How to Do Your Own French Manicure
This Classy Fingernail Look can be Done at Home for Less
Jul 29, 2008
French manicures have been in fashion for years, and this look is often thought of as too hard for most people to do themselves. But with a few tricks from the pros, anyone can get the look at home for a fraction of the cost of the nail salon.
Materials
You'll need opaque white nail polish, a nude or light pink transluscent polish, a nail file, cotton bals, nail polish remover with acetone, a flat, wide paint brush (no more than one half inch) and a very small glass or melamine bowl (wasabi or food prep bowls at kitchen stores are ideal).
Prep
First, prepare all your tools, since you'll be doing your own nails. Ready the two nail polishes, nail file, cotton balls and put 2-3 teaspoons of nail polish remover into the small bowl. You may want to lay down a washcloth beneath the bowl if it's resting on a delicate surface.
Begin by filing down any rough spots on your nails and shaping the tips into the shape you want. Then clean them off one by one using the nail polish remover and a cotton ball. Now that your nails are prepped and ready to go, it's time to move ahead!
TipsPainting the tips is easily misunderstood by many, who try at-home tricks like using stickers to get an even line. Follow these steps to do it like the pros.
First, begin painting just the tips of your nails with the white nail polish. Paint about one quarter of an inch, and don't worry about a sloppy inside edge. Keep coats light and paint 2-3 coats, until the white tips are totally opaque. Allow them to dry about halfway, but not all the way dry.
Dip your paintbrush in the acetone remover, and with light strokes, begin to paint across the nail in a half-moon motion, mimicking the shape of your nail. The polish will begin to fade, and you should continue "painting" until the tips have a smooth inside edge. Depth of the tips depends on taste, but usually they're not more than one quarter inch. For a more natural look, mimic the underlying white-ish tips of the nails. Allow the white tips to dry completely after you've evened them up on all ten nails.
Overcoat
Depending on the look you're going for, you want an overcoat that will make the rest of each nail look natural and shiny. First paint a coat of the transluscent nude polish over the bare part of the nail, trying not to drag on top of the tip. Once that coat has dried completely, you can add a coat over the entire nail. This first coat evens out the surface of the nail and brings the tip flush with the rest of the nail.
For longevity, a clear coat over the top is recommended to avoid chips. To really make your manicure last, paint on a new coat of clear polish every couple of days.
Clean-up
It's important to rinse your paintbrush and bowl out immediately, because acetone is a harsh substance that can gum up your paintbrush and permanently dry inside your bowl. Let the brush air dry and keep it for next time.
