How to do a manicure at home in 6 steps?

Nail preparation

The first step is to prepare the nail plate and cuticle for further processing. To get started you will need:

Tweezers, trimmer;
Scissors;
File;
Scrub, oils, cream;
Degreaser (you can use alcohol or face lotion).

To learn how to do a cool European manicure, you need to remember that the most important part is preparation. In this step, the old coating is removed, the cuticle is trimmed, the nails are filed and their surface is leveled. To carry out the procedure, you can use a special apparatus or several files and hand tools (they must be sharpened before use).

Manicure at home

Step-by-step instructions on how to prepare your nails for a manicure at home:

The old varnish is erased. Immediately after this, the marigolds are soaked in the bath. We recommend adding a little sea salt and iodine to the water - then the plate will become thicker and stronger;
After 5 minutes of “soaking” the nails, you need to take out one finger at a time and check the cuticle. If it is easily deformed, then it can be cut. Using a file or a special stick, the peel is carefully brought to the hole itself, after which it is cut off. Depending on your experience, you can use a trimmer (for professionals) or tweezers (for beginners). The action is repeated with each nail;
After trimming, you need to lubricate the cuticle with oil. Most often, spas use cocoa or shea for this purpose, which have excellent antimicrobial and regenerating properties;
Next, the plate is leveled and the desired shape is given to the nails. For rough processing - shaping, hard tools are selected. For example, with diamond or mineral coating. For soft - cleansing the nail from growths and irregularities, more gentle - silicone or wooden;
When the treatment is completely finished, all that remains is to degrease the surface and hole, remove any remaining oil from the cuticle;
If everything is done, then the instruments must be sterilized. If a manicure is performed using a machine, that is, the main work is carried out with machines, then they are disassembled and washed in a special solution. Hand instruments are rinsed in Chlorhexidine.

Photo - Preparing for a manicure
In exactly the same way, trimmed pedicures are performed at home. After this you can start designing.

Unedged or European manicure is carried out without tools - it is easiest to do it yourself. The plate is cleaned of varnish and fat, then a special gel is applied to the cuticle. It is noteworthy that when using the unedged technique, you do not need to soak your nails.

After applying the softener, a few minutes should pass, then you simply move the skin closer to the hole. The cuticle is very pliable and soft. You do not need to use any trimmers or scissors to remove it. It can even be removed with an orange stick. All that remains is to wipe the plate with remover and cover it with a base for further coloring.

Read the material on the topic: pedicure at home: step by step for beginners + photos of results.

Coating kit

For a technically flawless manicure application in this case you will need:

Liquid for degreasing, removing stickiness and dehydration;
Primer for the varnish layer, which will absorb all minor depressions and form a plane for the varnish layer;
Varnish of the desired color, and it is advisable to choose it from the “free” category. Such coatings do not contain active substances that eat into the nail and quickly destroy its outer layer;
Cotton pad or lint-free wipes;
Crystal varnish fixer with drying effect;
Cuticle oil. It is desirable that it be natural and not contain mineral additives. Only in this case will the oil bring the expected effect: the cuticle will soften and hangnails will not appear.

It would also be a good idea to stock up on liquid tape. It will protect the skin next to the nail plate and prevent the polish from running.

Simple edged manicure with regular varnish

The easiest way to do a manicure on short nails at home is with your own hands. In addition, it will look most advantageous on small plates. All points are carried out in the same way as written in the section above. After giving the desired shape and degreasing, the plate is covered with a base - it will fill the cracks and become a strong and even base for the paint.

You can make different types of manicure with regular polish:

On the water;
Gradient;
Art design and many others.

Edged
Let's focus on the most common coating - it is very easy to make yourself and does not require much time. After the base has dried, a layer of colored varnish is applied on top of it. It must also be completely dry. If the shade is not bright enough, the surface is repainted.

To make the manicure last longer, a professional fixer is used. It performs several functions: it gives neatness, strengthens the plate, helps remove delamination and prolongs the life of the varnish. The fixative is often enriched with various vitamin and mineral supplements.

Video: doing a trim manicure yourself

How to do a simple manicure for long nails

Manicure option for long nails

Of course, those with long nails will have to tinker more with their manicure. On long nails, a manicure always looks impeccable.

