Beauty DIY: Create a Salon perfect Manicure at home (shown here with Zoya Sooki)

March 8, 2012
I didn’t get my first manicure until I was about 26.

Crazy right?  I grew up playing piano so I always had short nails.  I never thought to shape them and paint them because any time they got a little long, I just had to trim them!
Flash forward a few years and I got my first manicure to celebrate a friend’s wedding (those fingers better look good while carrying the bouquets!)  I really started loving the possibilites of different shades (now patterns as well).  Of course it helps that I can now grow my nails out and really get to shape them.  It is a great indulgence to get a manicure – just sit back, relax, and come out with beautiful nails that will last (hopefully) for a week.
But I’m not necessarily patient about sitting in a beauty salon every week.  That and it can get a little costly.
I’ve discovered that it can be easy to create a great manicure at home (and I’ve started reviewing colors like Zoya Trixie and creating patterns too like my chevron reverse manicure).  You just need patience, some good TV shows (waiting for nail polish to dry is pretty boring), and a few tools.  I used Zoya Sooki for this manicure and love the bright red shade!

Here is how I create a salon style manicure (or pedicure) at home1. Gather all my tools and colors.  I also keep a pointed stick handy – this is both for pushing back cuticles and cleaning.  If I need to clean up nail polish around the edges of my nails, I simply dip the stick into a little bit of nail polish remover and do some quick cleanup!

2. I push back my cuticles (for even shaping), buff, and apply lip balm to my cuticles so it is easier to remove color from the sides of my fingers (yes I do this with all my manicures now!)

3. I apply one coat of base coat – protect your nails from staining or absorbing the nail polish!

4. Then I apply one coat of color.  When you take your nail polish out of the bottle, get rid of excess polish by brushing it against the inside, upper rim of the bottle.  You don’t want too much polish on the first coat!  Wait a few minutes and then repeat for extra color coverage.  Now it is time to pop on a TV show because the drying may take a while!

5.  Apply a top coat of your choice.  This ensures that your nail color won’t easily chip.

6. Wait two minutes and as an optional step, apply a few drops of quick dry.  This cuts your drying by a few minutes, but more importantly may even out uneven nail polish and minimize bubbles.

That’s it!  This is a nice Saturday ritual for me now and is a great way for me to play with more colors.   Try it and enjoy your new manicure!

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  • Elle Sees March 7, 2012 at 16:14

    Looks greats!love zoya polish and wish I had all colors

  • Aquí March 7, 2012 at 16:15

    I always love a good at home mani! Really nice color!

  • By Sara Romero March 7, 2012 at 16:20

    Can’t believe you didn’t have a mani until 26! You saved yourself so much money lady. I think this is a great post and it’s exactly what I do too. Base coat and top coat are the key to a good at home manicure. Great tips.

    xoxo
    FAKE EMPIRE
    shopFAKE.com

  • Katie March 7, 2012 at 16:29

    I always do my nails at home now – it gets easier the more you do it!

  • THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE March 7, 2012 at 17:12

    That such a great color! I love giving myself manicures. I give myself one a few times a week actually. I only get them at a salon every now and again when I get my pedis which I really don’t like to give myself. Too much work. 🙂

    Oh and I agree that quick drops are a must! I even bring mine to the salon when I go because they’re the best. xoxo

  • THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE March 7, 2012 at 17:13

    Oh and I was thinking about you today because I’m sporting my Jimmy Choo for H&M cuff. I still love it! Thanks again, love. 🙂 xoxo

  • Punctuation Mark March 7, 2012 at 17:49

    i’m terrible at manicures… this is very helpful!

  • drollgirl March 7, 2012 at 20:05

    your hands are SO LOVELY! and that polish looks beautiful!!!

    i have little patience for polish on my fingernails, and that is sad. they could look so much better! maybe i should try harder.

    i LOVE pedicures, although i don’t always love sitting through them. but they are usually worth the time and effort and expense when one is so inclined!

  • Heather March 7, 2012 at 20:19

    Great tips! I definitely love getting pro manicures but am trying to get better about doing them at home to cut back on the time and expense.

