail polish (topcoat) to add lustrous shine and help seal the color, eliminating chips and divots.
Wahlah, glamorous, gorgeous nails!
Do it yourself manicures for truly grand hands!
Nail Fun Fact: There are several nail shapes: the basic shapes are oval, square oval, pointed, almond, round, square with rounded corners, straight with rounded corners. The square oval shape is sometimes known as a “squoval”, a term coined in 1984. The squoval is considered a sturdy shape, useful for those who work with their hands.
However, for all fashion divas, shape away to any nail shape that satisfies you and makes you happy! Fashion is fun, fashion is festive, fashion is to be enjoyed!
Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!
French manicures are highly popular. French manicures can be made with artificial nails, which are designed to resemble natural fingernails, and are characterized by lack of base color, or natural pink base nails with white tips. The tips of the nails are painted white while the rest of the nails are polished in a pink or suitable nude shade. French manicures can also be painted on natural nails.
French Manicure Fun Fact: French manicures may have originated in 18th century Paris and were popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Another similar technique is to whiten the underside of the nail with white pencil and paint a sheer color over the entire nail.
For a truly divine manicure, try the hot oil manicure. This is a specific type of manicure that cleans the cuticles and softens them with hot oil. Types of oils that can be used, and are soothing, are mineral oil, olive oil, warmed hand lotions and creams prepared in an electric heater.
Hands may also be dipped in melted paraffin wax for softening and moisturizing. Paraffin wax is used because the wax can be heated to temperatures over 95 degrees F (35 degrees C) without burning or injuring the hands.
Match your fingernails to your makeup for a stunning, beautiful look that is truly unmatchable!
“I need to do something fun today.”
“Why not paint up your fingernails in a fabulous way?”
“That’s a marvelous idea. Would you like to paint yours too?”
“So many colors to choose from. Should I go green, yellow, red or blue?”
“I have a grand idea. Why don’t you use them all for show?”
“A different color for each nail? A rocking fingernail rainbow!”
For a rocking fingernail look that is fantastic and never demure, indulge in a do it yourself manicure!
Happy hands! Do-It-Yourself manicures!
Nancy Mangano is an American beauty/fashion/style influencer, fashion journalist, screenwriter and author of the Natalie North murder mystery book series. Visit Nancy on her global online fashion/style/beauty magazine Strutting in Style! at https://nancymariemangano.com, her Facebook page Nancy Mangano at https://www.facebook.com/nancymmangano/ Twitter @https://twitter.com/nancymangano and her author website http://www.nancymangano.com
