How to Care for Your Nails - At-Home Manicure & More
As of late, self-care and at home rituals have skyrocketed in popularity. Who wouldn’t love treating themselves to a little spa treatment, on their own time, within the comfort of their own home?
Manicures, in particular, have been a bit of a divisive topic; some folks do not have the time or willingness to fuss over every single nail or the desire to pay someone else to do it for them. My past self wouldn’t have bothered either, but as someone who now works at Kent of Inglewood where the vibe is “Get dirty, get clean,” I needed to step up my grooming game. Chipped black nail polish is still something I’ll rock, but jagged nail edges and chewed-up cuticles are a thing of the past. Here's how I do my at-home manicures:
- Wash your hands, and give your nails a good scrub. A good clean gives you a base to work off of. Using a nail brush will help knock any grime loose from under the nails, as well as start to soften the cuticles, making them easier to work with in later steps. The Kent Aqua Nail Brush and your favourite hand soap are a stellar combo to use here; the brush makes all the difference if your hands get extra grubby like mine do.
- Decide your preferred nail length and take a good pair of nail clippers to them. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Klhip nail clipper set since they have and handy-dandy attachment to catch all of the flyaway nail clippings for a no-fuss clean up. I recommend leaving the nails slightly longer than the goal length, so you have a safety net to prevent sensitivity from cutting them too short. If you have a broken nail, use your discretion to either clip off jagged edges or deal with the broken edge carefully in the following step.
- With an emery board, shape and refine the nails. If you’re using one with a coarse grit, be aware: nails are made up of keratin, and filing them too aggressively could cause a weakened nail. Filing them in one direction only, rather than back and forth, will help to maintain nail strength, and prevent future chips or tears.
- With a finer file, buff the edges of the nails. Using a gentle, downward motion, you’ll be able to smooth out the sharp edge of the nail, and make them a lot smoother to the touch. Take your time to remove any catches and really smooth out the edge of the nail so there’s no more snags. I also usually take the opportunity to carefully file the sides of each nail, to smooth any catches and prevent future hangnails. For filing, the Klhip stone nail file is fabulous. It has a coarse and a fine grit, which is certainly ideal, but the fact that it is made of stone means you can wash it, store it, and keep using it forever ( super cool, especially when compared to the cardboard-backed files we’ve come to know)
- Next, we focus on the cuticles. If yours are particularly stubborn and stuck down, a soak in warm water or cuticle oil will soften the skin, and make it much easier to push back. Gently, using the end of a metal emery board or a rounded manicure tool, push the excess skin back towards the bed of the nail. If you have a lot of cuticle growth, this would be the time to take the manicure scissors and trim any of the dead skin down. Be careful, trimming too much may leave your fingers raw. Not only does cuticle care show one’s attention to detail, but it is known that groomed cuticles hold less bacteria than if they are left unruly. Double win!
- From here, finishing the manicure is a matter of preference. This is typically where nail polish could be added; I usually have a bottle of black nail polish or a nail strengthener handy. Believe it or not, your nails can be prone to over-drying, and becoming brittle. A polish is a protective measure, especially in the colder months, or if you work with harsh chemicals. Add a little hand cream ( like my favourite Crown Shaving Co. Active Relief Hand Cream) to wrap it all up, and you’re golden!!
With practice, this process can be quick and easy, and some steps can certainly be omitted if you’re in a rush. The goal is to ultimately eliminate jagged, raggedy mitts, and the best way to do that is whatever fits your routine. I typically sit down and deal with my at-home manicure once a week. The attention to detail of your own hands is a great practice in personal care, and you might be surprised with who notices! Good luck, and have fun with it :)
Here's a photographic step-by-step for you visual learners:
