Sav'nFace.com

Beautiful nails take time but they are so worth the effort. Plus, giving yourself a manicure is relaxing and the ultimate in self-care. The more effort you put into caring for yourself, the sexier and healthier you will feel.  Here's to looking marvelous!

Step By Step Nail Care

• Remove old polish with non-acetone polish remover.  Remove from the base of the nail to the tip and avoid spreading old polish onto the skin. Clean nail of remover and oil with soap and water.

TIP: Use an orange stick to remove polish embedded in edges and cuticles.

• File with an emery board in one direction - side to tip. Back and forth filing will result in ragged edges and peeling. Don't file into the sides as this will weaken the growth base.

Tip: To ensure  nails are filed evenly, turn your palm up to check each.

• Soak your fingertips in warm water and mild soap for 5-10 minutes. Add a drop of essential oil: try Rosemary, Lemon, Almond or Jojoba.  Use a nailbrush to remove soil under the nails.

• Apply a natural cuticle remover and using a cuticle pusher or orange stick wrapped with a very small amount of cotton, push back cuticles. Don't cut your cuticles unless you have hangnails otherwise the skin will toughen. With proper care, cuticles will soften and diminish. Remove cuticle remover with soap and water.

Tip:  To soften and tighten the skin on your hands do a  paraffin wax treatment or use your favorite facial mask on the backsides of your hands. Sit back and relax!

• You can get fabulously healthy looking nails by just buffing with buffing cream. It will also improve circulation. Buff in light, gentle strokes covering the entire nail bed.

Tip: With regular buffing, your nail beds will become smoother and shinier. However, nail polish will not stick as well so chose either buffing or polishing.

• For longer lasting polish, apply a quality base coat, two coats of color and a sealer coat.

• Shake your polish thoroughly to blend the ingredients.  Let each coat dry completely before applying subsequent coats. Don't skip or crimp on the base coat as it will protect your nails from staining, drying and peeling.

• Mastering the correct amount of polish on the brush is a skill acquired with practice. Less is more but too little will cause you to over brush for coverage.

• Dip your brush and wipe the excess then hold the brush down and wipe off any polish that runs to the tip.

• Your goal is to use 2-3 strokes per nail depending upon its width. Do a center stroke and 2 side strokes or for smaller nails 2 side strokes.

Tip:  It's important to complete each nail on one brush load as the polish will begin to dry and the brush strokes will show or, worse, smug.  Best to do an extra coat than to take re-brush strokes.

• Use an orange wood stick dipped in polish remover to clean any polish that got on your skin or cuticles. Don't use so much remover that it drips and ruins your polish. You just want the stick moist.

• Finish with a coat of nail oil after your polish is dry. It will help your polish dry more completely and make your fingers and cuticles look super healthy.

Tip:  An old trick to determine if polish is dry is to touch your nail to your tongue. If you taste a slight burn, your nails are still wet.

• Polish doesn't last forever. Toss it when it becomes thick. You will lose quality if you attempt to thin it. Keep a tightly closed bottle by not allowing polish to build up the lid.