DIY Manicure/Pedicure

It's summer and if there is any season that demands maintained mani/pedi's it is summer.  I love nail polish, but hate how long it DOESN'T last.  If you know my blog, you probably have figured out, I'm lazy and don't like DAILY maintenance of anything other than bathing rituals and facial care.  Anything else needs to last 3 days to a week at least lol.  Because of this, I usually have a chipped manicure throughout the week, smh!

Anyhoo, these are a the Tips and Tricks I have learned recently.

• Nothing beats a good base and tops coat
• Don't buy the cheap stuff!!
• Alcohol will make your manicure last longer!!!

My Fav's

• Polish:  Essie hands down! ( last up to 3 days) and OPI
• Base Coat: Nail Tek- Foundation II Base Coat- Ridge-Filling Nail Strengthener
• Top Coat: Seche Vite

This combination works great for me!

Mani/Pedi Instructions:

1. Soak nails either in a dish or as I do, during your bathing rituals
2. Apply cuticle oil or jojoba oil, Olive oil, etc and let sit for a minute
3. Clean cuticles with cuticle pusher or orange stick
4. Wash hands
5. File nails in one direction and shape.  Do not run file back in forth across nails tip.  This will cause damage.
6. Rinse hands
7. Apply alcohol to nail bed.  This will dehydrate the nail and remove and excess oils that cause nail polish to chip.
8. Apply base coat.  Allow base coat to dry.
9. Apply 2 coats of polish or as desired.  Let polish dry for 20 minutes
10. Apply 1 layer of your top coat and drag brush across tip of nail to seal... Let dry
11. Apply 1 layer of your top coat daily

Side note:  If you like crackle polish, when your manicure begins to chip, apply a fresh layer of clear polish, then apply a layer of crackle polish.  This help disguise chips and helps you last the rest of the week!!


Voila!!