How to Care for Your Nails

Gather your tools. To achieve beautiful nails, you’ll need some basic nail care tools. Prepare a basin of water for soaking your feet, nail clippers, a nail file, an Orange Stick or Cuticle Stick to clean the skin around your nails, a buffer, a pumice stone or nail brush, a top coat, a base coat, and your preferred nail polish color. You can also add bath salts for foot soaking, cuticle nippers, Cuticle Oil, and moisturizing lotion for a relaxing foot massage.

Remove old nail polish. While this step may seem obvious, it’s the first and most crucial part of nail care. Applying new polish over old layers won’t give you the desired results! Use an acetone-based nail polish remover to ensure all old polish and residue around the nails are completely cleaned.

Soak your feet. Fill a basin or tub with warm water, and if you like, add some bath salts or essential oils. This is your time to sit back and relax! Soak your feet for about 10 minutes; the warm water will soften calluses, remove dirt, and cleanse accumulated impurities from your skin. It also helps soften your nails and the surrounding skin, which is crucial before applying nail polish.

Trim and file your nails. Start by using nail clippers to trim your nails, leaving a small white tip at the end. Aim to cut the nails slightly square, following the natural curve of your toenails. Use a nail file to smooth any sharp edges left by the clippers and shape the nails as desired.

• Avoid cutting nails in a rounded shape, as this can encourage ingrown nails.
• If possible, file in one direction to prevent splitting or damaging the nail layers.

Clean the cuticles. While this step is optional, it’s highly beneficial for preparing your nails before polishing. Use an Orange Stick or Cuticle Stick to gently clean the skin around your nails. If you have cuticle nippers, carefully remove any dead skin buildup. After trimming, apply a bit of Cuticle Oil to moisturize this sensitive area.

Smooth the nail surface. Use a buffer to gently smooth the top and rough edges of your nails. Pay special attention to the areas you’ve just trimmed or filed, as these spots may need a slight bevel to ensure a flat surface. Move the buffer in one direction, holding it at an angle to cover the entire nail.

Exfoliate and soften the skin. Now it’s time to focus on your feet. Use a pumice stone to gently scrub away calluses on your heels and ankles. Avoid scrubbing too hard, as excessive irritation can cause the skin to thicken as a protective response, leading to a cycle of thickening. Instead, use light pressure for the best results. After removing dead skin or calluses, you can use a nail brush to clean your entire foot. Scrub between the toes and the top of your foot, adding soap if you prefer a deeper clean.

• Rinse your feet with water after exfoliating.
• Avoid using sharp tools like scrapers on calluses, as they can damage the skin and increase the risk of fungal infections.

Complete the prep work for polishing. Remove your feet from the soaking basin and let them dry. Dry your feet thoroughly, and if desired, apply a layer of lotion to moisturize and massage the skin. If you prefer, use a bit of nail polish remover once more (as lotion can prevent polish from adhering properly).

Apply a base coat. Use a clear nail polish as a protective base coat. The base coat prevents colored polish from staining your nails and creates a sturdy layer for the color polish to adhere to.

Apply your chosen nail color. Select a nail polish shade and paint each toenail. Start by applying polish in the center of the nail, near the cuticle, and use the brush to spread it evenly to the tip. Work from the center outward until the entire nail is covered, using your fingernail or the edge of an Orange Stick to clean up any accidental smudges on the skin. You may need two coats for full, opaque coverage.

Finish up. Wait a few minutes for the color polish to dry, then apply a top coat. The top coat seals the color polish, making it last longer and preventing chipping. Afterward, keep your feet still for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the polish to dry completely. Gently touch the painted nails to check if they’re still tacky; if they’re completely dry and don’t smudge when pressed, you’re done! Show off your adorable new toenails and admire your soft, refreshed feet.

• Clean any tools you’ve used with a disinfectant after finishing; dirty tools can harbor bacteria that may cause infections during future use.

• Always check the water temperature before soaking your feet to avoid burns.
• Be cautious when trimming cuticles, as improper cutting can lead to infections. Always cut nails straight across or trim them to prevent ingrown nails.