Your Professional Manicure or Professional Pedicure

There is no need to go to a professional manicurist to get a professional manicure. With your own professional manicure sets (whether it's just the basics or the latest state-of-the-art pedicure machines), you can give yourself a professional manicure or pedicure.

There are different types of manicures and pedicures. Different locations may offer several options and treatments. Quite often, nail salons and spas will offer a basic package and let you add on additional services, or they might already have several packages already put together for you to choose from.

Usually a basic manicure includes clipping and cutting the nails, shaping, pushing back the cuticle and applying nail polish and nail hardener (which makes the nail stronger) to the surface. Also, you may choose to add acrylic nails to enhance the look. This is when a fake nail is glued to your nail bed and acrylic powder is applied to create a natural look. Then the nail technician or manicurist cuts down the nail to the length of your choice. Acrylic nails normally lasts for about two to three weeks before touch-ups or refills are needed. It is very important to take care of your fingernails, toenails, and the skin on your hands and feet. So, just like your hands, your feet need special treatment too. A basic pedicure includes the same services as a manicure, with the addition of a warm foot bath and foot exfoliation (scraping the dead skin from under the foot).
Most nail salons and spas offer additional services with your manicure and pedicure. For example, if you are getting a manicure or pedicure, you may have the choice of receiving a paraffin wax treatment.

This is when your hands and feet are wrapped in plastic and dipped into a container of warm wax. This process softens your skin and makes it really smooth.

Also, most businesses offer hand and foot massages. Just keep in mind that when you choose additional treatment options, you are normally charged extra for these services. In addition to the wax treatment and massages, many salons also offer other products that can enhance your manicure and pedicure experience, such as scented lotions and oils.

Cuticle Care

Cuticles protect your nail against bacteria and damage, so it is important that they are adequately protected. While pushing back cuticles, make sure the action is gentle. If you handle cuticles roughly, they could become damaged.

It is also important that cuticles do not become dry. Dry cuticles will tear and split. Protect your hands with gloves while doing house cleaning chores (like washing up). Apply a hand lotion regularly.
Dry cuticles can be treated with a herbal tea. Soak chamomile and peppermint in some warm water and let your hands soak in it for a while. Olive oil or jojoba oil is also good for dry cuticles.

How To do a Pedicure

The steps needed to give yourself a pedicure are very similar to those taken for a manicure.
Once you know how to manicure, you'll find it easy learning how to pedicure.

• If you have any nail polish on your toes, remove it before you start. Soak your feet in a large bowl of warm water or a foot bath.

• Use large nail clippers to trim your toenails. File them into the desired shape.

• Apply cuticle lotion to the edge of the toenails and push back the cuticles with a cuticle pusher.

• Using a pumice stone, remove any calluses and dead skin from the sole of your foot.

• Return your feet to the water to soak again. Take them out and dry them with a clean towel.

• Using a nail polisher (or nail buffer), polish the nails.

• Apply nail polish to each toenail (if desired). Use a base coat, a colored coat and a top coat. Clear nail polish can be used in place of the base coat and top coat.

• Apply body lotion or oil to your feet. Massage your feet and the bottom of your legs as you apply it.

How To Do a Manicure

If you have ever wondered how to do a manicure, the following list should be helpful. It is a list of steps that professional manicurists take when giving people manicures. By following the same steps (and using your own professional manicure sets) you too can give yourself a professional manicure

• Remove any old nail polish with nail polish remover. Wash and sanitize the hands with soap and hot water or by scrubbing with bath salt. Bath salt is best because it removes dead skin cells. Dry the hands with a clean towel.

• Trim the fingernails and shape them with a nail file. Metal nail files or emery boards can be used, but professionals usually use fine glass files. To file properly, start with the file at the outer edge of the nail and move towards the center. You should not file nails with a saw-like motion.

• Soak the hands in water. A cream, oil or chemical cuticle remover can be applied to remove cuticles. The cuticles are pushed back with a cuticle pusher. Metal cuticle pushers can be used, but they may damage the fingernail. It is best to use orangewood cuticle pushers.

• Polish the fingernails with a polishing board (or nail buffer). A polishing board has a soft foam layer with a polishing surface.

• Apply nail polish. Most professionals apply at least one layer of clear nail polish. If you want to apply colored nail polish, use at least three layers. Start with a base coat. Then put on the color coat. Finish with a top coat. Clear nail polish can be used in place of a base coat and top coat.

• Finish the manicure with a hand massage. You can use hand lotion or oils. Some manicurists will soak the hands in paraffin or wax before putting on hand lotion.

Professional Manicure Set / Professional Pedicure Set

Here are all the tools you will need to give yourself a manicure or pedicure. Some items on the list are essential, but some items can be left until later. You can also buy professional manicure sets or individual manicure and pedicure sets.

The Basics

• Bowl of warm water (this will have to be a very large bowl for a pedicure).

• Nail polish remover.

• Cuticle pusher (preferably orangewood)

• A hand towel.

• Nail clippers or scissors.

• Clear nail polish.

