Treat Yourself: Easy At-Home Manicure

The weather was a little warmer in New York this weekend, so I started thinking about spring and what I need to do to get ready for it. No, I’m not talking about yard work; it’s my nails that were on my mind!

I don’t know about you, but my hands have really taken a beating this winter. My skin is dry and my cuticles are in sad shape. I decided to get them soft and silky again with an easy at-home manicure. I’m showing you how to do it, so you can treat yourself, too!

My last Julep Maven box was filled with nail care essentials, so I put it all to good use. I also did my DIY Soft, Silky Hands Treatment. If you haven’t tried that yet, you are missing out! It really makes an immediate difference. The cleansing sugar scrub from my DIY Soft, Silky Hands Treatment.

Ready? Here’s what you’ll need:

• olive oil
• my Cleansing Sugar Scrub (make it with 2 common kitchen ingredients)
• hand lotion
• cuticle oil
• orange stick
• base coat
• nail polish
• top coat
• optional: manicure clean-up pen

Start by prepping your hands:

1. Add a little olive oil to your palm. Spend a few minutes massaging the oil into your hands and cuticles.
2. Without rinsing your hands, place a spoonful of the Cleansing Sugar Scrub in your palm. Rub your hands together and gently work scrub into palms, tops of hands, and fingers. Take your time and really focus on those dry, rough patches.
3. Add a little water  to your hands and work the Cleansing Sugar Scrub into a lather. Rinse hands well under warm water and dry.
4. Massage a generous amount of lotion into your hands. I used Julep Rock Star Hand Creme.

Next, apply cuticle oil generously. I used Julep Essential Cuticle Oil, which comes with a handy roller ball. Allow to sink in for about 5 minutes.

I’m all about multitasking, so while the cuticle oil is doing its magic, file your nails.

After the 5 minutes is up, use an orange stick to gently push back your cuticles.

You’re almost ready to polish, but before you do, take a minute to wash your hands with warm, soapy water. It’s important to remove any oils from your nails before starting the manicure (if you want it to last, that is!).

It’s time for polish! Here’s how to do it:

1. Cover nails with a base coat, making sure to get tips and sides. My favorite is Orly Bonder.
2. After base coat is dry, apply a thin coat of polish. I used Zoya Pandora, a nude with a touch of mauve (perfect if you have fair, pink-toned skin like me).  If you  need to apply more than one coat, let the first coat dry a bit for adding another. Tip: when applying polish, leave a thin space in between your cuticles and your polish. Your nails will look neater.
3. Apply your top coat. I’m super impatient for my nails to dry, so I use Poshe Super-Fast Drying Top Coat. It dries my polish in 5 minutes flat.
4. If you are anything like me, you will have made some mistakes, especially with your non-dominant hand. Sally Hansen’s No More Mistakes Manicure Clean-Up Pen is super handy for touching up problem areas! You can also try using a toothpick or even a small, stiff paint brush dipped in nail polish remove.

That’s it … manicure complete! It seems like a lot of steps, but I promise the whole process is easy and quick.

How about a little eye candy?

Aren’t these spring polish colors gorgeous? This is my idea of a candy store!

• Row 1: Pixi Paradise Pink, Essie Tart Deco (a fave of mine), Deborah Lipman Spring Buds, and Nicole by OPI Great Minds Pink Alike.
• Row 2: China Glaze Fade into Hue, OPI Kiss Me I’m Brazilian, Butter London Hen Party, and Zoya Brigitte.
• Row 3: Ciaté Cutie Pie (love that bottle!), Topshop Bees Knees, Julep Avery, and L’Oreal Royalty Reinvented.
• Not shown: if you are searching for the perfect nude, check out Essie Beiges. There’s something for everyone with the 11 colors in this collection.

I think my next job will be inventing nail polish names!

What color(s) do you plan to paint your nails this spring? Or do you like to go au naturel?

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