Tips for do-it-yourself French Manicure

If you want to have a professional-looking nails without spending time in the salon? Want a simple nail style in short time.  With some practice and a little patience, you can enjoy a special  French manicure any time you want with  the cost of your nail polish.

So what is French menicure? It’s a style of manicure in which the fingernails are painted pale pink with a white band at the tip.

 

Follow these steps you will have a simple and special kind of nails:

ü  Start by trimming your nails to the length you desire. Make sure all of them are equal. And remember: When it comes to the French manicure, the longer they are, the better it looks.

ü  Figure out the type of shape you like (either rounded or square). Then grab a nail file and get to work.

ü  Dip your hands in a bowl of warm water and let them soak for a minute or two. Then take a cuticle pusher and gently push your cuticles back. Use the opposite end of the cuticle pusher to remove any dirt and grime from underneath your nails.

 

ü  Paint on a thin layer of sheer pink polish, and let your nails dry for a couple of minutes. For gels nails, cure them under the LED light for 45 seconds only, no longer. Repeat this step again with a second coat of polish, and allow your nails to dry (or cure) before moving on.

ü  With your white polish, lightly brush color onto the tip of your nails. Let the polish dry for a few minutes. For gel nails, you have to wait 45 seconds for curing. Repeat this step with a second coat, and wait for it to dry or cure.

 

ü  Remove your nail guide, and apply a top coat of polish. Allow this coat to dry for several minutes (or cure it under the light for 45 seconds). Voila, you’ve just completed your very own French manicure.

ü  Now with all the new nail advances, it's easy to score a salon-worthy mani right in the comfort of your own home. Pick up a French manicure kit at your local beauty supply store (for longer lasting color, try a gel nail one), or invest in some sheer pink and white polish to easily do it yourself.

 

For a chic and polished look, nothing is better than  a classic French manicure. This style of manicure is very easy and you can do it at home by yourself .

Nail care for newborns

pedicure chairs

Newborn fingernails and toenails are usually soft and flexible. However, if they are ragged or too long, they can hurt the baby or others. Moreover, Newborns do not yet have control of their movements, they may scratch or claw at their face so that It is important to keep your baby's nails clean and trimmed carefully.

Since baby's nails grow so quickly, you may have to cut the fingernails at least once a week. You may only need to cut the toenails a couple of times per month. Toenails require less frequent trtimming. Some parents bite their baby's nails to trim them, but the AAP warns that this can lead to infection.

Here are some steps to protect  your newborns nail:

Firsly, Clean the baby's hands, feet, and nails during regular bathing.

Secondly, you need  to prepare a pair of baby scissors or clippers, and accompany with  a partner.   The best stragedy is to trim nails  with baby nail scissors that have blunt rounded tips or baby nail clippers. Do NOT use adult-sized nail clippers. You could clip the tip of the baby's finger or toe instead of the nail.

 Thirdly, one of you can hold the baby and keep him from twitching too much while the other does the job. You may want to try this while he's feeding or sleeping so that he'll be calmer.

 Lastly, press the finger pad away from the nail to avoid capturing the skin, and keep a firm hold on your child's hand as you clip. If you're worried you might accidently clip or cut  your baby's finger, you can use a soft emery board instead to prevent harming your baby. This is the safest method to shorten and smooth the nails.

A newborn baby’s nails grow continuously and  so delicate that parents might be concerned about clipping them. An early start on keeping your newborn’s nails trimmed safe is very necessary.

Airbrushing You Nails for A New Stylish Look

One the most popular way to decorate the nails is called airbrushing; this is one distinct method because it allows you to decorate your nails with different art works. This technique uses stencils to allow you to design your nails finely and paint the art works without getting messy. Some airbrushed nail art really looks classy and stylish, that may seem to be created by a professional.

You can also have these great looking and detailed nailarts, all you have to do is to get all the materials you need, follow the steps below and be creative. That how easy it is.

Tools You Need for Airbrushing:

·         Base Nail Polish (Any Color)

·         Stencil (Any Art Work You Prefer)

·         Airbrush Mechanism

·         Airbrush Paint

·         Acetone

Now you are set to go! Just make sure that your nails and cuticles are already treated and prepared.

Steps on Getting Your Own Airbrush Nail Look:

1.       Base Coat Application – First step is to get your base coat nail polish and apply it to your nails. Let it dry for a while so that you can place the stencil on the nails.

2.       Stencil Laying – Once the base coat is dry, you can now place the stencil on the top of the nails. Position the stencil according to how you want your nails to be designed. Some people place the stencil at middle for the whole image to fit the nails.

3.       Airbrush – Now that you placed the stencil on your nails, you are now ready to airbrush your nails. Make sure to do this step properly for a great result.

4.       Cleaning Up – Now use the acetone to clean up and get rid of the airbrush paint that makes your design look messy.

