How to prepare your nails for a manicure

Choosing the color for your next manicure may not be the most difficult step of all. Master your next manicure with this simple at-home step-by-step guide to achieving a salon-worthy manicure. From cuticle management to filing and repairing your nails, you'll find everything you need to know about manicures.

What will you need for this manicure?

• Nail polish remover
• Cuticle softener
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Polishing block
• Cuticle pusher
• Cuticle nippers
• Base Coat
• LOLA nail polish
• Top Coat
• Nail and cuticle oil
• Nail Hardener

Step 1: Start by removing the old polish. Next, apply a cuticle softener instead of soaking your nails in water (a common practice in salons). Nails are very porous and absorb water, causing them to swell slightly. Buffing your nails in this state is more likely to cause chips.

Step 2: While the cuticle softener is working on your skin, trim and file your nails. If you want a rounded shape, trim the sides of the nail with nail clippers and leave a little length in the center. If you want a square shape, cut your nails straight across. The idea is to create a base shape before perfecting it. Using a windshield-wiper motion, file the free edge of the nail.

Step 3: Gently push back your cuticles with a stainless steel pusher or orange stick and lightly buff your nails to remove any excess product or debris with a buffing block. Trim any hangnails or dry skin surrounding the nail plate with nippers, but don't completely remove the cuticle. Trimming the entire perimeter of the nail can cause your cuticles to grow back thicker and faster, and can also leave you vulnerable to infection.

Step 4: Wash your hands and clean your nail plate with nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. Scrub the corners of your nail plate thoroughly because any cuticle softener or oil can interfere with the polish's adhesion. Depending on the polish formula, apply a base coat to create a solid base for the color.

Step 5: Add color! Try a shade from essie's latest collections or choose your favorite. Next, apply two coats of vegan nail polish free from eight common toxins. Today's formulas are proven to be safer and less irritating than nail polishes of the past.

Step 6: Finish with a top coat. For a glossy shine, try Top Coat or Radiance Top Coat. For a soft matte finish, choose Matte Top Coat. To refresh and prolong the life of your manicure, apply a thin layer of top coat every two to three days.

Step 7: Moisturize and maintain. Cuticle oil is essential for conditioning your cuticles. We recommend keeping a bottle on your desk, nightstand, and medicine cabinet for easy application throughout the day. For especially dry hands, exfoliate once or twice a week with a sugar and coffee scrub, apply cuticle oil, and seal in the moisture with hand cream. Between manicures, give it a little hardener with Nail Hardener, a cutting-edge formula that creates a protective barrier against daily wear and tear (e.g., typing, texting, disinfecting, etc.). Choose from two shades: clear and nude, for stronger, smoother, and shinier nails after just three days.

*Formulated without: acetone, camphor, phthalates, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, silicone, toluene and xylene.