If acrylics and gel nails made a baby, it would be the polygel manicure. The process involves a thick, gel solution that is used to sculpt the nail length you want before being cured under a UV light to harden the shape. Whether you’re into the square, ballerina or coffin style, the manicure will be strong (like acrylics) and flexible (like hard gels). The main driver is its lighter, more natural so the nail technician can take their time sculpting (which is the complete opposite of the acrylics technique).
Cost: $50 to $100 for full set; $30 for a fill-in.
How long it takes: 30 minutes to an hour.
How long it lasts: About three to four weeks.
How to take it off: The soaking method will remove this manicure with no problem. Use some acetone and foil to make the removal process easier.
How it affects nail health: Polygel is considered a safer option than acrylics based on the lack of chemicals found in the solution. Plus, if removed and applied properly you should have no problem in the nail health department.
The downsides: Since not that many salons do it, this process can be on the expensive side, so be prepared to drop some major cash on the mani.
Feature: Useful and practical: The self-adhesive style of these French nail guide stickers make it easy to stick on your nail, do not need glue, just stick it on your nail along the curved line, then polish nail would not seeps in from underneath. Convenient to use: Our self-adhesive manicure template stickers are designed with half-moon shape which could help you paint your fingernails with beautiful lines, create your favorite designs and no more using tape. Specifications: Material: vinyl Color: white Quantity: 36 sheets Package includes: 1728 x French nail guide sticker Note: The words on the product are not for trademark, our trademark is Maitys. Manual measurement, please allow slight errors on size. The colors may exist slight difference due to different screens.
Practical style: simply stick the nail tip guide sticker on your nail along the curved line, so polish nail would not seeps in from underneath, allowing you to design your own nail art, nail patterns without causing mess, what's more, it is suitable for both experienced people and beginner. Simple to operate: just use tweezers to carefully lift the nail guide sticker from backing sheet, and place it along natural nail tip, leaving the gap where you need to apply the nail polish, after you painted the nail polish and dry, carefully peel off the nail guide sticker from each finger, then finished. Design a French nail: these French nail tip guide decals will assist you to apply your French manicure accurately and consistently, so as to make your nails look longer and more beautiful, suitable for both home and nail salon use. Safe and durable: these manicure template stickers are made of quality vinyl with good self-adhesive that won't leave any glue residue or mark on your nail after removing, non-toxic and odorless, can be applied to natural nail or acrylic nails, good for DIY manicure crafts. What you get: comes with 36 sheets French nail guide stickers, each sheet contains 48 small pieces, so here are totally 1728 pieces, enough for you to create a classic French manicure for everyday and some important events.Want to give your nails some Parisian flair right at home without paying big money at a salon? No problem! French manicures look elegant, but they’re super simple to do—even without the help of a professional stylist. Read on for a comprehensive guide to a DIY French manicure, complete with alternate methods to ensure you get perfectly even nail tips.
Things You Should Know
Prepare your nails by cleaning and trimming them, then shaping them with a file. Push back your cuticles and buff your nails for extra shine!
Start the manicure with a base coat, then paint on your French tips. Follow up with a sheer pink coat, and finish it off with a top coat.
Use French tip guides if freehanding the tips is difficult. You can also try manicure pens, a nail art striper, or clean up lines with nail polish remover.
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Wash your hands with soap and remove the old polish from your nails. Dip a cotton swab into some nail polish remover and scrub away all of the old nail polish, even if it's clear. Clean the polish around the edges of your nails, too, since you'll be able to see other colors through the pale French manicure polish.[1]
If you’re having trouble reaching polish stuck around the edges of your nails, dip an orange wood stick with the end covered in cotton into your polish remover and use it to remove the stuck polish.
Acetone in nail polish remover can dry and damage your nails, so consider choosing a non-acetone nail polish remover that doesn't contain any.
Trim your nails to an even length and shape them with a nail file. Avoid trimming them all the way down to your fingertips; keep your nails a little long, cutting them just enough to get a uniform length. Then, grab a nail file and smooth them down, so they have a smooth, crescent-shaped edge. File your nails into a square or rounded shape, depending on your preference.[2]
Gently drag the nail file across your nails without pushing them down—that can damage them.
Pedicures TampaIf you have shorter nails, you can still do a French manicure! Instead of wide tips, simply draw a thinner white line along the free edge of your nail when it’s time to paint on French tips.
Push back your cuticles to make your nails look longer. Soak your hands in a warm bowl of water mixed with cuticle oil (or olive oil) for 5 to 10 minutes; it’ll soften your cuticles and makes them easier to push back. Dry your hands and use a cuticle pusher to push your cuticles back, then finish by massaging some cuticle oil into your nails.[3]
Hydrate your hands at the same time! Apply some hand cream after you’re done pushing back your cuticles.
Don't trim your cuticles; this leaves your nail matrix (the area your nails grow from) open to infection and can cause deformities on your nails, like ridges or discoloration.
Buff your nails to prepare them for polish. Use a high-grit nail buffer to gently buff the surface of your nails. Maintain a light touch throughout the process and focus on the cuticle area of each nail. Gently buffed nails help polish stay on for longer![4]
Don’t use a low-grit buffer or put a lot of pressure on your nails as you buff. Either can actually strip away layers of your nails and damage them.
Put a clear base coat on your fingernails. Paint your nails from the cuticles to the tips. Angle the polish brush forward as you work and fill in each fingernail using smooth, even strokes. The base coat is an important part of any manicure, as it preserves the rest of the nail polish longer. Wait for 1 to 2 minutes for the polish to dry completely before moving to the next step![5]
Put a clear base coat on your fingernails. Paint your nails from the cuticles to the tips. Angle the polish brush forward as you work and fill in each fingernail using smooth, even strokes. The base coat is an important part of any manicure, as it preserves the rest of the nail polish longer. Wait for 1 to 2 minutes for the polish to dry completely before moving to the next step![5]
You can buy a French manicure kit that comes with a classic base coat color, a tip color, and other equipment designed to help you create a perfect manicure.
Paint French tips with bright white nail polish. Rest your hand on a flat surface to keep it steady, and paint a white strip across the tips of your nails. Start from one side of each nail and slowly turn your finger as you paint, letting the curve with your natural nail and creating a crescent-shaped line from one side of the nail to the other. Then, wait another 2 minutes for the white polish to dry.[6]
Turning your finger to create white tips is a lot easier than moving the brush, especially when you’re holding the brush in your non-dominant hand.
Try balancing your pinky under the finger you’re painting to keep your hand from getting shaky, too!
You can also use a striper brush to paint the tips onto your nails.
Add a layer of sheer pink polish over the base coat. Apply the sheer pink nail polish evenly across the surface of your nails to give them a soft pink shade that makes the French mani look natural and hide any discoloration on your nails. Most French manicures are done with a soft, pastel pink color—although you could also use a sheer cream-colored polish for this coat if you prefer. Let this coat dry for 2 minutes before moving on.[7]
If you want to stray from the classic French mani, choose a color that isn't pink or cream. You could go with red, purple, blue, green, or any other color you like, and use white nail polish or another contrasting color for the tips.
Image titled Do a French Manicure Step 8
Seal and set the manicure with a top coat. Paint a thin layer of top coat polish over your beautified nails, covering them from root to tip. A good top coat protects the look of your freshly painted nails and helps the manicure last longer, too. Once the top coat is finished, just wait for your nails to dry and your manicure is finished![8]
