Tutorial: DIY Mini Manicure at Home

Everyone is very busy these days but it only takes a few minutes a day to keep your hands looking great and your nails in tip top condition! If you file your nails the day before, this mini home manicure takes less then 10 minutes from start to finish.

File your nails: the day before you decide to give yourself a mini home manicure I would suggest filing your nails to the length and shape you prefer. This will reduce the amount of time you need to spend the next day. Plus, it will help to reduce splitting and peeling. Your nails are made of keratin and when they are soaked in water this material will expand a bit. If you file your nails when they have been in soaking in water it causes the keratin fibers to separate which can lead to layers of the nail peeling.

Assemble your supplies: take out everything you'll need and have it ready. This will save you time because you won't have to search for some needed item at the last minute. Some items you might need include polish remover, cotton balls or pads, sugar scrub, cuticle oil, body butter or lotion, SPF lotion and a nail or toothbrush.

Step 1: If you have not filed your nails now is the time to do it. Try filing in one direction starting at the edge of one side of the nail and moving to the center. Then go to the opposite side of the nail to the center again. When you are done you want to seal the edge of your nail by gently filing at a 45 degree angle to the nail....see the picture below. This helps to remove the small bit of nail that snag on everything. It also helps to prevent the tips from splitting.

Step 2: Wet your hands with warm water. Apply a small amount of your favorite sugar scrub. I personally don't suggest salt scrubs because they will burn if you have even the smallest cut or broken skin anywhere on your hand. Salt stings like crazy! Sugar scrub don't sting so that's what I like to use. Rub the scrub gently over your hands paying extra attention to the cuticle area. Please remember that the skin on the backs of your hands is more delicate then the rest of your hand. Don't scrub it hard! I'm using one of my favorite winter scents.... Gingerbread Delight Sugar Scrub Sundae. Mmmmmmm.....gingerbread buttercream and lemon sugar cookies.

I like to use a soft toothbrush to really scrub the cuticle area well. It's also great for getting the area under the free edge of your nail. Brush gently using soft strokes from the cuticle down to the tip of the nail. When your finished rinse your hands under warm water to remove the excess sugar.

Step 3: Dry your hands and apply a bit of cuticle oil to each finger. Massage your cuticles in a circular motion. This is the area known as the matrix. It's where your fingernail is actually formed before it grows out and you can see it. By massaging this area you increase the circulation and help the nails grow. Try this Intensive Repair Cuticle Oil. This is an all natural, nutrient rich blend of oils and extracts to help strengthen nails and improve their flexability minimizing breaks while it heals cracked or irritated skin.

Use a orangewood stick and gently push back the cuticles. If your cuticles are overgrown you may not be able to push them all the way back during your first manicure. DON'T FORCE THEM BACK. It will only cause damage. You can also wrap a cotton ball or pad over the edge of the stick and clean under the free edge of the nail.

If you have a problem with peeling or splitting I also highly recommend that you apply your cuticle oil to the underside of the free edge. This helps to moisturize the driest part of the nail reducing peeling.

Step 4: This step is optional but I always do it. Apply a lotion or cream that has an SPF factor of at least 15 or use sunscreen. Your hands are exposed to the damaging rays of the sun all the time. Though you can hid your age with makeup and surgery there's nothing you can do once your hands look old. If you'd like to pass on liver or age spots giving away your age start using sunscreen on the backs of your hands. I used Oil of Olay Complete.

Step 5: Moisturize your hands with your favorite lotion, cream or butter. I prefer to use a body butter. I find my hands stay soft a lot longer because the butter doesn't contain water. This one is made with a variety of nut oils and butters and is scented with Gingerbread Buttercream .....almost the same scent as the sugar scrub I used. Now I'm going to need to bake something after smelling this for a while :)

Step 6: If desired apply a base coat, your favorite polish and a top coat. If you are short of time you can also do this step the day after your manicure. If you pass on the polish now you can relax and check out your newly manicured nails :)