If your nails are strong and flexible, you can change their shape as you wish - after all, on long nails you can make an oval, square or stiletto shape, they will all look great, your ideas are not limited in any way.

Learn how to do French manicure

Doing a French manicure correctly is very simple; it does not require any special skills or tools, so it is often done at home. The only thing is that it is recommended to buy white varnish with a thin brush. Of course, you can work at home using stencils, but any professional craftsman will tell you that only by painting with a brush can you give your nails the desired and beautiful shape.

Instructions on how to do a simple French manicure at home step by step:

The nail is prepared: degreased, covered with base. When the base is completely dry, the main color is applied on top of it. French is a very soft and elegant type of manicure, where pastel colors are often used. The base polish can be pink, beige, coffee, etc.;
After the base dries, smiles are drawn. To create them, you can use stencils, but this technique has several disadvantages: there is no originality, varnish leaks through them, and they are inconvenient to peel off. Therefore, it is better to draw patterns by hand;
This is why you need a varnish with a thin brush. The “smile” is drawn with thin short strokes along the natural white stripe at the end of the nail. Depending on the shape, it can be round, more square, or even straight. Depending on your skills, you can also decorate all your nails or just one with a simple pattern. For example, draw a few stripes or write something;

Photo - French manicure in stages
All that remains is to coat the varnish with a fixative and wait for it to dry. Some girls use glitter varnish (with sparkles) instead of a fixative. It also holds up well, but can be inconvenient when removing manicure.

Video: an easy way to create a French manicure

Lace manicure

Fashion trends for this type of manicure have been relevant for several seasons. If you want to create a romantic look, this nail design will be the perfect finishing detail.

This manicure can be created with varnish and stamps, but there is another way. First you need to prepare 10 small pieces of thin lace. Their size should match the size of your nails.
Apply a base coat of varnish – light colors work well. But to create a dramatic and fatal image, you can also use a dark shade.
Place the prepared lace on your nail and straighten it using a toothpick.
Apply several layers of clear varnish over the lace and wait until it dries.

Fashionable lace manicure with regular varnish

Interesting : Fashionable manicure and pedicure in the same style

Lunar manicure with gel polish or shellac

The original moon manicure, which can be easily performed with both shellac and regular varnish, is becoming increasingly popular. Of course, if we talk about convenience, then it is best to do it with gel - it lasts longer and it is easier to draw holes with it. In appearance, lunar is the complete antipode of French. If in a French manicure only the tips of the nails are shaded with white (or another color), then in a lunar manicure the holes are shaded.

To make a professional lunar design, you need to prepare a manicure kit: these are accessories for trimming, tools for working with gel (removers, primers, etc.), and an ultraviolet lamp.

Fashionable manicure with gel polish with rhinestones at home step by step:

Nails are cleaned and wiped with a degreaser. It should be noted that, unlike working with simple varnish, the usual tonic or alcohol will not work. Many masters use formulas enriched with various minerals and silicones, which fill the gaps in the nails, promoting stronger adhesion of the gel and the plate;
Afterwards the nails are painted over and the holes are outlined. Please note that it is best to use a thin brush to create semicircles near the cuticle - then the work will turn out very neat and interesting. It is recommended to draw the moons first, and then paint over the plate;
When everything is done, the nails are placed under an ultraviolet lamp for 2 minutes. Afterwards a second layer of gel polish is applied. It is needed for intense color. It is also dried for 2 minutes;
When the main plane of the platinum is painted over, the holes are processed. They need to be painted with a thin brush so as not to smudge the contour. For this, masters work with acrylic brushes - they are thinner and stiffer than ordinary ones. Rhinestones or velvet sand for nails are inserted into the centers of the holes and pressed with a stick for better fixation;
The painted holes are dried for 2 minutes;
After finishing working with the biogel, you need to wipe the plate with a degreaser, which will remove the “stickiness” from the nails. This is how you do a moon manicure

In order for this unusual manicure to look interesting and stylish, you need to select varnishes very carefully. Experts advise using paints in contrasting colors, for example, black and white, green and yellow. But, if you work in pastel colors (pink and white, brown and beige), you will get a more delicate design.

