Fashion experts have differing views on the French manicure. Some think that the French manicure has gone pass? and outdated, while some are of the opinion that the French manicure is a classic that will never go out of style. But whatever the fashion gurus think, many women go for the French manicure because of its simplicity and the natural look that it evokes. The French manicure also gives the nails that clean, well-groomed appearance that is neither flashy nor fussy. But first, what is a French manicure? A French manicure is a style of polishing the nails wherein white paint is applied to the tips of the fingernails, and the rest of the nails are given a pink coat or painted with sheer polish that is colored either pale pink or very light beige. The French manicure is very good for short nails and nails that have a moderate length. Before you start giving your nails a French manicure, make sure you have followed the general rule for putting on nail polish. You should prep your nails first by removing old nail polish with acetone remover. Then go and clean your nails and give them a trim. Once you are done cleaning and trimming your nails, go ahead and apply a base coat to your nails. Keep this base coat thin and even. Afterwards, put a tip guide to your nail. This is supposed to cover the lower part of your nail as well as follow the curve of your nail tip?s natural white. When you are done with that, apply white polish to the exposed tips of your fingernails, and then let them dry. Keep the area that you will paint white thin. If you go too widely on the white paint, your nails will look chunky. Also, if you do not feel comfortable with stark white tips, you can use off-white polish instead. When the white polish on the tips of your fingernails is dry, remove the nail tip guides thoroughly. And then, paint the entire length of your nails with a beige polish. Two coats of this polish may be necessary. After this, put a layer of top coat on your nails. This is the last step; after putting on the top coat, dry your nails and make sure they dry completely. To extend the life of your French manicure and to keep your nails nice and looking well-groomed, you should make it a point to apply an extra layer of top coat on your nails every night. For all its seeming simplicity, putting on a French manicure can get really tricky. Most drugstores and beauty shops sell readily-assembled nail polishing kits especially made for the French manicure. If you need extra help, you can find these kits very useful. If you want to try out the French manicure but you are afraid to do it yourself, you can always visit a nail salon and have your nails done there. French manicure often costs extra than a regular polish because of the degree of accuracy needed for the job. It may be an expense, but it is worth it. _________________- The French Manicure is one of the oldest fashions in nail art that has yet not gone outdated because of its simplicity and ultra realistic appearance. It is a manicure where the tips of the nail are painted white and rest of the nail polished in pink or any nude shade. It makes nail look healthy, clean and well groomed, the best for all occasions. The history of French manicure dates back to 1978 when the term ‘Original French Manicure’ was trademarked by a cosmetic company, Orly. This company was founded by Jeff Pink who introduced the first-ever iconic nail look with its first home French Manicure Kit. Jeff was motivated by the nail care industry and always wanted to innovate natural nail care. The ultimate French developed by him became a ground breaking product in the nail care market and was widespread all over the globe and India is not an exception. Today the Indian markets are also flooded with various French manicure kits. This instant classic manicure is best for nail lengths which are medium to long. One can choose the desired color quantity and color combination. Apart from pink and white combination one can also use red with gold tips or white with silver tips for more chic and sophisticated nail look. Going to a salon is expensive; so many women prefer doing manicure at home because it’s simple and cost effective. The tools required for doing French at home includes base coat, white polish for tips, neutral polish and tip guide strips. To start off with the manicure, file and shape the nails as desired. Nails can be shaped with round, oval or square tips. Then wash and dry the nails completely. Once nails are dried apply the base coat and allow it to dry. After that affix the guide strip below the nail tip and polish the tip with white polish following the natural curve of the affixed strip. This will give a rounded appearance. For a square appearance paint a straight line across the tips and for pointed appearance paint from sides to the centre. Remove the strips once the tips are completely dried. Remove all the left over adhesives using nail paint remover. Then apply two coats of neutral polish for a well groomed and natural look. For added protection one can also apply a single coat of the base or