  • Kim (A Very Sweet Blog) March 7, 2012 at 22:04

    i love that shade. looks so awesome on you! very pretty! i’m the exact opposite of you. got manicures young, now i hardly do (because of my job) hahaha great post!
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

  • hautepinkpretty March 7, 2012 at 22:44

    Oo i need to get some quick dry – I’m the worst when it come to letting my nails dry. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I end up nicking my polish on one of my nails and having to fix it lol! xox <3 hautepinkpretty.com

  • MosaMuse March 8, 2012 at 13:01

    nice red!

  • Ioana-Carmen March 8, 2012 at 14:11

    Love this color! So stylish!

    http://www.fashionspot.ro/

  • Fashion-Bridge March 8, 2012 at 14:51

    I am a big manicure fan, especially crazy one for classy red nails. This post is amazing and super useful! Thanks dear for tipping;)

    Xx

    Alexandra

    http://www.fashion-bridge.blogspot.com

  • Kim March 8, 2012 at 15:00

    Great nails, and I love the name “Sooki.” I need to be better about painting mine on the weekends – sounds like the perfect Saturday morning activity 🙂

  • Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird March 8, 2012 at 15:51

    I very nearly bought Sooki when Zoya was having their red sale but went with a different red. Now I kind of want Sooki too!

  • SG Angela March 8, 2012 at 16:19

    great tips. I am like you, I don’t like going to a salon to get my nails done. : )

  • rolala March 8, 2012 at 23:30

    I didn’t get my first mani until I was in my 20’s either. That color looks amazing on you!
    rolala loves

  • Mary Jo at TrustYourStyle March 9, 2012 at 00:10

    So pretty–love a bright red! I wish I could do my own nails, but I”m awful at it!

    xo mary jo

  • Mom Fashion World March 9, 2012 at 00:15

    Loving the brilliant red nail polish!

    COme visit my blog and let’s follow each other!

    http://www.momfashionworld.com/

  • The Blonde Duck March 9, 2012 at 00:48

    So pretty!

  • Bravoe Runway March 9, 2012 at 01:16

    Your nails look awesome! And just like you I only had my first professional manicure until 28ish? I grew up playing the piano..nails? not allowed.

  • Rachel {Da Paura ♥} March 9, 2012 at 01:42

    Exactly what I need – I’m not the best at doing my own nails! Such a pretty manicure.

    xRachel

  • Johanna March 9, 2012 at 02:43

    My at home mani’s are the worst. Next time I am calling you!

  • Laura March 9, 2012 at 03:28

    That’s a really gorgeous nail colour! It reminds me that I’m overdue for a new mani…this will help me become better at doing my own, so thanks! 🙂
    – Laura S

  • Alena: Oh, Its Just Perfect! March 9, 2012 at 05:05

    Such a pretty shade and you did a fabulous job!! When I try and paint my nails – it looks like a four year old did it 🙂

  • Jackie March 9, 2012 at 05:35

    I always get impatient about waiting for my nails to dry and whatnot. I definitely cannot afford to go to the nail salon either! I like that red you’re wearing, great color.

    Also I am having a seriously amazing contest that is being hosted on my Twitter by Gilt Groupe. You could win a chance to attend La Grande Fête, the launch party for the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the DeYoung Museum in SF. JPG will even be there himself! Check out the details on how to enter here!

  • Free Coupons March 9, 2012 at 11:52

    Looks wonderful and loved Zoya polish colors!

  • Kimberlee Van Der Wall March 10, 2012 at 19:01

    YEY so glad you’re going to start doing your own manicures 😉 It’s usually a Sunday ritual for me!

  • LyddieGal March 12, 2012 at 04:51

    your manni looks great – i don’t mind doing my own nails, it’s pretty easy, but the waiting is always so hard! Why is it that the moment I finish painting my nails I think of a million things i MUST do with my hands?

    Chic on the Cheap

  • Confessions of A Confused City Girl March 12, 2012 at 07:53

    Oooo! Pretty!

    ~Sherine
    Check out my blog, comment, and follow if you like!
    Confessions Of A City Girl

  • indianist June 22, 2012 at 17:11

    I learn how to do pedicure at home very use full tips for me thanks for the great information….

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