Video: 4 ways to draw a hole for a moon manicure

Applying varnish

We continue to consider the features of creating a hygienic manicure step by step; you can apply almost any design yourself at home. For this, special varnishes are used. The technique for applying them is simple. However, it is recommended to take into account a few tips from professionals.

Any varnish is applied to the base. This is a protective agent that protects nails from the effects of varnish. The base will also fill microcracks. As a result, the decorative layer will lie evenly on the surface of the nail. The base is also used as a finishing layer. When using this material, the manicure looks more impressive and neat.

Colorless compositions with a healing effect are used by both women and men. In this case, you can protect the surface from the adverse effects of the external environment. In this case, it is not necessary to apply varnish on top.

If you plan to use varnish, you need to wait until the base dries. Next, a drop of colored coating is applied to the nail closer to the hole. Next, use a brush to move from this point to the cuticle. Then the same movement is performed to the edge of the nail. The result is a straight line. From it, varnish is also applied along the edges. Apply a little product to the brush (if needed). Sometimes the first drop is enough to treat the entire nail.

The same movements are performed along the edges as in the center. After this, you need to brush along the edge of the nail. This will give it an even edge. If necessary (if the color turns out to be unsaturated), a second layer is applied. When it dries, apply a transparent sealer. It will protect the colored coating from rapid destruction, scratches, etc.

Matte and mirror for short nails

Recently, many girls have begun to create designs on their nails that are not shiny at all. Some even use varnishes that harden after application and become powder.

Matte or velvet manicure can be done at home in three ways:

Use regular polish, and while drying, hold your nails over the steam for a few seconds;
Use a special matte varnish;
Use special sand coatings. After application, they dry out and turn into textured varnishes.

You don't need any special training to make an interesting matte design. You just need to buy a polish without glitter - they are sold in any cosmetic store.

Step-by-step technology:

Nails are cleaned and filed. In principle, the beginning of the procedure is no different from working with simple varnish;
After the matte surface has dried, you can “play” a little with the textures. For example, paint the entire nail matte black, and after drying, add glossy dots or stripes. This is a good option for a holiday or photography, where many will pay attention to the accents in the image;
You can do a matte leopard manicure in the same way. Just dot your nails with a glossy color and outline them with a matte color. Then the base should be light, the dots themselves should be black, and the outline around them should be brown. Leopard

But the easiest and fastest manicure you can do at home is with foil. In order for the nails to be shiny and glossy, they are covered with special stickers. To do this, they use colored foil, on which patterns can be applied, or simple stickers that replicate the mirror coating.

How to do an artistic mirror manicure with foil at home:

Nails can be painted with any varnish. It is best to take white or colorless;
While the varnish is not dry, foil is glued onto it. It is very fragile, making it easy to break off along the contour of the nail. Although the options for its use can be very different: torn patterns, striped patterns, etc.;
Afterwards you need to cover the plate with a fixative, because the foil gets scratched very quickly.

Manicure with foil - step by step photo instructions

Glowing manicure is performed at home in the same way - here either fluorescent varnish or foil is also used.

Video: manicure with foil

Simple nail design for beginners: stamping with gel polish

Mastering stamping is not at all difficult, even despite the large number of tools in the set. Even if you have just started mastering nail design, we recommend that you immediately choose a high-quality stamping kit for yourself. Cheap options can completely discourage you from working with this tool, since they contain many defects, for example, the pattern on the plates is not embossed very well, the stamp is made of low-quality material, which affects the design on the nails.

The standard stamping kit includes:

plate with patterns - you can buy more of them by choosing any patterns you like
stamp - pay special attention to its quality, the stamp will determine how the pattern on your nails will turn out
scraper – necessary for removing excess gel polish on the plate

Gel polishes may be included in the set, but it is better to buy thick gel polishes, which are ideal for making stamping patterns.

Water manicure step by step

Despite its apparent simplicity, manicure on water or water design is quite difficult to perform. They can make the most unusual designs and patterns, but to do this you need to gain experience and purchase high-quality varnishes. To work, you will need a container with warm water (preferably disposable, because after nail art it will be spoiled), glue, a needle, and varnishes of the desired color.