5.       Top Coat Application – Once you are satisfied with your work of art, apply a top coat polish to give it a perfect look.

That is how you get your own airbrushed nails, just be creative on designing your nails to have a unique and distinct look. 

How to Strengthen Your Nails and Keep Them Healthy

The secret of having beautiful and attractive nails is to keep them healthy and strong, having firm nails will keep them away from being easily broken and damaged. Keeping them healthy also allows nails to have smoother texture and keep them from being brittle.

To have stronger and healthy nails requires proper maintenance and healthy diet; this will keep the nails supplied with the right nutrients needed to be healthy and strong. There are also some secret things you can do to strengthen your nails. See the list below to keep your nails healthy and strong.

Secret Ways to Strengthen Your Nails and Keep Them Healthy:

·         Make Sure to Keep Hydrated – One of the signs of being dehydrated is having a weak, brittle and dull nails, so just by drinking a lot of water and keeping yourself hydrated will make your nails healthy and strong.

·         Olive Oil and Lemon Juice Mixture – Olive oil and lemon juice contains substances that are beneficial for our nails. These substances can make our nails hard and healthy, it is a great idea to apply a mixture of this two essential liquids on our nails to strengthen them.

·         Cayenne Pepper Mixture – Cayenne pepper can give the nails a really hot look and helps our nails to be strong. Applying this mixture will require you to be really careful because the mixture is really tough. Take a several drops of cool water, a bit of cream and a little amount of cayenne pepper. Mix them together and apply it your nails at least once a month.

·         Beeswax and Mashed Up Egg Yolk – A mixture of beeswax and a mashed up egg yolk is also good for strengthening the nails. You can also add a bit of peach oil to make the mixture more effective.

Those are just simple things you can do to strengthen your nails and keep them healthy. You can use any of those mixture and use them consistently to maintain strong and healthy nails.

Moisturizing, Cleansing and Anti-Aging Tips

To keep your face looking as youthful as possible, you need to proper skin care. Here I show you how to properly cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize your skin while never leaving the house without at least 30 SPF sunscreen.

How you care for your skin is utterly dependent on the type of skin you have: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or sun- damaged.

Step 1: Cleansing

Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it: See the best cleansers for your skin type.

You can find a good cleanser at the drugstore. There's no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin.

Cleansing tips:

Be careful not to cleanse too often or you risk over-cleansing skin, see signs you are over cleansing your skin. You really only need to wash your face at night to remove makeup and sunscreen, which can clog pores.
If you have dry skin, consider cold cream like Pond's, which the French use or make your own organic cold cream using this simple cold cream recipe. Simply apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed.
To cleanse skin, most women prefer the water method: Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water.
I personally swear by my Clarisonic Mia, as does pretty much everyone I know who has one. The machine does all the work for you.
Make sure to remove eye makeup with a proper makeup remover. The area around the eye is delicate so don't pull or rub too hard. You can also use olive oil as a natural eye makeup remover. Find out more in Use Olive Oil as an Eye Makeup Remover.

In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need. Never wash your face with hot or cold water.

 

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men's skin looks more youthful than women's is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave.
In my article, How to Exfoliate, I share all my tips and tricks to proper exfoliation. Including why you should throw out the loofah.

There are several exfoliating options that I use weekly. Here are my favorites:

A facial scrub. You can buy a great scrub or make your own. I prefer sugar scrubs to salt ones, but it's just a matter of preference. See my list of the best facial scrubs or try out a recipe using brown sugar and coconut oil in Make a Face & Body Scrub With Sugar and Oil.
A washcloth. Put a dab of cleanser and a sprinkle of white refined sugar on a damp washcloth and massage skin in a circular motion. After a quick rinse, any sign of dead skin is erased. If you have dry skin, try extra virgin coconut oil.
Microdermabrasion. You can buy microdermabrasion kits. I have and found quite a few I like. See my list of the best facial scrubs and microdermabrasion kits.
Chemical peels. In the hour it takes to get a chemical peel, you can take a year from your face. Can't afford the price tag for a monthly peel? Try some over-the-counter peels that work over the course of a month. I prefer MD Skincare's.

Step 3: Moisturize

While I know of at least one famous beauty editor who swore skin doesn't need moisturizer, basically everyone else I've read disagrees and is an adamant believer in it. A basic rule of beauty is that if you have dry skin, you should invest in a basic moisturizer. So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it's crying out for moisture. Be careful not to over-moisturize -- this can clog pores.
See my list of the best moisturizers on the market. For you natural girls, nothing beats a good oil for your skin. You can use extra virgin coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil or jojoba oil. Learn more in Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil as Overall Body Moisturizer.

Are eye creams necessary? Well maybe. Some beauty experts strongly recommend eye creams. Why? The skin around the eye contains no fatty tissue and is therefore very thin and susceptible to wrinkles. Special eye creams are formulated to "thicken" this area. Yet other experts claim your daily lotion works around the eyes just as well.

