How to Do Your Own Nails

Gather your tools and accessories. To achieve stunning nails, you need the right tools and accessories. While there might be an initial cost, you'll have everything ready for future manicures. Purchase the following items:

• Nail polish remover
• Cotton balls or swabs
• Cuticle tool
• Nail buffer
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Cuticle cream or hand lotion
• Nail polish
• Base coat
• Top coat

Prepare your nail-painting area. Nail polish and nail polish remover can damage various surfaces like fabric, wood finishes, and plastic. Wear an old T-shirt and avoid wearing valuable accessories. Sit at a table covered with old paper (avoid newspapers to prevent ink smudges). Ensure the table and nearby items aren’t too valuable, as chemicals might spill or seep into them. For example, avoid doing your nails near a computer.

Remove old nail polish. Use nail polish remover with cotton balls or swabs to wipe away old polish. Some removers can dry out nails and surrounding skin. Opt for a non-drying formula if possible, but don’t worry too much unless you have severe allergies.

• If you’re keeping artificial nails like acrylics, choose a polish remover that won’t damage them, and avoid soaking nails for too long.
• Avoid acetone-based removers unless used sparingly (once a month or less). Acetone makes removal easier but can harm nails.

Trim and file your nails. Use nail clippers to shape your nails. Avoid cutting too close; leave a small white tip. Use a nail file to smooth and refine the edges. Gently glide the file across the nails instead of pressing hard. Excessive back-and-forth filing can weaken nails and cause breakage. Curve your hand with each stroke to create a smooth edge instead of sharp corners. Don’t file too much; only smooth out rough spots after trimming.

• If you need to remove artificial nails, such as when they’ve grown out and look odd, check out this guide.
• Avoid cutting curved edges along the sides of the nail bed, as this can lead to ingrown nails. Be especially careful with big toes, which are prone to ingrowth due to tight shoes.

Buff your nails. Use the white end of a buffer stick or a foam buffer with polishing powder to lightly smooth the nail surface and remove ridges. Avoid over-buffing; thinning nails too much weakens them. A perfectly smooth surface isn’t necessary or realistic. Soft, flexible buffers make it easier to polish edges and the center of the nails.

• You can buff nails after pushing back cuticles to clean up any residue. This thin, soft layer comes off easily.

Soak your nails. Fill a bowl or sink with warm (not hot!) water and add a few drops of soap. Soak your hands for a few minutes. The water and soap will help remove debris, dead skin, and dust from filing and buffing, while softening cuticles. Use a nail brush to gently scrub nails and surrounding skin. Gently scrape under nails to remove dirt if needed. For easier handling, you can soak nails in Dawn dish soap.

• If you have dry skin or brittle nails, skip soaking and just rinse.
• Avoid excessive scraping, as removing the white powder (part of the nail) can damage them.

Care for your cuticles. Dry your nails and apply cuticle cream. Use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the cuticles. Avoid pushing too hard and never cut your cuticles. Even with sterilized tools, cutting cuticles can lead to infections and leave a vulnerable skin edge. Wipe off excess cream with a tissue in the direction of the pushed cuticles.

• A small file folder is ideal for pushing cuticles. Ensure it’s clean, undamaged, and free of sharp edges. Bend the handles of the file folder down so they lie flat. Hold the flat edge of the folder with your thumb and index or middle finger, with the handles pointing toward your pinky; the flat edge should extend past your thumb and index finger. Now you’re ready to push the cuticles on the other hand (then switch hands to work on the hand holding the folder).

Apply hand cream or lotion. Use hand cream or lotion to massage your hands. If your skin is very dry, opt for a moisturizing lotion; otherwise, any lotion will do. Make sure to apply it around and under the nails, then let it absorb for at least 30 minutes.

• This step can also be done after painting your nails and waiting for them to dry, similar to the pre-painting routine. For extremely dry skin, apply a sticky lotion and wear cheap cotton gloves to bed for long-lasting hydration.
• Nail polish won’t adhere properly if moisturizer remains on the nails, so dip a cotton swab in nail polish remover and quickly wipe off any lotion from the nails. Wipe off the remover immediately to minimize damage.

Apply the base coat. Cover your nails with a clear base coat or nail strengthener. This step smooths out ridges and uneven spots that might remain on the nails. The base coat acts as a foundation, helping the polish last longer and preventing stains on the nails.

• This is also the time to apply artificial nails if desired.
• Wait for the base coat to dry completely before moving to the next step.

Paint your nails. Choose a nail polish color you truly love. Roll the bottle between your hands for about 10 seconds. Avoid shaking it, as this can create air bubbles that make the polish harder to apply. Start with a thin layer. Dip the brush into the polish, and when lifting it, gently swipe the inside of the bottle’s neck to remove excess polish. Slowly paint a vertical stripe down the center of the nail, followed by one on each side. Try to paint close to the edges, but leaving a small gap is better than getting polish on the surrounding skin.

• Tilt the brush slightly forward, press gently to fan the bristles into a neat curve, and paint with smooth, light strokes. Avoid dropping a blob of polish onto the nail and spreading it around. Dripping or pooling means you’ve used too much polish or applied it too slowly; thin streaks will level out due to gravity (self-leveling), but overly thin spots mean you’ve used too little polish or pressed too hard.
• Complex nail art can be tricky, so opt for simple designs for the best results on your first try.
• If polish gets on your skin or around the nails, use a flat-tipped toothpick (not round or pointed) to clean it while the polish is still wet. If it’s dry, dip a cotton swab in nail polish remover or use a nail polish corrector pen, available at most drugstores. Be careful not to touch the nail with the swab or pen, or you’ll have to start over.

Wait for the polish to dry. Try to avoid moving your fingers too much to prevent smudging. Allow 10-15 minutes for the polish to dry. Applying a second coat too soon will only smear the first layer. You can use a fan to speed up drying, but don’t get too optimistic. The fan will disperse the polish smell, making you forget the polish is still wet.

• Once the first coat is dry, you can apply a second coat if desired. This step enhances the color and evens out the polish.
• After the colored polish dries, you can further decorate your nails with brushes, spray guns, stencils, stickers, rhinestones, or other materials.
• Skipping the base coat and applying just one layer of colored polish (depending on the polish type and technique; some achieve even color with uneven thickness) often yields acceptable results. However, multiple coats ensure a higher-quality finish.

Apply the top coat. Finish your nails with a clear top coat to create a hard, smooth, scratch-resistant, and chip-proof shield. This step is especially important for designs that don’t cover the entire nail and adds a glossy shine. Wait for the top coat to dry completely, then admire your freshly done, beautiful nails!

Try the splatter paint nail style. This fun variation features a base color with splashes of multiple polish colors for a vibrant look.

Try the ombre nail style. A gradient effect where the nails transition from light to dark (or vice versa) is both captivating and trendy.

French Manicure. This timeless style highlights the white tips of the nails while maintaining the natural color of the nail bed.

Add a Unique Touch. Enhance your nails with glitter, crackle polish, glossy shine, or any other fun polish to make them stand out.

Paint tiny artistic flowers. You’ll need multiple polish colors over a base coat to create this charming nail design.

Create a tuxedo jacket design. This unique design uses two colors to mimic a tuxedo jacket over a white shirt background.

Paint beach-themed nails. This adorable nail art is a perfect way to welcome the summer months.

Create tiny strawberry designs. Adorable little red strawberries on your nails will bring you joy.