Don't skip these at-home manicure steps

Jan 10, 2011 8:45 AM by Brooke Andersen

Posted in Beauty & Style / Manis, Pedis & More

Don't Forget!

Giving yourself a manicure at home is easy, but you might tend to skip important steps because you're so busy. See what steps you shouldn’t skip that will help your nails in the long term.

Base coat

The base coat is the most commonly skipped step when doing a self-manicure -- yet it's the most important. Making your manicure last is all about your base coat! It fills ridges in nails for smooth polish application and protects them against staining from dark, rich colors. The base coat also helps maximize the durability of your polish.

Top coat

The most simple step of an at-home manicure is a quick application of a great top coat over your freshly painted nails. This helps them dry faster, adds shine and protects your polish. If you're going to the trouble of a manicure, take this last step to preserve your efforts as long as possible.

Cuticle remover

Cuticle care is so easy at home, but we often overlook these thin overgrowths of skin along nail edges. Before painting your nails, simply apply cuticle remover, let sit for a minute or two, and then push the cuticles back gently. This creates a nice, clean edge and helps polish stay put longer.