the tip at the end. With the increasing demand of nail grooming many salons are including nail art as a part of their beauty packages thereby increasing a demand for nail technicians. As a result of which people are looking at nail art as an integral part of their career as well. ________________________ Manicure is a word derived from Latin manus meaning (hand) and cure (care). It is a cosmetic beauty treatment for fingernails and hands. It originated in 19th century becoming popular in 1920s and 30s. Its style is simple and gives nails a natural and clean look. The French manicure is more often expensive than other types. The designs are always air brushed on the nails using a stencil or painted with a nail polish. It can also be done at home using a stencil to apply nail polish. Some fashion experts think that it is outdated, while some think that it’s a classic that will never go out of its simplicity and natural look that it gives. It also makes the nails to look clean and well-groomed. French manicure involves painting nails with white paint on the tips and coating the rest of the nail with pink coat or sheer polish that is colored pale. It’s suitable for short nails and those with moderate length. You will need the following tools and instructions for you to make a perfect French manicure. A base coat, a color varnish, a top coat, a white or cream tip varnish, nail varnish, a top coat, cuticle oil or any edible oil, a cuticle stick, an emery board, a cotton pad, some hand and nail moisturizer. Steps to Follow Get rid of any old nail varnish by using the nail varnish remover on a cotton pad. Apply some cuticle oil and massage it in leave it on while filling to soften your nails. You can then file your nails using emery board, by running it along it along the nail tip in one direction for your desired shape. Soften your cuticles by soaking your hands in warm water for 15 minutes. You can also apply cuticle remover to your nails. Give your hands a good amount of moisturizer by coating and wrapping them in a clung film for 15 minutes. This also softens the cuticles. You can also remove the dead cuticles by using a cuticle stick to rub around them in small circus and push the remaining cuticle back. Wash your hands to clean away nail dust and grime, so that you don’t seal it in. You can remove any oil residue using nail varnish, since the oil can cause the varnish to flake off. After all this, you can strokes. This protects your nails from being stained by pigments in the colored varnish. You can use a pink white or cream color for the tip. Cream is preferable because of its natural look. Apply it by drawing a thin line of varnish across the natural white tip of the nail. If the line is un even, leave it to dry then make another line over it, when you put on the next layer of varnish, you should leave the previous one to dry completely to make the tip application easier, cut a small piece of cardboard in to a diamond shape then put your nail in it and brush along the white tip. This stops the varnish from going on the skin you can then apply on the color, you can put on more layers to deepen the color as per your desire. The preferred color to use is transparent pink or beige. After the color application, apply a top coat which is a hard clear layer. It seals the color and protects the nail. Leave it to dry for at least 5 minutes. Tidy up your nails using a cuticle stick with a little cotton wool and the nail varnish remover to remove the little varnish around your nail skin. If you smudge the top coat or tip, you can remove all the nail varnish on the nail and start again after the process is over, you can now put the varnish away and use a nail varnish remover away and use a nail varnish remover on a paper tissue to wipe around the bottle. This prevents it from becoming sealed, shut by the end of this process your fingernails will be bearing a perfect beautiful French manicure if you follow the procedure very carefully. _____________________ Are you one of them? Are you tired of paying hefty bills to the parlor? Are you looking for the easiest method to perform French Manicure at home? If so, then you are on the right page. Scroll down to find some useful tips on performing French manicure at home. How to Do a French Manicure At Home? You can easily perform French manicure at home rather than wasting hundreds at the parlor. Just follow the steps properly and you could get those beautiful French manicure nails right at your home. What Will I Require? * Nail varnish remover * Cuticle oil or any edible oil * Cotton pad * Nail file * Cuticle stick * Base coat * Tip varnish * Colour varnish * Top coat * Moisturizer How to Do It? * The most important thing you require while performing this procedure is TIME. Don’t be in a hurry while you perform French manicure. Listening to your favorite tracks will relax your mind. * Remove any previous nail varnish using nail varnish remover with a cotton pad. * Apply cuticle oil to your nails and leave it until you file your nails. * File your nails using nail file to give it the desired