Wish We'd Known: 7 Things No One Told Us About Getting a Manicure By: iVillage Getting a manicure might seem like perfect excuse to just sit back and relax, but it turns out there are some pretty ugly dangers lurking inside the salon. Sephora nail and gel expert Terri Silacci tells you what to watch out for. Ever notice that some people have wavy nail beds? This permanent condition can sometimes be caused by over-clipping cuticles. Nail fungus, nasty viruses, staph...who knows what infections the person ahead of you at the nail station had? "Filing in one direction with a fine grit file instead of using an aggressive back and forth motion, is important for the integrity of the front edge of the nail, where so many people have problems with peeling and splitting," says Silacci. A jaundiced-looking French manicure isn't exactly très chic-but it is a common consequence of using a sub-standard product for your final step. If your salon doesn't use a base coat specifically designed as a first layer, watch out. Photo Credit: Getty Images
At-Home Manicure Raise your polished hand if you’ve spent hard-earned dough on a salon manicure, only to have it chip or fade after a few days. And how about those cuticles that started off smooth, but are now as ragged as a saw’s edge? Turns out, there are a few reasons (beyond the temptation to update your Facebook status while drying) your nails don’t stay a perfect ten for long. Follow this guide to make the most of your next mani. Thoroughly wash your hands and feet, then scrub cuticles and the undersides of nails with a soft baby toothbrush and a gentle antibacterial soap to get rid of dirt and other debris. MORE: Hepatitis C From a Manicure? Next, remove traces of old polish with an acetone-based solution that’s free of glycerin or vitamin E, ingredients that serve to moisturize skin around nails, but actually leave the nail bed too slick for color to adhere. If the edges of your nails extend beyond their bed, trim them straight across, leaving each squared off to prevent in-growns. How?
Water Marble Nail Art Tutorial Water marble nail art creates a fantastic look but it's a tricky technique to master. I get so many compliments when I marble my nails, but it can be a little messy and time consuming. One bonus is that you don't need any brushes, dotting tools, rhinestones or anything. All you need is a shallow bowl of room temperature water and some vaseline (or lip chap) or tape. You can either rub vaseline onto the skin around your nail bed or tape it, so when you dip your finger into the water you can remove the polish from your skin. But I'm getting ahead of myself! My first tutorial ever! Tips & Tricks If your first drop doesn't spread out as much as you want, you can gently pull the sides out. My Water Marbles Reader Submissions Back to Tutorials Still have some questions? Copyright 2012 Lisa Bailey © Nail-Art-101.comAll Rights Reserved
NAILED IT! Photos + post design by Kristin Ess While you’re all probably busy decking the halls right now, perhaps you’ll be able to take a break to get fancy, festive + fun with this manicure tutorial from Lady Conrad! She wanted to string some lights across her nails and so she did… Literally! Here’s how she created these lil’ cuties: TOOLS: base & top coat, green polish & red polish (you can use any colors you want), white or off-white polish, cuticle nippers or small scissors, black cotton string, a small brush or pointed q-tip. On clean nails, do a solid coat (or two thin coats) of white or off white polish.After the white polish dries, do one clear coat. Tags: bright, brite, christmas, DIY, do it yourself, holiday, how to, kristin ess, lauren conrad, light, lighting, lights, lite, mani, manicure, nail art, nails, string, the beauty department, thebeautydepartment.com, tutorial, xmas Related posts:
Spring Nail Art Courtesy of Miss Pop Nails Nail art is hot this season, and while you might fret that it isn’t office-appropriate (there are some major designs out there!), you can definitely find the right balance between 3-D stacks and pale pink. I personally understand the delicate difference, because before I became a professional nail artist (see my designs here!) PHOTO UPLOAD: See Yourself With Perfect Skin The Reverse French The usual French Tip is at the edge of the nails, but the Reverse French (also known as the Ruffian French) is flipped. QUIZ: How Quickly is Your Beauty Aging? The Glitter Fade This nail look is like the dress that takes you from work to a night out on the town. MORE: A Black Eye From a Manicure?! The Half-Moon The half moon is a nail art staple first worn by flappers back in the 30s. MORE: How Nail Art Got Me Out of Bed The Picture Frame Another big nail trend is thinly outlining your nail in a contrasting color. MORE: Read This Before Getting a Gel Manicure Exaggerated Chevron Ombré
Cool Paintings 2 Tutorials I don't create tutorials for every manicure I do, but if I have, this is where you'll find them! Explore the manicures and tutorials attached with them by clicking on the images below! If you try it out, let me know, I'd love to see your recreations. If there are any past manicures you'd like to see a tutorial for, drop me a line! 27 Nail Hacks For The Perfect DIY Manicure