Rue's Manicure Routine

I have been planning this blog for a long time, but just haven't sit down to type it up.

Here is what I do when I give myself a manicure. Most of the steps I do everytime I change my nail polish, which if you have followed me for a while, you know that's about three times a week.


What you will need:

* A Nail Polish Remove Without Acetone  (pictured equate nail polish remover without acetone) The only time I use Acetone is when I am taking off glitter polish.
* Cuticle Creme\Oil (pictured Maybelline Express Care Cuticle Lotion)
* Base Coat (pictured Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Clear Coat--the CSM is suppose to be a base and top coat, but if you do not own a base coat just use your top coat)
* Polish you want to pant your nails with (pictured OPI Brake for Manicure and Pure Ice Bite Me!)
* any top coat (pictured Sally Hansen Max Growth Plus Fast Drying Top Coat)
*  Hand creme (pictured Julep)
* Cotton pads (To me these work better than cotton balls)
*File
*something to clean out from under your nails. (I sometimes use a tooth pick)
*Q-tip (remove polish that you can't get with the pad)
*Angled brush (don't have to have this you can use a Q-tip to clean up around your cuticles once you have painted them, but I find its easier with a brush)
* scotch tape (only if you need it for a design)



Step 1:
Remove any old polish.
Even if your nails do not have any polish on them, still clean them with some nail polish remover. This is to make sure that your nails are clean before you add any polish to it. If the only polish remover I have is with acetone and I don't have any polish on, I use rubbing alcohol to do this.

Step 2:
Clean from under your nails.

Step 3:
Wash your hands.
Make sure that your nails are dry before you go any farther. I sometimes put alcohol on my nails to make sure they are good and dry.  Also you can skip this part if you want to. I sometimes do.

Step 4:
With a four sided file, file, buff, and shape your nails. Trim them if they are needed.
Also I only file and buff my nails once a month. If I do it every time, my nails will get brittle and flake off.

Nails clean and buffed and ready to paint.

Step 5:
Apply Cuticle Creme

Step 6:
Apply base coat
I don't always use a base coat. Actually, I just here recently started using one.

Step 7:
Apply Polish
Apply one coat and then clean up. After you let the first coat dry a little bit, apply a second coat. I always apply two coats. If a third is needed follow the procedure from the first to second coat.

two coats of OPI Brake for Manicures. 

Step 8:
Accent Nail (only if you are doing one)
My accent nail is normally my ring finger. On my accent nail, if I have one, I apply one less coat of polish than the others if I am doing an all over glitter, but if I am doing an accent nail that the base polish will show I will apply all coats. I did that for today's accent nail.

Step 9:
Apply Top Coat:
Unless I am trying out a new brand or have matte polish, I always put a top coat on. It protects the manicure, and can help it last longer.

Step 10:
Apply hand creme
Use your favorite lotion, but make sure that your nails are COMPLETELY dry. I normally wait at least an hour before I put mine on.  (if you use those insta-dri drops or sprays you don't have to wait as long, but I have not tried those) I have missed up a how manicure because I have put on my lotion too soon.

Final look 

Look at Rue's Nails of the Week on how I done this look and where you can find a tutorial to do the accent nails.

Disclaimer:
All products shown or mentioned in this blog where purchased by myself or given to me as gifts from friends and family. All my opinions are my own and not been influenced by anyone, and no companies are paying me for this blog.  

Personal Points

• OPI is becoming my favorite high end polish. It's just SO expensice. 

 Peaceful and Happy Thoughts,

--Rue.