Most of us head towards a salon when looking to get our manicure and pedicure done. But when going to a salon is not an option, you can bring the salon to your home. By following this cheat sheet, you can open your very own salon at home! Let us tell you how.

How to Do Manicure at Home

• Prepare everything you need: Since your hands will be occupied and you won’t be able to move them as freely, it makes sense for you to do the prep work beforehand. So, set up a small table and ready all the items you will need. The items are:
  • Nail paint remover and some cotton wool
  • A good nail cutter
  • A nail file
  • Cuticle trimmer
  • Hand moisturiser
  • Base nail coat
  • Nail polish
  • Top nail coat
  • A bowl
  • Some shampoo or face wash
  • A towel

• Clean your nails: Start off with the basics. Wash your hands and remove any old paint that may be still there on your nails.

• Cut and shape your nails: Next, you need to clip your nails and shape them. Ensure all the nails on the hand are of the same length and same shape. Use a good quality, gentle nail file. Do not use a hard metal file, as that will cause a lot of damage to your nails. This will lay out the foundation for the manicure.

• Soak your hands: Fill the bowl with some lukewarm water, add a few drops of face wash or shampoo into it and soak your hands for about two minutes. Not only is this relaxing, it is also a vital step. This is because soaking makes the cuticles soft and easy to clip later. It also pulls out any dirt lodged in between the nails.

• Clip the cuticles: This is a crucial step and requires a lot of care. You need to only clip the excess cuticles and the free edges. Do not cut or tear away any cuticle too deep as that can result in infections and painful skin problems later on. The same applies for excess hangnails that may show up around your nails. Gently clip them without harming the rest of the nail

• Moisturise: After you trim the cuticles, apply some cream or moisturiser on them to prevent any skin problems from showing up later on. Leave it one for about five minutes to ensure the healing properties of the moisturiser reach inside your skin. Then use some nail paint remover to clear your nails of any oily residue. The polish won’t stay if there is any moisture on the nail.

• Apply the base coat: Remember that you are carrying out beauty services at home and so it’s okay if you take more time than a professional for this bit. To do this, apply a coat of base nail paint, much like the folks at a salon do. This is important and will make your polish look and perform better.

• Apply the polish: Next, you need to apply a nail polish of your choice. Look to apply at least three coats, one by one. This will give your nail some volume and will make the colours glow and stand out.

• Apply the top coat: Applying a top coat, after the nail polish completely dries out, is essential. The top coat will protect the paint and keep your nails pretty for a longer duration of time.

• Moisturise again: The final step is to moisturise your entire hand again. Apply a good moisturiser and seal the deal!

You see, it is not at all difficult to carry out a wonderful manicure service at home. Just follow these tips and get pretty nails in a jiffy.

[Related Reading: Manicure Hacks: 12 Steps To Build The Ultimate Nail Kit]

How to Do Pedicure at Home

If you are taking care of your fingernails, why leave the poor toenails out? Try out a simple pedicure at home too and give your feet an instant makeover.

• Prepare ahead: Much like the manicure, for the pedicure too, you need to prepare beforehand. Get all the things ready so that you don’t have to get up in the middle and leave your relaxing spot in the salon at home. You need to arrange the following:
  • Nail paint remover and some cotton wool
  • A good nail cutter
  • A nail file
  • Cuticle trimmer
  • Foot cream
  • Base nail coat
  • Nail polish
  • Top nail coat
  • A bucket or small tub
  • Some shampoo or body wash
  • A towel

• Wash your feet and nails: Before you begin, wash your feet under running, hot water. This will help wash away any dirt and help you start the home pedicure process. If there is any visible injury to your feet, take care by either covering it with a bandage or working around it during the pedicure to avoid inflammation and spread of infection.

• Cut your nails and remove paint: Cut your toe nails neatly and remove any paint that may still be left on them. If you want to shape your toe nails, use a good nail file to do the job. Also cut the loose ends on the cuticles. Do not however tear or cut deep into the cuticles as that can cause skin infections later on.

• Soak your feet: Next, we come to the relaxing bit of soaking your feet in warm water. Fill the bucket or tub with some warm water (as warm as you can tolerate) and add a dash of shampoo or body wash to it. Soak your feet in the water and leave it for about five minutes. This will open up the pores and also let the dirt come out from between the toes and nails.

• Exfoliate: This is one of the main components of your pedicure. After you take your foot out of the warm water, pat dry it with a towel. Then apply the foot cream and use a pumice stone or a foot scrubber to scrub your heel and the base of your foot. This will help eliminate the dead skin cells and clear out the cracks on your foot.

• Rinse: The exfoliation should be followed by a thorough foot wash. Rinse your foot under running water to clear off all the loose, dead skin and to clear off the foot cream.

• Moisturise: Exfoliation will make your skin dry and may cause redness and irritation. To prevent this, apply a good, soothing moisturiser. Massage it into the skin of your foot and into the nails and cuticles as well. Leave it for a while and then take some nail paint remover and clean your toe nails of the moisturiser. The polish won’t stay on well if there is any grease on the surface of the nail when you apply it. So make sure you clean your nails and dry them out properly before you apply nail polish on them.

• Paint your nails: Next, you have to put a base coat on the toe nails. This coat helps put a strong foundation for the nail colour. Once the base coat dries up, apply your favourite toe nail paint. Put a minimum of three layers for a long-lasting effect. Once that dries up, apply a top coat and seal the nail paint securely.

• Apply another round of foot cream: Since you rubbed off all the cream from your toes prior to applying the nail paint, you have to rehydrate your nails. So apply another round of foot cream after the nail polish has completely dried out. This will give you a fresh feeling and also keep your feet healthy and moist.

[Also Read: 7 Homemade Pedicure and Foot Care Tips to Remove Tan]

It is not at all difficult to carry out a manicure and pedicure at home. Follow this beauty regime and say hello to beautiful, healthy and nourished hands and feet!