The Perfect Nail Routine Step-By-Step

Going to the salon to get your nails done can be a nice treat. It can add up quick, though! Especially when you can do just as nice of a job at home yourself. You just need to know how! It’s not hard and doing your own nails can be such a nice way to relax and pamper yourself! So, that being said, we’re going to share with you the perfect nail routine that will ensure a flawless at-home manicure!

Start off by removing any old nail polish

This one should go without saying, but make sure that any existing nail varnish is removed before getting started.

File any rough edges

Filing your nails to make them smooth is going to feel better and it will help your polish go on better. You could also use a nail buffer to buff out any rough surfaces at this point too.

Moisturize

Massage a nice hand lotion into your hands and nails. It takes just an added minute but feels so luxurious. Check out the Vichy Ideal Body Hand & Nail Cream - it is such a nice treat for your hands and will provide them with serious hydration!

Apply a base coat

Applying a base coat will help prep your nails so polish will go on evenly and if you're using a dark shade it will help prevent the polish from staining your nails. Check out the essie All in 1 Base Coat - it will help strengthen your nails at the same time and doubles as a top coat too!

Apply one coat of your nail varnish, wait for it to dry, and then apply a second coat

You can choose whichever colour you’d like for this step. If you need some inspiration, check out some of our favourite winter nail polish trends!  

Apply a top coat

When your nail polish has dried, apply a top coat of your choice to help prolong your manicure.

Clean up

Once everything is dry, clean up any excess polish that has gotten around the edges onto your fingers by dipping a cotton swab into some nail polish remover.

That’s really all there is to it! If you’re feeling particularly creative you could even try out one of our favourite nail art designs!

What are your at-home manicure tips?