shape. Use the file with fine surface. The filing motion should be in one direction. * Soften the cuticles by soaking your hand in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the cuticles with cuticle stick. You can also use cuticle remover. * Wash your hands thoroughly to remove the residual oil layer and allow them to dry. * Apply the base coat to protect your nails from color pigments. The base coat should be applied evenly on your nails. * Apply a thin layer of tip varnish evenly on the tip of your nails. This will give a classic French manicure look to your nails. You can apply a second layer once the first layer is dry. * Now apply the color varnish and leave it for 8 to 10 minutes. You can decide the color of your choice for this purpose. If you want a classical French manicure, you can use shell pink translucent color. * After this you can apply the top coat. This protects your nail and seals-off the color. Reapply the top coat daily if you desire longer results. * You can even change the color varnish to match your outfits. How to Select the Products? You can select the products according to your choice but make sure that they are compatible with each other before choosing them. You can always seek a professional help for the selection of products. Where Can I Find These Products? The best way of selecting products is through internet. You can get a variety of products, cheaper prices, best deals, better payment options online and answers to all your queries on the internet, all at your fingertips. ______________ The popularity of the French manicure is undeniable. Maybe it's because of the versatility that is offered by a French manicure. They allow you to have groomed and polished looking hands without having to worry about picking a color. Picking a color is one of my least favorite things about getting a manicure, especially at a nail salon. I always end up picking a color that I don't like once it's on my nails. Then I either have to live with the unfortunate color or embarrassedly ask the manicurist to change the color. That's the beauty of a French manicure. There really aren't that many decisions to be made. Sure you may have to choose between white and off white for your tips, or possibly have to choose between blush and beige for the base color; compared to having to choose between wild orchid or pink palm, that decision is for amateurs. French manicure designs are normally done in nail salons. This is because salons carry all the equipment (and talent) to create some amazing designs. A popular method of applying a French manicure is through an airbrush machine, which gives the nails a smooth, even line when painting the tips white. Often manicurists will use the airbrush machine to create stunning designs. For example, instead of airbrushing a classic white line on the tips, you can use a stencil to create upward points (resembling triangles). This gives you the classic look of a French manicure while providing a special and unique touch. If you prefer to add color to your French manicure, you could have the manicurist draw or airbrush a small design on your fingernail. Popular designs include symbolic holiday designs, such as Christmas trees for the winter, pumpkins for the fall, or hearts for Valentine's Day. Other designs frequently used for French manicures are flowers, palm trees, or letter initials. Another great think about the French manicure is that it usually lasts longer than a traditional manicure with color, if only because it shows fewer chips and imperfections. Also, I like that I don't have to think too much about the color of my nail polish when choosing my outfits. Nothing is worse than having someone point out that my hot pink polish clashes with coral dress. French manicures are still sold in this form today, but have varied slightly since their beginning. Today you can choose from a classic light pink shade, a nude base, or you could even choose a pearl-based shade to add a bit of glamour to this classic manicure. Several kits contain jewels or other accents to add to your newly manicured nails if you are looking to "kick it up" a notch or two. Of course these kits are meant to be applied at home, but if you'd rather head to a salon, you'll find French Manicures to be a popular choice among salon clients. Now if I have more time on my hands, I will give myself an at home French manicure. It's not as great as getting one in a salon, but still a treat nonetheless. First I will soak my hands and scrub them well with an exfoliating scrub. Next I will trim and shape the nails. Then I will apply a base coat of polish to my nails. One thing that is kind of interesting about French manicures is that they really don't have any target age range. Anyone from teenagers, to grandmothers can be seen sporting a French manicure, that is something that cannot be said of most fashion trends. When attempting to paint the tip of my nails, I have tried a couple of different things. In the past I have used those tape strips that you can buy in a French manicure kit. They don't seem to work for