Alexandria Bychkova via Getty Images But before you can get manicures that are polished to a shine, you need to prepare your nails first. We went to the experts to figure out how.
What does it take to get a perfectly-flawless manicure?
Before you can achieve that glossy mani, you first need to get ready for it by prepping your nails. Alexia Sarkocy, who is also known as by Sasha4, (and a professional manicurist and NYC resident) stopped by HuffPost Live and gave us some helpful tips on how to prep your hands for salon-quality nails.
“Often people get confused on what to do when they come to work,” she said. “They’re thinking they come in and get their nails done. But that’s not the case. You actually come in and do your nails before they’re even professionally manicured.”
Getting ready to nail it involves going from day to night, winter to summer and getting them always nice and glossy. Sarkocy recommended cleaning and moisturizing your hands for a very long time, to get them nice and silky. After thoroughly cleaning your hands, she recommends using a chemical peel like The Spa Guide to Make, Polish and Improve Nails or Moisturize A Cure in Nail Polish Collection to help get rid of any bacterial and skin issues.
“The key to a good manicure is to use natural ingredients on your hands,” Sarkocy told HuffPost. “These aren’t chemical-based products. They’re antibacterial, light-reflecting formulas that actually help whiten your hands.”
Once your hands are clean and moisturized, you’ll need to apply her most effective tips.
Wax
First, Sarkocy recommends waxing your hands before even going in for a manicure. She said that after waxing, you need to use a good clear balm on your hands, because it’s still a bit cold. From there, follow Sarkocy’s nail polish spray basics, which include Caudalie Auraé Mist, Jo Malone Nail Lacquer Defrizz and Tenoverten Instant Nail Wax. Sarkocy said that the best way to coat a dry nail with a clear balm is to use the dry oil part, rather than the gel part, because this oil will act as a sort of glue. For a more elegant manicure, Sarkocy recommends applying a clear balm on the bottom of your nail, so your nails just look dotted from the tip, before going over with the foam manicure.
White
After you’ve washed your hands, most nail salons can remove lice from your fingers. Sarkocy recommends applying a white non-scented face scrub, like Olay’s H20 Beauty + Calming Anti-Microbial Face Shave, and then apply a clear hand spray containing Borax. The Borax is acid, which “really breaks down the bacteria and breaks down the fungi” on your nails, she explained.
Dry
Next, Sarkocy recommends using a clear hand spray containing paint-safe mint leaves, so that your hands will feel fresh, without looking greasy. She recommends using a Dryite 360+ Cleaning Shampoo, and she recommended not using shampoo — just a clean hand spray.
A flowery holiday nail wrap
If you’re on a budget but still want to achieve some holiday beauty, Sarkocy recommends a flowery holiday nail wrap. She said that rather than putting beauty products on, using a floral-patterned manicure will look beautiful on any of your hands.
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