French Manicure
November 15, 2008
Though it requires a lot of toil, once done, manicured nails look amazingly flattering. French manicure is something new which is worth trying and obviously will make you stand out among your friends. The polish ranges vary from white to pink and look highly attractive.
Procedure
-Clean your nail and file them to a shape according to your wish.
-Apply a base coat. It should be very thin.
-The tip of the nail should be painted white. In order to do it properly, try the following trick.
-From one edge of the nail, swipe a loaded brush diagonally towards the center. Repeat the same thing from the other edge.
-As a result a “V” shape will be created. Now fill the cusp of the V. Do the same on all the nails.
-Allow it to dry.
-Then apply varnish over the entire nail.
-It may be light pastel shades like beige, pink or clear, which is more conventional; or if you want to do something innovative, then try out other color options. This will give a sophisticated touch to the classic style of French manicure.
Tips
In order to ease your task, you can try simpler options. Pre-cut French manicure guides are available in the market. These contain adhesive. Remove these strips from the backing paper gently. Now fix it on the nail. It will separate the tip of the nail from the rest. Smoothen out the ripples if any. Do this on all the nails. Now, on the tip apply white varnish and allow it to dry. Then remove the guide and put on sheer varnish over the whole nail. You can also use a white pencil to accentuate the effect on the tips.
Nail strengtheners
Nail strengtheners are not as much a boon as they are supposed to be. They are good for peeling and very weak nails when used for a short period of time, but if used at a stretch for a long period (say 3 weeks), then it will harden the nails too much making them brittle and they may break. So says our great nail expert, Marion Newman. So, it is better to avoid these nail strengtheners until you are in dire need of them, i.e. if you have splitting and peeling nails. They are more of a bane than a boon.
For strong and healthy nails apply hand cream and oil especially meant for nails at the base of your nail and the cuticles after you wash your hand. This will keep the nail matrix (i.e. the living part of your nail that is responsible for healthy growth) conditioned and your nails will be healthy and look better.
Unique Breast Cosmetics from St.Botanica
Let me tell you some tips on how to give yourself a manicure. Remove old nail polish thoroughly. Soak hands in warm water for 10 or 15 minutes. Dry hands. File nails in one direction only. Avoid using a seesaw motion. Push back cuticles. Use a cuticle moisturizer if they do not push back easily after soaking. Add a second coat for deeper color. Finish the manicure with a top coat of clear polish.