me. When I peel the tape off, half the time the polish comes off with it. The other half of the time I find out that I have managed to paint underneath the tape. I've found that the thing that works best is to use a super thin brush, like an eyeliner brush. Next, I just take my time and apply a very light thin strip to the tips of my nail. After allowing the tips to dry, it's time to apply the pink or beige top coat. Lastly, I apply a clear chip proof top coat to my new French manicure. _______________ French Manicure Description Fashion gurus possess conflicting points of view on the stylish French manicure. Some experts deem that it is old fashioned while still others favor the outlook that it is elegant and timeless and will never be outmoded. Nonetheless, whatever the experts believe, still a lot of women opt for the French manicure due to its natural appearance and sophistication. It also provides the nails well-groomed and neat look that is not ostentatious and finicky. French Manicure is a manicure style that's graceful. It showcases white nail tips highlighted by a base having natural look. It is a fashion technique of polishing the finger or toe nails in which off white or ivory nail polish is put on to the tips of the nails while sheer polish, soft beige or pastel pink coat is applied to the rest of the nails. This style is ideal for moderate or short-length nails. French manicure was made well known by famous stars and fashion authorities in the last century and yet it's still a remarkable part of vogue trends this present day. French Manicure History Let's learn the staging on the progress of the French manicure approaches, together with a few of the variants existing in our day. The introduction of the first French manicure is quite uncertain. However undoubtedly, the French manicure technique became prevalent in several French nail salons. In the early periods of the 20th century, the chic style drew the interests of US fashion designers. This led to the massive application of the French manicure amongst the famous female celebrities of the 1920s. Then, ladies in the United States imitated the procedure. The craze went on until 1930s as countless ladies have the French manicure as part of their beauty treatments at salons. However with the Depression that controlled a large part of the US, practical women started to study the procedures to craft the manicure's appearance at home. French Manicure Procedures Before you start giving your nails a French manicure, make sure you have followed the general rule for putting on nail polish. • Prepare your nails by immersing them in lukewarm water in order to make softer the cuticles. • Get rid of old nail polish using acetone remover. Lightly push cuticles back with an orangewood stick and cuticle remover. Clean and trim your nails. • Spread over hand cream to your nails and wipe them in. Let it there for three to four minutes. Wipe down nails using a tissue to eliminate surplus. • Apply an even and thin clear base coat. Place a tip guide unto your nails. This will wrap your nail's lower portion. Then follow the curvature of your nail tip's white color. • Put on white or neutral polish to the uncovered tips of the nails and dry. The portion that will be painted white must be kept thin. Going too broadly on the white paints will make your fingernails appear stocky. • When the tip's white polish is already dry, carefully take away the nail tip guides. • Paint the whole length of the nails twice using a beige polish. • Lastly, set a layer of top coat. The top coat's main job is to shield the layers underneath it. • Clean few slip-ups (if any) with the use of an orangewood stick enveloped in cotton dampened with acetone or remover. • Let your fingernails dry totally. It normally takes 25 minutes before your finger nails can perform small things. Although it takes an hour before you can actually use your hands for bigger tasks. In order to have an enduring French manicure as well as maintain neat looking nails, make sure to put an added coating of top coat on the nails each night. Moreover, beauty stores and pharmacies make available nail polish kits particularly built for the French manicure. These assembled kits will be highly handy for you. And, you can visit a nail spa or salon to get your nails polished if you are anxious of manicuring yourself. In general, French manicure costs higher over a regular polish due to the level of precision required to come up with a nice set of French manicure. ________________ The French always look immaculate. As if they were born chic. Or maybe they know something we do not. Basically, nature can always use a helping hand. French manicures look natural. No bright colors. Just beautiful shiny nails, the way nature intended. A healthy pink followed by perfect white crescents. As if you were born with such beautiful nails. It takes a little more effort to fake natural beauty than it does to get that more obviously made up look. The trick is to play on colors a shade or two more vibrant, richer or warmer than your natural colors. That is the secret behind French manicures. Go for shiny fingernails in a healthy shade of pink, with a bright white crescent. Yellow, stained nails aren't pretty but white tips of your nails are lovely. For your french manicure, you need the following items: 1. A natural shade of pink nail color 2. White nail polish 3. Nail base coat 4. Top coat or clear nail polish 5. Nail polish remover 6. cotton wool 7. cotton buds 8. nail file Ready to begin? 