•Gel polish might not be your first choice. You can opt for press-on or fake nails.”
•You need to gather the right tools and equipment for a perfect manicure.
Image: beautyfash
If you are concerned about hygiene and willing to save some coins during these tough times, well, doing your nails at home is a skill you might want to learn.
We asked a professional nail technician at Gifted Hands Spa in Roysambu, Nairobi, for insights on creating a long-lasting manicure at the comfort of your home.
According to Veronica Wairimu, first, you need to gather the right tools and equipment to create a perfect manicure.
"Create a checklist for the items you will need. Ensure everything is at hand so that you have that perfect flow,” Wairimu told the Star on Monday.
"If you are interested in doing your nails at home, gel polish might not be your first choice. You can opt for press-on or fake nails ( stick-ons),” she said.
Materials needed
Nail polish remover with acetone. Wairimu says the conditioning agents in acetone-free removers can affect proper adhesion, causing your nails to come off.
- Cotton pads
- Acetone
- Wet wipes
- Cuticle pusher stick
- Pack of nails
- Nail cutter
- Nail buffer
- Nail file
- Glue (Use nail glue only)
- Coconut oil
Removing the polish
Wairimu says it's best to start with a clean slate.
"Use the polish remover to remove the previous nail polish. Once all the polish is off, do another swipe to remove any oil, dirt or moisture,” she said.
"Always avoid soaking your nails before prepping them. This can lead to chipping. Soaking your nails causes the nails to expand.”
Filing and cutting the nails
Wairimu said it is important to cut and file down your natural nails to your desired shape or size while maintaining a uniform length.
"Filing nails will keep them from breaking or having uneven edges, opt for a round or a square shape as it is easy to maintain, but if you want an elegant look you can always try the almond shape," she said.
For those applying stickers, she said keeping the nails as short as possible is workable.
Image: MARGARET WANJIRU
Buff your nail
"Once you file them down to your desired shape, use a nail buffer to smoothen the nail surface. This will help the polish be flawless, and the glue will stick uniformly," she said.
"Try not to over-buff, once you achieve a clean slate go to the next step, to avoid thinning your nails. Stroke in an X pattern.”
Push your cuticles
Wairimu said this is a step that you can skip because if you are not careful you can hurt your nailbed, exposing it to infections.
Image: MARGARET WANJIRU
Apply base coat
Before applying anything else on your nail, apply a base coat to protect your natural nails.
“This also prevents your nails from staining and helps the polish stay put. Remember to apply a base coat even before you apply the glue if you are applying the stick-on,” Wairimu said.
Applying the coats
For those applying nail polish, Wairimu advised applying two coats on the nail.
"Try starting your first coat by not painting too close to the perimeter of the nail. Get closer to the edge and cuticle on the second coat to prevent polish from flooding around your nails, then finish off with a top coat," she said.
Check the sizes
Wairimu said stick-on nails come in different shapes and sizes, and finding the one that fits perfectly is key to ensuring they last longer.
“If they are too small for the nail, they will lift. In case you are in between sizes, go a size up because your natural nail should not be exposed,”
“You can file your press-on nails until the edges line up with those of your natural nails, but have an extra pack if you are a beginner.”
Image: MARGARET WANJIRU
Glue up, file down and polish.
Wairimu advised putting glue on both the stick-on and the natural nails before gluing them down, however, using a small drop of glue is recommended to avoid spilling.
“Hold it down for 15 seconds to ensure no air bubbles are trapped inside. This can lead to lifting. Use a file to shorten and shape them, then go in with a buffer to smoothen the filed edges,” she said.
After that, Wairimu said you can clean them up after you are done with warm water, and pat them dry, before going in with a light oil (coconut) or preferred oil.