Introduction: How to Do a Manicure or Pedicure That Will Last!
Tired of dropping $40.00 on a manicure or or pedicure? It's not hard and if you don't need a fancy paint job, here's a solution for you.
Step 1: Tools and Materials
Begin with a nail file and a series of multi-stage buffers. For the final shine, I've found nothing better than the "Flash Shiner" available on Amazon or eBay for about $2.00.
Step 2: Wash Your Hands
The first step is to wash your hands. You want a nice clean slate to begin with.
Step 3: Trim Your Nails to Length
I recommend using a nail file to trim your nails. Filing seems to strengthen them over time. File your nails to the desired length and shape. For men, a compact 1/16" is acceptable. For women, the sky is the limit.
Step 4: Push Your Cuticles Back
Using the back end of the nail file, push your cuticles back toward the knuckle. This exposes more of the nail.
Step 5: Buff the Nails
Notice the ridges on this nail? Left unchecked, they will become quite unsightly and some people believe that they become a harbor for nail fungus.
If your nails are black, you have a disease! See a doctor! There is a cure.!
Step 6: Buff in Stages
First buff the ridges off the top of the nail and dress the edge with the buffer.
Next, going through each progressively finer stage of the buffer, smooth the nail finer and finer. Just like finish sanding a really great paint job on a car.
Once you progress to the finest grit on the buffer, toss it and break out the Flash Shiner.
This 2-stage process will leave your nails looking like polished glass! And it will last for a month!
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16 Comments
9 years ago
finally a great guide for men. I love it!
12 years ago on Introduction
What do I do about all the torn skin kinda screwing up my cuticles?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Start with a professional manicure, then once the dead and dry skin has been cleaned up use a serious moisturizer. This can be complicated by work or hobbies that really dry out the skin. Some people do just grow more cuticle but keeping it from drying out and trimming (carefully, don't cut too close and use only sanitized tools) can keep it tidy. It is a good idea too, splits and tears increase the potential for infection.
10 years ago on Introduction
It appears to be an advertisement for the buffer, the advice falls very short of anything like a professional manicure or pedicure, the writer is clearly not professionally trained.
10 years ago on Step 6
It will last until you scratch it and, your nails will grow... I can't imagine it will last a month unless you do nothing to scuff it.... as I said, be careful to not remove too much nail when buffing. I don't recommend doing this often. The top layers of nail are more dense, the layers beneath become more porous... once you have buffed off the top layers, the layers beneath can split and peel in layers depending on the nail. You are not sanding paint on a car, you are removing nail surface. You cannot paint over it if you remove too much nail. This article suggests that a few simple steps replace a $40 professional manicure or pedicure... it does not touch on the clean up of cuticle and dry skin common on a pedicure. I suspect it was written by someone who has never had a professional service, or thinks you haven't.
10 years ago on Step 5
"unchecked" nail ridges? Ridges in the nails show many things but they do not stop developing by buffing them and they do not harbor nail fungus... sorry but that is just silly... buffing too much off the surface of the nail can lead to peeling nails. Buff only lightly if you must and realize, each time you buff your nails you remove more of the denser nail off the top. This points out why it is worthy paying a professional.
10 years ago on Step 4
Bad idea, the edge of the file is not designed to push cuticle without tear cuticle and scratching the nail... use a soft pusher designed for the job and soak the cuticle to soften it and make it more flexible so it will be less likely to tear.
12 years ago on Step 3
Always file in the one direction, Not back and forth, this will damage the nail.
Reply 10 years ago on Step 3
Not true, that makes no sense at all, if filing both ways "damaged" the nail, filing one way would damage it too. What it is that tears nail fiber and makes it shredded at the edge is using a file that is too coarse. When filing natural nail use the softest grit file that will get results. You would be surprised how fine a file will still shape natural nail.
12 years ago on Introduction
Voting is now open for the Beauty Contest, so If you really like it, please vote for my instructable.
12 years ago on Introduction
Buffing is key. If you do a good job, you don't really need a lacquer, and I have one that's 4 stages and each one is thankfully labeled. Phew! Works great on toe nails too. :-P
12 years ago on Introduction
After a lifetime of biting my fingernails, I've gone cold turkey and stopped. It has been nearly two months but I really want to rip into them and chew them. It’s driving me MAD!!!!! However, I can resist (but only just) As a kid I got a grooming set from my aunt and thought it a total waste of time. But this instructable has come at a great time. I have a use for that nail file. I can have tidy nails instead of little stumpy things. Thanks for the pointers.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
That's exactly what I did! Cold Turkey! You can do it!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Thanks for the support. Perhaps I should join the N.B.A. Nail Biters Anonymous One great thing about longer nails; I can have a proper scratch.
12 years ago on Introduction
Great instructable, just what I have been looking for!
12 years ago on Introduction
hi