If you have a steady hand and want to save money, give yourself a manicure!

Step 1 - Tools
Making sure you have the proper tools to do the job always helps and will make it a lot easier to get your nails beautiful. It’s always handy to have a kit on hand. You can either buy a ready-made kit or you can make one yourself using your favorite nail products. You can use a simple cleaning caddy to carry all you goodies in to make oragnization easier. The must-have essentials for a manicure kit are as follows: cotton balls, polish remover, manicure scissors, nail clippers, base coat, top coat, cuticle cream/remover, nail file/buffer, cuticle sticks and a cuticle nipper.

Step 2 - Cleansing
When your nails are clean it will ensure a stonger and longer lasting manicure. Start out by removing any old polish on your fingers. Even if you don’t have any polish on, it’s still a good idea to swipe some polish remover over your nails to take any grime off you may have. After your nails are clean, fill a dish with some warm water and antibacterial soap and soak your nails for 10 minutes or so.

Step 3 - Shaping
After soaking you nails, dry your hands off with a towel. Begin filing your nails to the shape you desire. Take your buffer and buff out any ridges so the surface of the nail is smooth with your nail’s natural shine. Put a dab of cuticle remover on each cuticle and let sit for 2 minutes. Then use your cuticle stick to carefully put each cuticle back. Use the cuticle trimmer to trim (not cut!) the cuticle down. Also use your manicure scissors to cut any loose, dry skin that’s sticking up on the sides of your nail.

Step 4 - Relaxing
Take a washcloth and soak it in a small bowl of warm water. Heat it up in the microwave for a minute to keep it steamy and warm. Grab your favorite hand lotion (mine is Vaseline’s Intensive Care Healthy Hand & Nail lotion) and start massaging the lotion into your hands. Focus on really relaxing your hands while massaging. Also make sure you’re moisturizing around your cuticles real good. When your lotion is absorbed, take your warm washcloth and wrap your hands in it letting the steam intensify the moisturizing process. When it has cooled down, rub the wash cloth on each individual nail to remove any lotion residue.

Step 5 - Painting
Use your cotton balls and some rubbing alcohol and give it a final swipe on your nails to ensure a clean and bacteria free painting surface. Grab your base coat and put one coat on your nails letting it dry for five minutes. Then take your preferred polish color, putting two coats and letting it dry for five minutes in between coats. Seal in your color with a strong top coat and let your nails completely dry for a good 30-45 minutes. If you’re in a hurry, run your nails under some cold water for faster drying.

Give yourself a pat on the back (well, after your nails dry) because you just gave yourself a manicure! Woo!