1. Soak cotton wool with nail polish remover and remove all traces of the old nail polish from your nails. 2. Wash your hands and nails with soap and water. Scrub under the nails with a nail brush or an old toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely. 3. File your nails to the length and shape you desire. Use a good nail file to achieve the effect you want. 4. Apply base nail coat that in 3 strokes down your nails. 1st stroke down the center and one stroke on each side of the nail. 5. When the base coat is completely dry, apply the pink nail polish from base of the nail to just where the white crescent begins. Do that carefully in 3 strokes. 6. Erase any mistakes with a remover and a cotton bud. 7. Once the pink polish is dry, apply the white polish as a crescent across the nail, where the pink polish ends. 8. Once the nail polish is completely dry, apply a protective layer of clear varnish, or top coat over the entire nail to protect your work. 9. Let your nails dry completely before you touch anything. _________________ The French Manicure is a natural, yet very stylish look, suitable for all occasions – day and night, and casual through to dressy. With a classic French Manicure you can be confident your beautiful white tipped nails will complement your outfit and the setting. French Manicures are really not that difficult - our simple step by step French Manicure guide shows you how. French Manicure Step 1: Remove old polish Using a cotton ball and nail polish remover remove all traces of existing nail polish. There are 2 main types of nail polish remover to choose from. Acetone nail polish removers take off the nail polish quickly but can dehydrate your cuticles. You might want to use Acetone nail polish removers if you are trying to remove bold, deep or bright shades of nail polish. Non-acetone nail polish removers take longer to remove nail polish but do not dry out the nail and cuticle. Remember, if you have artificial nails, you should only use non-acetone nail polish remover. French Manicure Step 2: File your nails Rule #1...only file in one direction. You'll weaken the nails if you saw back and forth. Starting from the back of the nail and going to the center, make long, sweeping strokes. Avoid metal files; they are brutal on your nails. French Manicure Step 3: Soak your hands Fill a large bowl with soapy water and dunk your hands in it for several minutes. This helps to soften your cuticles and clean the nails. Dry your hands when done, using a paper towel, not a cotton towel. Cotton towels may leave behind fuzzies that will show up in the nail polish. French Manicure Step 4: Fix up your cuticles Use a cuticle pusher to push back your cuticles. Then use the pointy end to remove any remaining dirt from under your nails. Now you nails have been prepared you are ready to apply your French Manicure. To complete your French Manicure you will need: white French Manicure nail polish, neutral (pink or beige) coloured French Manicure Nail Polish and French Manicure guide strips. To make purchasing the nail polishes and guides simple consider a French Manicure kit that offers everything in one convenient box. French Manicure tip: Use guide strips, they make the French Manicure process so much easier. You should also have handy your normal nail polish base coat and top coat French Manicure Step 5: Apply a Base Coat Base coat helps prevent nails from staining, strengthens the nails and also allows for a smoother application of nail polish. Your nail secretes oil; base coat also helps the nail polish to adhere to your nail better. Apply a thin, not thick coat. A thick coat will just cause nail polish to smudge or take an extremely long time to dry. Make sure the clear base coat is COMPLETELY dry before applying nail polish. French Manicure Step 6: Apply the white tip Peel off a French Manicure guide strip and apply it below the tip of the nail, following its natural curve. The guide strip will allow you to paint an even white tip with ease and precision. Press the French Manicure guide strips down firmly to smooth out any ripples. Repeat on all nails. Apply the white nail polish to the nail tips extending the brush stroke from the top of the guide to the end of the nail. Take care not to get any white polish on the body of the nail below the guide. Allow the white polish to dry completely. French Manicure Tip: Actually try to get a little of the white nail polish on your skin. This will ensure your white tip is not too thick at the edges which can make French Manicures look unnatural. The extra polish can be easily cleaned up once dry. A second coat of white nail polish may