Your essential guide to a DIY manicure
Perfectly polished nails in just a few simple steps
Nail a perfectly polished manicure with these simple steps
No time for a professional paint job? No problem.
Achieving a salon-worthy result is a cinch with a little bit of practice and insider know-how. Cue up that episode of Downtown Abbey, line up your tools and get set to show off flawless fingers in just a few steps.
1
Prep
Remove all traces of old lacquer. Massage in an oil to hydrate the fragile skin around the cuticle and stimulate blood flow.
2
Shape
3
Smooth
4
Tidy
5
Protect
Apply a thin layer of base coat (or nail treatment instead, if needed). This will help create a smooth base for your polish and can improve the longevity of your manicure.
6
Colour
7
Finish
Seal in the colour and add brilliant shine with one layer of topcoat. This extra step will also help keep that professional-looking manicure from chipping.
8
Set
Main image credit: Getty
Alex is BEAUTYcrew’s Digital Content Director and has been since the site launched in 2016. She’s constantly on the search for the perfect shade of nude nail polish and lipstick for fair skin and battles with keeping her fragrances on rotation to under a dozen. You can find her words right here on BEAUTYcrew, and in previous issues of marie claire.