How to get salon standard nails at home

We’re all guilty of ‘forgetting’ to have our Shellac professionally removed or deciding to paint over chipped polish without properly removing the old one, right? We forget to give our nails time to breathe and we load chemicals onto them frequently; is it any wonder they sometimes need emergency care?

If your nails are crying out for some TLC, but you can’t afford a professional treatment, don’t panic! Nail care can be done really well from home. All you need to do is familiarise yourself with the various steps that guarantee the perfect ten.

Five simple stages, girls…

Daily Treatment
Incorporating a 10 second nail and cuticle massage into your nightly beauty routine will do wonders for your nails. Using cuticle oil will repair any dryness or damage and gives your nails a healthy, solid base on which to apply products.

Moisturise
Place some moisturiser by your bathroom sink so that every time you wash your hands, you’ll be reminded to moisturise. Doing this will become second nature and you’ll see the difference in your hands and nails in no time!

Weekly treatment
Push back your cuticles once a week after a bath or shower when they will be at their softest. It doesn’t take long, you can use the edge of a towel if you don’t have a cuticle stick and doing so is vital for nail upkeep.

Emery board
Invest in a good quality emery board. Remember not to saw back and forth at your nail as this approach causes them to split and actually does more harm than good. Slowly shape your nails, taking care to smooth rough edges.

Fortnightly treatment
Having included all the above in your nail care routine, it’s now time for a DIY hot-oil treatment. You need to fill one bowl with oil and a larger bowl with a little hot water. Place the smaller bowl inside the bigger bowl and immerse your hands in the oil for about fifteen minutes. The result? Oh, so soft and smooth!

By doing all of the above, your nails will be in perfect condition for a Shellac or polish in the salon, but really girls, after sticking to this routine for a while and seeing the results, you may actually want to stay au naturel!