Getting the perfect manicure at home can be a bit challenging. Especially if you are unsure of what products to use to get that professional, manicured look. I must say, it has taken me a couple of years - trying lots of new products - to find what really works for me, so I figured I would share my tips n' tricks to achieving the perfect at home manicure.

Things you will need:

Hand Towel
Nail File
Nail Clippers
Cuticle Pusher
Cuticle Nippers
Nail Buffer
Nail Brush (optional)
Cotton Square (lint free)
Rubbing Alcohol
Nail Polish Remover
Cuticle Remover
Cuticle Oil
Manicure Sticks
Chip Skip
Base Coat
Nail Polish
Quick Dry Top Coat

Step 1:
Remove all nail polish from nails, trim and file to your desired length and shape. Personally, I like to keep my nails short and filed square with slightly rounded edges.

Step 2:
Apply cuticle remover-Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover (Link!)- to cuticles on one hand only and let it sit for 15-20 seconds. Since the cuticle remover that I recommend using is fast acting, it's better to do one hand at a time.

Step 3:
Gently push back cuticles with the Cuticle Pusher. The residue that you will see is the overgrowth of cuticle that you want to remove. Wipe it away with the hand towel, while gently pushing the cuticles back. If there are any little bits that need to be removed, use the Cuticle Nipper to remove them. ONLY remove the little hang nails or the little rough edges around the nail. Your cuticles are there to protect your nail bed, so you never want to clip them. This can leave room for any bacteria to form causing infections. Repeat these steps on other hand.

Step 4:
Take the nail buffer and "gently" buff the nail, getting rid of any rough edges around the nail. I usually only do this step every other manicure. Buffing the nail can cause thinning to the nail bed, so you want to be careful not to over do it. Repeat these steps on other hand.

Step 5:
Apply cuticle oil-CND Solar Oil (Link!)- to all nails and massage into the nail bed and cuticles. Wash hands thoroughly, really getting the cuticle oil off of the nail. You can use a nail brush to ensure that all of the oil is removed. Pat nails dry with a hand towel or paper towel.

Step 6:
Check the free edge (tip) of the nail to make sure that there aren't any uneven nail bits from the filing that you did earlier in the routine. Apply a little rubbing alcohol to a lint free cotton square-Sephora by OPI Nail Pads (Link!) and wipe each nail. This will ensure that all of the oil, soap, or any residue is removed from the nail prior to polishing. This is a key step! One of the most important steps to a professional quality manicure is a squeaky clean nail bed.

Step 7:
Apply OPI's Chip Skip (Link!) to all nails. This is a liquid that you put on your nails prior to the base coat to further prevent chipping. I find that this step really helps the manicure last a lot longer.

Step 8:
Apply base coat-Orly Bonder (Link!) in a thin coat on all nails. Be sure to seal the free edge of the nail with the base coat. This will really help to prevent chipping too. Leave some room at the cuticle for a nice clean edge. This is a step that gives your manicure that professional look. Allow 2-3 mins to dry.

Step 9:
Apply two thin coats of nail polish to all nails. Don't worry too much about the streaking on the first coat. I like to think of the first coat as the foundation or primer. It's more important to get a nice, even thin layer of nail polish on the first coat. Thin coats of nail polish will help to prevent chipping and extend the wear of your manicure. If you get any nail polish on the skin around the nail, dip your manicure stick into your nail polish remover and wipe it away. Seal the free edge of the nail and allow 2-3 mins to dry between each coat.

Step 10:
Apply a thin coat of quick dry top coat-Sally Hansen Diamond Flash (Link!) to all nails and be sure to seal the free edge.

Voila! There you have it...the perfect at home manicure. Some key things to remember:

Always clean the nail with a little rubbing alcohol prior to applying any nail polish
Apply thin coats of nail polish and remember to seal the free edge of every coat that you apply
Allow 2-3 mins in between each coat of nail polish. It's important to let the nail polish dry between each coat to ensure that the next layer of nail polish adheres
Wait at least 1-2 hours before getting your nails wet. You want to make sure that your nails are fully dried before having any contact with water. Be patient..
Apply top coat every 2-3 days to keep the nails shiny and to help prevent chipping

All of these steps are very important for a long wearing, chip free manicure. Hope this was helpful! Happy manicuring!

XOXO,
Raven