Nail hacks for the perfect DIY manicure

DIY Manicure—Do it Yourself Manicure has several advantages. One can save money as the cost at home is much less than the amount to be paid in the salon. It does not require any waiting and so saves time. A good manicure keeps the hands soft smooth and well groomed. Nail hacks give the healthiest manicure producing prettier hands and nails.

Nail Hacks for perfect DIY manicure

• Start with clean nails by carefully removing the traces of old nail polish with cotton balls and nail polish remover.
• Shape the nails with a fine surfaced nail file. There are three main shapes adopted for nails—oval. Square and round. Oval nails suit most ladies but those who work a lot with their hands, it is better to keep the nails short and square to avoid breakage. File should be done in one direction first from left to right and then from right to left.
• Use ice water to dry the nails in three minutes.
• Broken nails can be fixed with tea bags and nail glue.
• Take off the previous nail polish with cotton pad and nail polish remover.
• Give a fishnet manicure look by using a torn loofah.
• Make a dotter by sticking pin in an eraser. Bobbin pin can be used to make small dots.
• Whiten the nails after removing nail polish by soaking the fingers in a solution of hot water, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda or by applying some whitening toothpaste and scrubbing the stains away with a soft toothbrush
• Remove mistakes by dipping an old paint brush or eyeliner brush in the nail polish remover.
• The first coat of nail polish should be of base coat. It must be dabbed and not brushed. This will help in spreading the glitter smoothly.
• A heart can easily be painted with a toothpick.
• Band aids can be used to for dual toned nails to give the French look. A tape with medium sized hole can create the effect of polka dots.
• The nails should be soaked in a solution of white vinegar and water. Vinegar will help to spread the polish in a better manner.
• Nail infections can be easily treated with rub the ingredient thymol in vaporub helps to cure bacterial and virus infection.
• Always put a base coat before applying the main colour. It is wiser to put two to three thin coats instead of one thick coat. Put a plaster about 1.5mm from the base and paint the second colour on the top.
• Scotch tape magic or masking tapes can be used to create shapes. Shapes can be created by putting the tape in different positions. Thin strips can be used to give the effect of zigzag appearance. A heart stencil can be made by making a heart shaped puncher in the scotch tape.
• A plastic bag can be used to give a cool effect. Paint the bag with main colour paint and place it on the dry base coat.
• Manicure can be well set and smudges can be prevented by spraying nails with oil spray.
• Actuator or Vaseline should be applied to cuticles to protect the skin from strokes of nail polish.
• It is better to use nail polish thinners instead of nail polish removers to dilute the thick polish in the bottles.
• A wet smudge can be easily fixed by licking the finger with the tongue to smoothen the surface. Saliva reacts with the nail paint and makes it even and smooth.
• A rubberised based coat should be used to make the nail polish last longer.
• If the weather is humid give more time for the nail polish to dry. Humidity can spoil the paint and do nasty things like creating bubbles.
• Do not sit near the fan after applying nail polish. The drifty air from the fan will make bubbles and spoil the nail paint.
• New nail paint colours can be by mixing loose pigments in clear polish. For example   small amount of eye shadow colour can be added to clear polish to produce a new colour.
• A marbled effect in nail paint can be created by using swirling drops of two or three colours of nail polish in a cup of water. Hold the fingers in the paint with nails on the surface of the paint. For a few seconds. Remove the extra paint with the paper clip