What is a Manicure?

A manicure, or French manicure, is a cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingers and hands. This procedure is normally performed by a licensed nail technician in a nail salon but can also be done at home. Manicures usually consist of filing and shaping the free edge of nails. It includes pushing and clipping any nonliving tissue but is limited to the cuticle and hangnails.

After the nail clipping and filing, apply cuticle oil and hand lotions with a massage, and then finish with the nail polish application. Most nail polish will last for 2–3 days before another service is required for maintenance if done properly.

Nails that have undergone a French manicure are characterized by a lack of artificial base color and white tips at the free edge of the nail. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as French tips. The nail tips are painted white, while the rest of the nails are polished in a pink or a suitable nude shade. As of late, many other colors are being used in place of the original tip coloring. This type of nail care service tends to be among the more expensive salon options. 

Basic Manicure:

A basic manicure is your standard manicure. The nail tech will start off by soaking your hands in warm water to soothe and soften dead skin cells. Next, the nail tech will file and buff, clean the cuticle, and massage your hands with hand cream. First, the base coat, color, and top coats are applied, followed by cuticle oil.

Gel Manicure:

Gel manicures include the same basic manicure process but with the addition of a gel polish cured under UV light twice, then the top coat is applied to cure the nail.

Hot oil manicures:

Hot oil manicures are a specific type of manicure that cleans the cuticles and softens them with oil. Mineral oil, olive oil, some lotions, or commercial preparations are types of oils that can be heated in an electric heater.

Dip powder manicures:

Dip-powder manicures are an alternative to traditional acrylic nails and gel polish. Dip powders have become popular due to their ease of application. They are similar to traditional silk or fiberglass enhancements, with the fiber being replaced by acrylic powder.

What Products Will I Need?

Bowl	Nail Stencil Stickers
Towel	UV/LED Lamp
Nail Clipper	Nail Polish Remover
Nail File	White Nail Polish
Cuticle Pusher	Nude Nail Polish
Cuticle Oil	Solid Color Polish
Base Coat Polish	Top Coat Polish
Nail Dryer	Hand Lotion

The French Manicure From Start To Finish:

How To Do A French Manicure:

1. Remove Old Nail Polish

Make sure that your nails are prepped and ready to paint. Make sure to remove any old nail polish that may be lingering on your nails. 

2. File And Buff Your Nails

Give your nails a quick trim to make sure that they’re even. Follow up by using a nail file to shape your nails to ensure that they have a smooth shape.

3. Soak Your Nails

Place your hands in a bowl with warm water and soak your nails for three to five minutes. Use an orange stick to push your cuticles out of the way for a clean look, then apply cuticle oil to moisturize the cuticle and help protect your nails.

4. Apply A Base Coat

Start by applying a base coat to your nails. The base coat is applied to prevent the nail polish from staining your nails.

5. Neutral Polish Application

Apply a coat of your pale or neutral nail polish. Start in the middle and work your way outward as you apply. Once this is dry, you can apply a second coat to get rid of any streaks. Allow your nails to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

6. Create Your French Tip

At the tips of your nails, where the white crescent-shaped part usually is (the beginning of the nail edge), you’ll want to apply a small line of white nail polish using a liner brush. Work slowly to create a nice, clean line from end to end. Dip your regular nail polish brush into the white polish and coat that tip from the line all the way to the nail edge, filling in the entire tip.

7. Finish With Your Top Coat

Once your nails are painted to perfection, it’s time to seal the deal with a top coat. Apply a layer of top coat to your nails to make sure you get the maximum wear.