be desirable, depending on the thickness and opaqueness of the nail polish. Allow the nail polish to dry completely between coats. Once the tips are dry remove all the guides. Dissolve any leftover adhesive by rubbing it gently with a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover. Be careful not to get any nail polish remover on the white tips. French Manicure Step 7: Apply the neutral nail polish Apply the neutral nail polish (pink or beige) over entire nail, this seals the whitened tip and completes the look. Before applying the nail polish roll the bottle of nail polish, never shake it. Shaking causes air bubbles to form that will stand out when you apply the nail polish. Rest your hand on a firm surface so your nails remain steady while being polished. To apply the nail polish place the brush an eighth of an inch away from the cuticle - gentle pressure on the bristles will distribute the nail polish outward without bleeding over your cuticle. The first stroke should start from the center of your nail's base and be taken out to the tip. Then make two more even strokes. One on each side. Apply the nail polish thinly to prevent smudging then wait five minutes for this coat to dry. Start with the pinky of one hand and work your way to the index finger. Repeat on the other hand. Do your thumbs last; they're more instrumental than your other fingers in giving yourself a manicure. French Manicure Step 8: Apply a second coat of neutral nail polish After you are sure the first coat is dry repeat step 7. Again apply the nail polish thinly to prevent smudging. When you take time between coats it will give your nails a more even finish. French Manicure Tip: A French Manicure is best performed on a lazy morning or evening when no other pressing errands or jobs will get in the way. After painting your nails, avoid doing things with your hands while they dry. French Manicure Tip: The key to all manicures is to wait for each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next coat otherwise you are sure to end up with smudges. French Manicure Tip: If you are feeling adventurous make your own colour combinations. Instead of white and neutral polishes you could try red with gold tips or white with silver tips or any combination you like. French Manicure Step 9: Apply a top coat The top coat is what protects your nail polish. Before you apply the top coat, touch your nails and make sure they are completely dry. A top coat gives nails an added extra shine and looks more professional. A top coat will also help to prevent nail polish chipping and help your nail polish to last much longer. Apply top coat every few days for extra protection and shine. French Manicure Step 10: Touch ups Almost everyone gets some nail polish on their fingers instead of their nails. The best way to clean up around the nail is by using a cotton bud. Dip the cotton bud in nail polish remover and gently rub around the nail to clean up any unwanted nail polish. It's best to wait to do this after your top coat is COMPLETELY dry. ____________________- A manicure is a cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingernails and hands enjoyed by both sexes. A manicure can treat just the hands, just the nails, or both. A standard manicure would usually include filing and shaping of the nails and the application of polish. French manicure is the latest and popular method in the nail fashion. A similar treatment performed on the feet is a pedicure. A manicurist can also apply treatments to real nails, such as painting pictures or designs on the nails or applying imitation jewels. French Manicure: 1. Begin by removing any old nail polish with a cotton ball or pad. 2. Next, exfoliate your hands with either a salt or sugar scrub and then rinse thoroughly. 3. Apply a cuticle cream or drop of sweet almond oil to your cuticles. Leave on for a few minutes and then using an orange wooden stick, carefully push back cuticles until they are all even with each other. 4. The best way to shape nails is to keep them straight across the tips and round on the edges. Never file nails back and forth across the nail. 5. Next, apply a clear base coat over each of your nails and allow a few minutes to dry. A base coat will help strengthen nails. 6. Finally, apply a clear topcoat for shine and added protection to your french manicure. French Pedicure: 1. First, remove any old nail polish from your toes with a nail polish remover. 2. Next, soak your feet in a tub of warm water. You can add a sweet almond oil to soften feet, if you'd like. 3. Use a cuticle cream or oil to gently push back cuticles. 4. Place a toe foam separator between toes and apply one base coat of clear nail polish. 5. Apply a translucent pink or nude nail color over the entire toenail. Allow to dry before apply a second coat. 6. Finally, apply a top coat to give your new french manicure shine and protection. Manicure purpose: 1. Its main purpose is to keep hands, arms clean and in good condition. 2. It prevents long nail formation. 3. It discourages the wrinkles on the skin on the hand which is the first sin of ageing. 