5 Steps to a Perfect Manicure

Don't have the money for a salon manicure? With this step-by-step guide, you can paint your nails like a pro without emptying your piggy bank.

1. Create a clean canvas. Make sure you've removed all leftover nail polish, then moisturize your hands with your favorite lotion to keep the polish from sticking to your skin. Clean your nails with a swipe of polish remover to remove the lotion from your nails. (Learn more about using nail polish remover here.)

2. Apply a clear base coat to nails. This will give polish something to stick to, making it last longer. It also protects your nails from stains caused by dark nail polish. This coat will dry quickly, so let's move on to the fun part!

3. Apply a thin layer of colored polish to your nails with a steady hand. Start at the base of the nail. Divide your nail into three parts -- left, middle, right -- and paint each part separately. This way, each nail gets 3 even strokes.

4. Paint a second coat after the first has dried. It's always easier to make thin layers and add another coat; thick layers take longer to dry and look goopy.

5. Seal the color with a clear top coat after the polish is dry. This will make it last longer -- and it's shiny, too!


If your fingers have polish on them...
clean them up with a cotton swab dipped in polish remover.

If you want to glam things up...
add some pretty nail art! Expiriment with different designs and techniques. Do this before applying the top coat.

If you have trouble with steps 3 and 4...
try the alternate method. With the brush at the middle of your nail, push down to the base so the bristles fan out, then flip it so you are doing the same thing to the top half of your nail.

To make your nail polish dry faster...
fill up your sink with cold water and hold your hands under for 2-3 minutes. It sounds messy, but the cold water will lock the polish into place, helping it dry quickly and softening any polish on your skin.