style
BEAUTY
th e nail files
A few tools and tips of the trade are all you need for a quick and capable at-home
manicure—no appointment necessary.
Multitasking is a beautiful thing. So
instead of just kicking back during
your weekly date with
Glee
, double-
purpose the time (and save some
coin) by also sneaking in a mani-
cure—from the comfort of your
couch. All it takes is an initial
investment in your own tools and a
half hour to file and finish. So grab
the remote and get ready for a little
polish—it’s all in your hands.
► PREP
Don’t worry about fancy
potions. “Virtually every product
for your face or body can be repur-
posed,” says nail authority Ji Back in
her book,
Rescue Your Nails.
“You
probably have everything you need
for an uber-luxe manicure right in
your own medicine cabinet: facial
scubs to exfoliate, moisturizers and
eye cream for hands and cuticles.”
Though most salon manicures start
with a dip in soapy water, Jan Arnold,
co-founder of nail care company
CND, advises otherwise. “Skip the
soak, especially if your nails are brittle
or tend to split,” she says. Instead, she
recommends dipping nails in oil (like
CND SolarOil, $7, or even olive oil) for
TOOLBOX
► Essie Crystal File,
$14
► Kingsley Plastic Nail
Brush,
$4
► All Season Curette Nail
Cleaner,
$8
► Tweezerman Zip File,
$6
► CND ScrubFresh Nail
Surface Cleanser,
$22
► Sephora Collection
Colorful Nail Buffers, $
8
.
► Essie Nail Corrector
Pen,
$14
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JULY 2010 BETTER HOM
by M E L IS S A M IL R A D G O L D S T E IN
two to three minutes. Next, use a
curette,
below
.; to push (don’t cut)
cuticles, and trim any ends hanging
along nail edges with clippers.
“Resist the urge to pull or bite off a
ragged tag of skin. That causes
cuticles to grow out more raggedly
and opens up the nail bed to germs
and infection,” says Arnold.
Remember to clean all metal and
plastic tools in the dishwasher or with
rubbing alcohol afterward. Germs—
even your own—can cause infections.
► SH A PE
For natural nails, choose a
file with a gentle abrasive like crystal
or cardboard. Shape with one word
in mind: “squoval.” Not too square,
not too oval. The nail is straight on
sides and ever so slightly domed
along the top. “You never want to
remove the side walls of the nails,
because that’s where all the nail’s
j
strength is,” says Arnold. Try to file
in one direction—sawing back and
forth causes splitting.
► PO LISH
Before painting nails,
remove excess moisture (and oil) from
the nail bed with an acetone formula
and be sure to clean the edges. “It
makes a huge difference in how long
your manicure lasts,’’says Arnold.
Next comes the color. Our advice:
Stick with neutrals. Streaks and
chips are less noticeable, and lighter
shades visually lengthen fingers for
an elegant look. Starting with a base
coat (it gives something for the next
layers to stick to), lay one hand on a
table and rest your painting hand
next to it, pressing the wrist firmly
onto the table. Apply a thin coating
down the middle of the nail, then one
on either side. Wait two minutes and
add another coat. Finish with a top
coat, sweeping a bit across the edge
and under the nail tip. Maintain your
manicure with a light, daily reappli-
cation of clear top
coat (adding layers
of color will only
hasten peeling). 6D
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