How to Give Yourself a Manicure

Step 1: Take off any nail polish you may have on; This is important because you want a clean surface to work with.

Step 2: Using a four-sided buffer (which you can get from Sephora or any beauty supply store)... file, buff, polish, and shine your nails. 

Step 3: Use a cuticle butter to help nourish your nails. My 2 favourites are Lush's Lemony Flutter, and G.O Bigelow Rose Salve from Bath and Body Works. The Lemony Flutter goes for about $12 CAD and the Lavendar Salve is about $6 CAD. Both are equally great buys! 

Step 4: Apply a base coat. I usually use OPI but when it comes to base coats it doesn't really matter. 

Step 5: Pick your nail color, and apply one coat.

Step 6: Once your first coat is dry put a second.

Step 7: After both coats of polish are dry, apply a top coat. A good top coat polish will prevent your nails from chipping under most conditions, so don't forget this step. My absolute favorite brand of top coat is Seche Vite which goes for $9-$11. That might sound expensive but it is sooo worth the money; I have never had my nail polish last that long! If you can't find Seche Vite then OPI ($9.99 CAD), Orly ($5.99 CAD), Essie ($9.99 CAD) and China Glaze ($6.99 CAD) brands work just as well.  

Step 8: Let your nails dry. To speed up the process you can use a finishing spray, like DeMert Nail Enamel Dryer (a professional manicurist's spray, it's sold at multiple stores. I got mine at a grocery store for just 2 bucks) or Sephora by OPI Drying Drops, by putting a drop one minute after applying polish. *CUTE-TIP: Try running your fingers under cold water if you don't have a quick-drying top coat to seal your nail polish. This will help your nails dry faster!*