While I'd love to hit the spa for weekly manicures, my schedule and budget just won't allow it. I've heard so many rumours about what you should and shouldn't be doing to your nails. What's the story?
Beth R. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and our friends at Lux Spa answered;
At-home manicures can be a great thing for just about anyone, whether you’re on a tight budget or on a tight time schedule. There are however, a few important things to keep in mind…
- Soaking your nails: Choose a mild shampoo or a cuticle soak and don’t soak your nails for too long. Too much soaking weakens the nail causing it to split or break easily.
- Length: If your nails are too long, you might want to consider cutting them or filing them before you soak. If you soak first you can risk cutting or filing more than what you had intended.
- Filing: When filing your own nails, file just the top and not the sides. Filing the sides too much causes the nail to weaken and split which results in a hangnail. I know it's been said that you should file your nails in one direction, but don’t worry about filing the nails back and forth in a sawing motion, it’s okay, just be gentle!
- Buffing: It's best not to buff your own nails since over-buffing can cause the nails to become thin. Leave that to to the pros.
- Cuticles: To keep your cuticles looking healthy, push them back gently after a shower/bath using your own fingernails or an orange wood stick. Do not cut your cuticles yourself as you may cut too far into your skin leaving yourself open to infection. Apply cuticle oil daily (and preferably after each handwashing) to keep them well moisturized.
- Polish: When you’re finally ready to polish your nails, it is best to start with an application of base coat before applying polish to prevent the nail from discoloration. After two thin coats of polish, apply a top coat which will add extreme shine to the polish and make it last longer.
To keep your manicure looking fresh, keep your cuticles and hands well hydrated. You can also apply a top coat two days after your manicure to brighten up the polish.
Lux Spa offers the ultimate in luxurious specialized treatments for hands and feet with unparalleled service. They are located in Toronto, in the Yorkville area. For more information, visit www.lux-spa.com or call 416-921-1680.
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