Salon Nails at the Kitchen Table

Shape dry, never wet

File in one direction on dry nails. Filing after soaking causes peeling because the nail plate is soft and swollen.

Soften and push cuticles

Cuticle remover for sixty seconds, then push back gently with a rubber-tipped tool. Cut only loose hangnails — never the cuticle itself.

Sara's tip: The cuticle is a seal against infection. Pushing is the whole job.

Buff lightly, then dehydrate

A few passes with a fine buffer, then wipe each nail with rubbing alcohol. Polish grips a clean, oil-free plate.

Base coat, then two thin colour coats

Thin means you can still faintly see the nail through the first coat. Two thin coats dry harder and chip later than one thick one.

Cap the free edge

Swipe the brush along the tip of each nail with every layer, including topcoat. This is the single trick that stops chipping.

Oil the cuticles daily after

Cuticle oil every night keeps the manicure looking fresh and the nail flexible enough not to snap.