• Cotton pads.

• Finger brush.

• Nail file or emery board.

• Nail polishing board (or nail buffer).

• Massage lotion or hand lotion.

• Pumice stone.

Extras

• Finger bath.

• Foot bath.

• Bath salt.

• Cuticle remover (this is not necessary).

• Cuticle oil (this is not necessary).

• Colored nail polish. (This isn't necessary if you do not want colored nails.)

• Base coat.

• Top coat.

• Professional Items

• Pedicure machines (can also be used for manicures).

Nails for Different Occasions

Nails for Interview

Keep the nails clean, simple and short for attending interview . Use neutral shades.

Party Nails, Late Night Nails

Arrive dark and dramatic: Plum Fairy, Midnight Metal Cabernet, or Classic Red.

Natural Nails

Pink Snow, Clear Ice, or any other shade that is trendy, young and attractive.

Short Nails, Metallic Nails

Metallics are all the rage this year, and spring is a great season to sport a trendy new look. For the best impact, keep your nails trimmed relatively short and show off a splashy metallic look. Silvers, greens, blues and blacks. Greens are especially hot this year, so apply a pretty green hue to get in on the latest color craze.

Pretty Nails, Pastel Nails

It`s likely that pastel colors will never go out of style. Find a shimmery lilac or lavender, a dainty pink, peach or rose, or try other pale pastel shades. For an extra creative touch, apply an iridescent, glossy, pearly or glittery topcoat. Or, for a modern twist, introduce a delicate white on your tips and enjoy a unique new French manicure.

Traditional Nails

For a no-fail look no matter what your personal style or wardrobe options, consider a standby pink or red. Softer pinks and reds seem to be making a strong appearance on nails, blending nicely with all skin tones, nail shapes and clothing color choices

Red Nails, Pink Nails

These colours tend to be classics in the world of lips and fingertips, so even if you can`t find a trendy look for your nails, you can stay in style with a tried-and-true color scheme. To get a little daring, gradually tone down your colors until you are moving from fire engine red and lollypop pink to paler shades of carnation, brick and maybe even peach!

Nail Makeup / Nail Makeup Tips

To finish your makeup programme the last step is nail makeup. Here all you have to do is be creative and as daring as you can. The basic care of nail is very important and hence regularly manicure and pedicure for having healthy and beautiful nails. Given below are some of the tips for the nails to keep them healthy and tidy.

• Slim the look of wide nail bases with an oval shape.

• Pastels and neutrals go the distance on longer, rounder nails.

• Darker polish looks best on short, squared nails. Narrow nail beds appear stronger with a soft square shape. Create a lighter side of bold by add drops of a dark, rich creme to a bottle of clear polish and shake.

• Storing polish in a warm place may change its consistency. Keep nail shades in the refrigerator or a bathroom cabinet.

• Experiment and you will come up with something very trendy and genuine.

• Take the time to cultivate your nails.

• Stop biting the nails.

• Use a nail hardener to protect them from splitting and peeling. Vitamin E supplements keep nails growing long and strong.

Nail Care / Nail Care Tips

• Don't use nails as tools to keep them from breaking.

• Use a pen or pencil to dial a telephone number and a letter opener to open envelopes.

• Avoid using rough metal nail files that can damage nails, and never clip or cut a cuticle unless absolutely necessary.

• After they've been in water, let nails dry completely before filing them.

• Keep nails away from detergents, chlorine and salt water whenever possible.

• Wear gloves in the winter not only for warmth but to protect nails from chipping.

• Wear protective gloves when gardening or doing other household tasks, especially if it involves using hot water, soaps or strong chemicals

Contouring Cheeks | Cheek Contouring | Cheek Contour

• Use light tones in areas you want to highlight and darker tones to shade areas you want to downplay.

• Use a foundation or concealer in a shade lighter than your natural coloring to highlight different areas on the face for a "lifted" look. Consider the corner of the eyes, center of the forehead, tops of the cheekbones, underneath the brow bones, under the lower corners of the mouth and the center of the chin.

• Use a darker makeup, concealer or powder to shade, or create a shadow, that recesses a particular area of the face. This can give the face quite a dramatic effect, especially in photographs. It's less effective and unnatural looking in daylight, so for street makeup use this technique subtly, and blend your makeup well.

• Contouring can define your jawline, diminish a double chin, create a cheekbone or soften a prominent jawbone.

• Shading works best if used under your regular foundation. Use powder shading, however, after you've applied your foundation.

• Highlighting looks best if used on top of foundation.

• Blend well when highlighting and shading.

• You can use shading to shade the hollows of the cheek.

Cheeks Makeup

For a soft, natural appearance, use a blush brush to apply powder blush to the balls of your cheeks. Using a clean, dry sponge, blend evenly in all directions until all edges disappear.

While applying Cheeks Makeup for a more contoured look, apply powder blush from the front of the center of your ears and continue forward, curving slightly under your cheek bones, to the center of your face. Blend well with a dry sponge. The deepest color should be closest to the ears to create depth.