See my list of the best eye creams.

 

Step 4: Apply Sunscreen

The first cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it's important to use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days. A great trick is to purchase two moisturizers: One for night and one for day that includes UV protection. Don't use moisturizers with sunscreen at night, the ingredients are not meant to be used 27/7 and can aggravate skin. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it contains Mexoryl or Helioplex, found in Neutrogena products.
See my list of top sunscreens

My Best Anti-Aging Tips

Read any magazine article about skincare past age 50 and it's downright depressing. The list of things that happen to us as we age may make you want to shun the beauty sections of magazines forever. In this article, 20 Skincare Tips Every Woman Over 50 Should Know, I talk about Botox, a miracle cream I swear by and all sorts of other goodies.

From Prevention magazine: Move your sun visor over to the left to keep harmful UV rays off your face while you drive. It turns out most women's faces are more sun damaged on their left sides. Why? They drive a lot. I would also suggest keeping sunblock in your purse. You should apply every few hours. And yes, if you are usually the passenger, move that sun visor over to the right.

Getting Crafty with Nail Arts

The nail fashion industry is continuing to grow, new styles are born and the old ones are continuing to be improved. Different nail arts are introduced and some fades away, depending on the season and what trending and new. Technology also joins the nail fashion industry on its growing journey by adding new twists that adds dynamic elements on nail fashion tools.

There are lots of factors that affect the growth of this said industry, but one intangible factor that is consistent on this journey is “creativity”. It is the one factor that has a great effect not only on nail fashion but on the whole fashion world. Famous designs and arts are fruit of one’s creativity, they started from normal things put together and resulted on a positive note.

When it comes to nail fashion, being creative can result to many positive outcome. Using ordinary things like scotch tapes, glitters, beads and other stuff can produce fine-looking nail arts. Being crafty like mixing different nail polish colors or incorporating different nail arts will always get to something. Most trending nail arts of today came from those ideas and they are really popular nowadays.

Trending Nail Arts Resulted from Being Crafty and Creative:

1.       Matte Shiny French Tip – A fusion of two nail styles, French tip and matte nail polish effect.

2.       Ombre Nail Arts – A mixture of two nail polish colors to produce a gradient effect.

3.       Caviar Nail Art – Nail art that uses microbeads to produce a caviar texture.

4.       Scotch Tape Nail Styles – One of the earliest methods on creating different styles of nail designs. Using a scotch tape as an architectural paint tape to cover areas that should not be painted.

5.       Glow in the Dark Nail Polish – Another nail art that started using a mixture of the glow stick chemical and a nail polish.

Those are some types of nail arts that started from being crafty and creative using different materials to produce a great looking nail design.

What we need to care healthy nails

Take a look at your nails . They are strong and healthy ? Or do you see ridges , dents or areas of unusual color or shape ? Many less than desirable nail conditions can be avoided through proper nail care . Others pointed out a fundamental condition requiring attention .
Nails : What 's normal , what's not
Your nails - including laminated layers of a protein called keratin - grow from areas at the base of the nail under your cuticle . As new cells grow , older cells become hard and compacted and are eventually pushed out toward your fingertips .
Healthy nails are smooth , without pits or grooves . They are uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration . Sometimes nails grow along ridges that run from harmless cuticle to tip . Vertical ridges tend to become more prominent with age . Nails can also develop white lines or points due to injury , but eventually evolved to the nails.
Not all nail conditions are normal , however . Consult your doctor or your dermatologist if you notice :
Nail color changes , such as discoloration of the entire nail or black streaks under the nails
Changing shape nails , nails curved like
Thin or thick nails
Separated from the skin around your nails
Bleeding around the nails
Redness , swelling , or pain around the nail
Nail care : do 's and don'ts
To keep your nails looking their best , follow these simple guidelines .
do :
Keep your nails clean and dry . This prevents bacteria , fungi and other organisms grown from under your nails . Wearing cotton lined rubber gloves when washing dishes , cleaning or using harsh chemicals , and avoid long soak in the tub.
Cut and file your nails regularly . Use a sharp manicure scissors or cutter . Cut your nails straight on , then round the tips in a gentle curve . It may be easiest to cut and file your nails when they are soft , such as after bathing .
Use moisturizer . When you use hand lotion , rub lotion into your nails and your cuticles , too .
Do not :
Abuse your nails . To prevent nail damage , do not use your nails as tools to choose from, poke or pry things .
Biting your nails or pick at your cuticles . These habits can damage the nail . Even a minor cut alongside your nail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter and cause infection .
Pull off hangnails . You can extract the living tissue with hangnail . Instead, carefully cut off hangnails .
Ignore the problem . If you have a nail problem that does not seem to go away on its own or in combination with other signs and symptoms , consult your doctor or your dermatologist for an evaluation .