Step-by-Step Tips & Tricks for a DIY Salon-Level Mani

So, you had a gel manicure a couple weeks ago and now you’re headed to the beach. This is a good time to forego the gel and let your nailbeds strengthen up again. Unfortunately, you’re no good at home manicures. Here are some tips to help you get them looking as good as a visit to the salon. Well, close at least.First, remove any polish on your nails. File your nails into the shape you like best. A slightly squared oval will make them appear longer and they'll be less likely to break at the edges.Next, brush on some cuticle melt and let it work for a few minutes. Using an orange stick, push back the cuticles. Clip any hangnails off.Use a little polish remover to clean the nails of the cuticle melt. Use a paper towel for this because cotton balls and pads can leave traces of cotton on the nail.Apply a base coat. Choose one based on your type of nails (i.e., ridge fillers, hydrating, or slightly purple to counteract yellowing). Make sure to seal the tip with the base coat.Now on to the color! Starting with your pointer finger, pick up just enough polish to paint nails in three swipes: left, center, and right. Do all the fingers, leaving the thumbs for last. You can use the thumbs to clean up any polish that makes it onto your skin.Let the polish dry for a few minutes then brush on a second coat making sure to seal the tips with a horizontal swipe of polish. This will ensure that water doesn’t get in between the nail and the polish, which would make it easier to chip.Lastly, let the polish dry a couple minutes then apply the final top coat. This is where the waiting comes in. Don’t try to do anything with your hands. Watch TV or sit and listen to music. Don’t open the refrigerator or check your emails. This is when the manicure is in jeopardy. After 10 minutes, if you’re getting antsy, you can dip your nails in a bowl of ice-filled water for a minute. This should help to harden them. Just make sure someone else gets the bowl ready!