4. It prevents nail damage like fragile tips, splits. Purpose of pedicure: 1. To keep the feet clean, fair and in good condition. 2. To make the skin soft and smooth. 3. It improves blood circulation, nourishes the skin of leg and the foot muscles. 4. To keep the toe nails clean, well shaped and shiny. ______________ A manicure is a cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingernails and hands. A manicure these days is considered as one of the significant part of beautifying a woman. The French Manicure is world famous with the influence spilling in India as well. French manicures are often more expensive than other types of manicures, and the design is either airbrushed on the nail using a stencil or painted on with nail polish, with a carefully painted line of white, or a thicker, imprecise line that is later cleaned up with nail polish remover. Do it yourself French manicures can also be done at home by using stencils to apply nail polish. The nails are basically shaped oval to soften the edges and are painted with a light pink coat whereas the tips are painted with a thin edged coat of bright white nail paint. One needs to be careful that the white edge is not too thick, which kills the authentic look. French manicure is a style of shaping the nails and painting them with pink and white paint. There are basically two procedures depending on whether you are going to go in for a French Manicure for natural nails or the acrylic nails. Overall, the manicure gives a super-natural look and apt for all types of occasions, be it professional or social. Getting a manicure at a salon is the best way to achieve the proper look, but its very much possible to try it at home too. If you apply the French manicure process, wash your hand thoroughly and soak in lukewarm water for a few minutes. Gently push the cuticles back in place for evenness. File your nails in a curved shape using the nail filer, scissors etc. French Manicure Apply Tips: 1. Before beginning, wash your nails thoroughly, even with the polish on your fingernails. 2. Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or nail polish remover to clean the surface of your nails before you paint. 3. Use brush to round out the V shaped angle formed where the two strokes converge at the center of the nail. 4. Apply a base coat to smoothen out the nails' ridges, allowing polish to go on more evenly. 5. Try mostly to get your nails clean underneath your nail cartilage where it is not attached to the skin before beginning. 6. Apply cuticle remover by following the directions on the cuticle remover tube or bottle. 7. Prevents nail damages like splits, tears, and fragile tips. 8. The final step is to apply lotion. This can be done if time permits. Nails need to be completely dry. ________________ You can do your own professional looking French manicures at home. Just buy a French manicure set or put one together yourself. Putting together a French manicure kit by yourself can be a little cheaper than buying a pre-packaged one, plus, when you make your own, you can choose your own nail polish colors. Be on the lookout though, sometimes you can find good sets on sale at your local department store. If you do, buy one, because nail guides can get expensive. Keep in mind that when you buy a French manicure set, you're usually paying for unnecessary extras, like a case or a bag. Most people want a manicure so that they can achieve a natural, clean look for your fingernails. Here are some suggestions about what should go into your French manicure set: • opaque or sheer nude nail polish (the classic colors are a shiny and transparent pink or beige) • nail clippers • nail files • nail polishers/buffers • nail guides • white nail color • French manicure pen If you want to go for the classic look, buy two nail colors; bright white and a sheer or pastel. The common choice is bright white with a sheer or pastel. However, if you're not afraid of attention, you can go for a bolder look and use a bright color and even reverse colors so the main part of the nail is white and the tips are colorful. Push down your cuticles and buff and file your nail bed and tips. Once you have a smooth and shapely nail, stick down the nail guides, which are like stickers to use as a guide so that you get professional looking results. A nail guide is an essential part of your French manicure kit; ask anyone who's tried to paint a smooth curvy line on their nails without one. Paint the tip of your nail white or whatever color you have selected. Once your nails are dry, you can remove the guides and then paint the rest of the nails with your sheer or opaque color. Beginners should choose a sheer color so that they can simply paint over the entire nail. It's easy to create your own perfect manicures at home once you have all the tools in a French manicure set. You could also use a French manicure pen to create designs on your nails. One of the easiest ways to do this is on fake nails. If you do it this way, you don't have to draw designs using your opposite hand, which can be tricky.