Nail Manicure

There is a whole range of products available promising a one minute manicure.

Is such a thing possible?

We wanted to know!

There is no doubt that these products are designed for busy women. In this day and age, that means most of us!

The prices of these speedy products range from $5-$30. Ranges vary from sea salt to cucumber and melon; the products are available just about anywhere with most stores offering their own version of the one minute manicure.

But is it possible to really get a manicure in one minute? Well, minus the polish and the salon ambience, the results are similar to a professional manicure.

Sally Hansen one minute manicure products are available at drug, grocery and discount stores. The product is simply applied to either wet or dry hands and it exfoliates the accumulated build up of dead and rough skin. Starting the process without water means the treatment will have a deeper exfoliating effect.

For the few dollars cost of the product the results produced are satisfactory. It may not compare to a full salon manicure but, as a quick fix, it works nicely.

The one minute products are more of a hand and nail conditioning treatment than a manicure but they can certainly give the hands an everyday boost which won't break the bank. Unfortunately, they don't yet offer a one minute polish.

While it's great to experience the treat of a salon manicure, for most of us this is a luxury we can't afford every week.

By mastering the following steps you'll be able to do your own at home nail manicures.

1. Make sure the kids are in bed and you won't be disturbed. Be sure to visit the bathroom before starting so you don't smudge your polish later!

2. Gather together everything you will need. Products, tools and a bowl of warm water large enough to place your hands in. Don't forget towels too.

3. Start with one of the one minute manicure products and exfoliate your hands. Use the product on dry hands initially.

4. Place both hands in the bowl of warm water and leave to soak for 5 minutes. At the end of the time rub them together to remove the rest of the exfoliating product. Dry them on a towel.

5. Whilst the suticles are soft from the soak gently push them back with an orange stick or other suitable implement. If you have nothing in the way of equipment just push the cuticles back with the nail edge of one of your other fingers. Don't be brutal, just ease the cuticles back and free the nail to grow.

6. Now it's time to shape the nails. Shaping can be tricky. The advice is to file in one direction BUT if you watch a professional manicurist, a lot of them file in both! Do what is comfortable for you.

7. The last step in an at home manicure is the polish. Try to put the polish on in thin even coats. Three brush strokes is supposedly the best method, one stroke for each side, and one stroke right down the middle of the nail.

8. Last and most important. sit and relax for 10 minutes whilst the polish dries. Don't try to do anything other than sit because you will knock the soft polish and damage it. You know you will.

Why not team up with a friend and give each other a manicure?

Here's how.

First, start by removing any existing polish. You will need cotton and fingernail polish remover. Some salon applied polishes have acetone in them which requires a more robust type of remover but most polishes can be removed with a basic non- acetone remover.

Next use an exfoliating scrub on dry hands before soaking the 'client's' hands in warm water. You might like to add some essential oils or cleaning solution to the water for additional pampering.

Leave the hands to soak for at least five minutes allowing the cuticles to soften so they are easier to push back.

Dry the hands thoroughly before trimming and shaping the nails. You may shape the nails according to preference. Some people prefer to round their finger nails, while others prefer a more squared off look. If you have one, you may also like to use a buffer on the nails to smooth them.

While the cuticles are still soft, use an orange stick to gently press them back. This will give your nails a more groomed appearance and will also allow your nails to grow longer. You can use the orange stick to clean any remaining debris from under the nails.

Next, apply a moisturizer to the hands before applying polish.

Before using color, you should first apply a base coat to the nail. This will smooth out any imperfections and provide a smooth surface for the color. Wait a few minutes for the base coat to dry, before applying one layer of color.

When applying color don't be tempted to paint on one thick layer. Apply thin coats of color until the desired depth of tone is achieved.

Lastly, apply a clear top coat to prevent chipping and add extra shine.

Ensure your friend sits still and touches nothing for at least 20 minutes to give the polish a chance to dry.

Take it turns to give a nail manicure to each other and you'll both save money in addition to having some girlie time together.

Why have the women of the world embraced the French manicure with such enthusiasm?

A French nail manicure has become the most common form of manicure in the United States and its popularity seems to stem from the fact that the finished effect is so 'natural'.

This natural effect will take a woman anywhere from a trip to the supermarket to a formal dinner.

The origin of the French Manicure is attributed to a man named Jeff Pink, president of the popular manicure company Orly, who in the 1970s attended a fashion show where he noticed several of the models were using a white pencil to whiten the tips of their fingernails. He immediately realized this could be major fashion trend and brainstormed a way to recreate the look. The result was a kit that contained two shades of polish; a light pink base and white polish to paint the tips of the fingernails. He also included adhesive strips to place at the baseline of the nail so that women could effortlessly create a stunning, perfect look when applying the white paint.

French manicure kits are still sold in this form today, but have varied slightly since their beginning. Today you can choose from a classic light pink shade, a nude base, or you could even choose a pearl-based shade to add a bit of glamour to this classic manicure.

Despite the availability of French manicure sets for home use, many women prefer to have such a nail treatment applied at a salon. It's tricky to get just right!

Sometimes nail technicians at salons will use acrylic tips when providing a French Manicure. This is usually done when the actual nails are not long enough to get the stunning white tip look.

After painting your nails with a base shade, the technician will then add the white paint to your faux tips and finish them off with a drying spray.

There is no doubt that the French manicure is stylish and, pardon the pun, polished!

The first thing that needs to be said is that you need professional training and a licence to become a professional manicurist. Everything here is aimed at those who want to give themselves a manicure at home.

Essential Home Manicure Tools and Equipment List

Towels
Bowl
Exfoliator
Nail scissors or clippers
Emery board
Moisturising cream
Orange Stick
Cottonwool
Nail polish remover
Nail polish (base, color and top coats)

Now there's a whole load more equipment that goes on the nice to have list and which is unlikely to find its way into the average home. This includes hand warmers, paraffin baths, buffers and hot air dryer.

Of course there is a minimalist equipment list too for those on a really tight budget and that would include scissors, file and lotion!