Instructions on how to make a beautiful water manicure at home step by step:

The nail is prepared and painted white - then all other colors will look bright on it. In order not to worry about erasing the varnish around the nail, the skin must be covered with either PVA glue or a special “fuse”;
Varnishes drip into the water. You need to act quickly, because they harden, and it is difficult to work with a dry coating. When the desired range is obtained, it is necessary to draw patterns on them with a needle; Water drawing
There are different schemes. The simplest one is to move the needle from the center to the outskirts of the circle. This painting will allow you to get an elegant web design;
When everything is ready, the nail is blotted into the center of the pattern (or to the outskirts, depending on the chosen pattern). You don't need to hold it for long. During the process, excess varnish in the water is removed with a needle or stick; Water manicure
All that remains is to remove your fingers from the water and wipe them with nail polish remover.

Drawings obtained using water manicure are very original and interesting, but require a lot of time. Therefore, it is often much faster and easier to make them with acrylic paints.

Video: making drawings on water for water manicure

Tool preparation

Before you begin the procedure, you need to think through all the details down to the smallest detail. It is advisable to decide what nail design will be created this time. For example, you can create a winter or summer manicure at home with your own hands (a photo of a successful job is presented below), a French manicure, or any creative ideas.

In this case, different types of varnish are used. For example, it could be the most common nail enamel. Shellac has become a popular trend. If you want to do gel or acrylic nails, you will need to prepare a solid arsenal of tools.

Regardless of what kind of manicure you plan to do, you should purchase everything you need in advance. Among the tools that are used in the process of nail care, there are the following varieties:

File. You can purchase several of them at once. The abrasive can be coarse, medium and fine. This will allow you to give the nail the correct shape, as well as properly sand the cut areas. It is best to purchase glass varieties. Such files cause less damage to the nail.
Wire cutters. It is better to purchase completely metal tools. They can be processed correctly later.
Cuticle softener. To do this, use bath salts, oils or gels.
Varnish. The choice depends on the intended design.
Cotton wool, napkins. Allows you to clean your nails and skin from any varnish that accidentally gets on them.
Special scissors. Will be required if you need to reduce the length of the nail.
Spatula, spatula. Needed for processing cuticles.

This is a standard set of tools. It is purchased if you plan to perform a simple manicure. You can replace the listed tools with a manicure machine with rotating attachments. With their help, you can give the nail the correct shape, treat the cuticle and surrounding skin, and also polish the nail plate.

If you want to use gel polish or shellac for a DIY manicure at home, you need to purchase a UV lamp for drying. For acrylic nails, you should buy special materials to create the base and top layer. Drying in this case is also carried out using an ultraviolet lamp.

Newspaper and ombre

Color gradient designs are popular due to their simplicity. If it is done in salons with a special airbrush, then at home it can be done even with a simple sponge. This is ideal for New Year, birthday or any other holiday.

How to make a stylish ombre manicure at home:

The nail is prepared and filed. A base and white varnish are applied to the plate;
Afterwards, a small piece of sponge is cut out. Varnish is applied to it in strips. Thus, in the future you will get a gradient;
To create an interesting winter design, you can combine red with white and gold, or blue with green and scarlet. Another secret to getting the perfect transition lies in choosing a sponge. It should be dense, without large pores;
The nail is blotted with a sponge. Try not to press too hard, otherwise the transition will be too clear;

Ombre step by step
Read also: Black manicure with design 2022: photo ideas, new nail art
All that remains is to apply glitter and fixative. This will help hide sponge marks and give your manicure a salon look.

Ombre sponge

Video: gradient or ombre on nails

A newspaper manicure is no more difficult to do at home. Newspapers often use ink that can be washed off with alcohol. But, if you turn the newspaper over and rub it with alcohol, the print will simply transfer to the surface underneath it.

How to do a newspaper manicure step by step:

The nail is painted in any color contrasting with black. This is done because the letters are most often black;
A small piece is cut from the newspaper. It is applied with the desired side to the nail;
You need to run a sponge soaked in alcohol over the paper several times. If the newspaper is thick, then you even need to apply the swab to the plate for a few seconds;
When the letters have passed, you need to cover the nail with a fixative. Newspaper manicure

Home manicure ideas with visual instructions

Photos and ideas for manicure at home will allow you to choose the right design. If you know the basics of nail art, you can create almost any design.

Home manicure idea 1

Idea 2 Manicure idea - 9 steps

Photo - Idea 4