For 4 years, I abandoned nail salons in favor of my own salon. Although at first the exercise proved perilous, I learned a few lessons along the way. Here are my tips for getting started at home!
I confess, for years I was a huge fan of nail bars. Like many, I went there every three weeks to redo my manicure. Then, one month in March 2020, a certain pandemic arrived and caused the closure of all businesses. At first, I take it as an opportunity to give my nails a much-needed break from semi-permanent polish (an important step). But after a few weeks, I decided to buy the necessary equipment to do my manicures on my own. After watching numerous tutorials on social networks, I placed an order: LED lamp, varnish, base, top coat, files… Everything goes! Today, after four years of practice and, let’s face it, quite a few failures, I hardly go to salons anymore. In addition to saving money in the long term, that doesn’t stop me from receiving a few compliments from my friends or colleagues. So, after careful consideration: here are my tips for beginners who would like to do their nails at home! Follow the leader !
Accept that the first poses are not pretty
Yes, that’s part of the game when you learn: unless you have completely innate talent, your first poses may not be very pretty. Coats that are too thick, overflows, manicure that doesn’t hold… Don’t be discouraged, it takes some time to master the brush!
Practice as much as possible, even on those close to you
This goes hand in hand with the advice above: find friends and family who are willing to lend you their nails and (possibly) wear a slightly ugly manicure for a few weeks. At first, my sister kindly lent me her hand and had to take responsibility for some serious failures in front of her friends or work colleagues… These are my official apologies to her!
Invest in good equipment
The material is undoubtedly the most important part of successfully applying semi-permanent, but also and above all to ensure that it lasts for several weeks. So, invest in a good quality UV or LED lamp, a good top coat and a base coat. The same goes for colors. My favorite brands? Gelcare, a Montreal company that does not use the ten most harmful chemical ingredients usually found in nail polishes, and The GelBottle for optimal hold.
Do not neglect the preparation of the nail
Here again, a successful manicure requires good preparation of the nail. After filing it into the shape that suits me and pushing back the cuticles using a suitable tool, I never forget to wipe the nail with a degreaser. It will remove all traces of fatty substances and impurities on the nail, and allow better adhesion of the varnish. A step that should definitely not be skipped, at the risk of seeing the color come off the nail after spending long hours on the work (yes, it’s a true story).
Work in thin layers
At first, I tended to apply the semi-permanent polish in very thick layers. Not only is it not very aesthetic, but the manicure also doesn’t last. After watching a lot of videos, I finally understood the trick: you have to place a small drop of varnish on the nail and spread it gently. If the color is not intense enough, it is always possible (and even recommended) to add a second coat.
Go very slowly when approaching the cuticle
Going over the cuticle… Nothing could be more annoying! To make sure this doesn’t happen, I slow down my brush and approach the skin very, very gently without ever touching it. And if there is any slippage, I wipe it off before putting the nail under the lamp.
Go to the end of the nail
Another lesson learned by force: don’t forget to spread the base, color and top coat all the way to the tip of the nail. The risk? See the varnish flaking very quickly.
Wait two minutes under the lamp between each coat
How do we say it again? “Patience is the mother of virtues”? Well, that goes for semi-permanent manicures too. Between each coat, it is important to let the varnish cure for at least two minutes under the lamp so that it adheres well to the nail.
Don’t forget to disinfect your tools
Finally, once your work of art is finished, don’t forget to disinfect your manicure tools well so as not to contract a possible infection.
