Posts Tagged ‘nail tips’

How long will it take for my nails to return to normal after removing my acrylics?

I have had the opportunity to have acrylic nails and will never go through that process again as my nails weren’t getting the fresh air it needed and I will also afraid of getting fungus growth….

So how do you get them back to normal and how long does it take?

If your natural nails were filed properly in the beginning, and if you’ve been maintaining your artificial nails with regular visits to the salon, your nails will be in good condition after the acrylic nail is removed.

It took me a good two months for my nails to gain strength and look good. But I definately needed products to help me along the way as my nails were so brittle and weak.

To get your nails back in a natural healthy state, be sure to use OPI’s Nail Envy™ Natural Nail Hardener to strengthen your natural nails (I used it every second day – the large bottle last forever!) , and maybe condition your cuticles with Avoplex® Nail and Cuticle Replenishing Oil . After that I now have regular manicures to maintain healthy nail growth and it is a lot cheaper that getting acrylics done!

If you have any experiences with making your nails strongly after having acrylics or would like to share anything with us, please post a comment or question below!

How to Whiten your nails

To whiten your nails, try these:

• Use a common whitening tooth paste. Try scrubbing your nails with toothpaste, its just as easy as achieving a pearly white smile and will take away any stains and shine up your nails.
• Soak your nails in water with lemon juice or lemon slices. The lemon acts as an astringent and will strip away stains. (or you can try SpaRitual’s Cuti-Clean Cuticle and Stain Remover This will give a beautiful nail/cuticle area as a base for the perfect manicure.)

Want to share a tip, please post a comment or question below!

Pedicure Benefits, Tools and at Home Tips

People take on average 10,000 steps in a day, adding up to 115,000 miles in a lifetime, enough to circle the planet four times. How are your feet feeling? With the average woman walking 10 miles per day and average man treading 7, a pedicure is the perfect thank you to your feet their continuous support.

A pedicure is a way to improve the appearance of the feet, and their nails. It basically is a manicure for the feet. The word pedicure comes form the Latin words pes, which means foot, and cura, which means care. It also means the care of the feet and toenails. A pedicure can be helpful because it can prevent nail diseases and nail disorders.

Whether you opt for a spa pedicure or would like to try one at home, a pedicure will leave your feet looking beautiful and feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

Materials and Tips for a home pedicure:

Pumice stone or foot file , Toe separators or cotton balls/roll, Emery board, Cuticle remover, Cuticle oil, Orangewood stick, Color nail polish, Base coat, Top coat, Nail polish remover, Quick dry product, Nail clippers, Dish pan, Cotton balls, Towels, Cuticle nippers, Lotion , Nail buffer, Thongs, if desired.

1. Thoroughly saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover and use it to remove any old polish you may have on your toenails from you last pedicure.
2. Fill the dishpan with enough warm soapy water to cover your feet. Soak for at least five minutes. (Note: Whenever you are working on one foot, the other foot should be soaking in the warm water. )
3. Dry your foot and apply the cuticle remover at the base of each nail. Wait one minute for the remover to soften the cuticle. Use the wedged end of the orangewood stick to push the cuticle back. If desired, carefully snip off the excess cuticle. Repeat this procedure on the other foot.
4. Using the nail clippers, cut off any nails that are too long. Length is a personal preference, but make sure the nail is shorter than the toe. Be careful not to cut the nails too short as this can cause ingrown toenails and can be quite painful. With the emery board, file the nail into a square shape.
5. Use the nail buffer to smooth any roughness or ridges on the surface of the nails.
   
6. Wet the pumice stone or foot file in the dishpan. Rub any areas of dry or flaking skin gently. Rinse the foot and dry.
   i. Note: Do not ever use a filing tool with a blade that cuts your skin or allow one to be used on your feet. Not only is it unsanitary, but you may cut too deeply, causing pain or even drawing blood. It is important to have a bit of callus on the bottom of the foot as well, to prevent splitting.
   
7. Apply a generous amount of lotion to the foot, massaging it in and taking care to cover all the foot, especially the dry and flaky parts. Massage the lotion up your legs to your knees. Close your eyes and relax for 10 minutes, allowing your skin to soak in the soothing lotion. You could also wrap your feet with saran wrap after slathering on your lotion, and put on a pair of warm socks out of the dryer for intensive moisturization.
   
8. Rinse feet in warm water and dry off with towel.
   
9. Saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover and go back over your toenails, making sure that all lotion residues are removed. This is important, since the polish will not stick to any surface that still has lotion residue on it.
   
10. Press the toe separators or cotton between the toes, so that each toe is not rubbing on the next. Note: If toe separators are not available, use cotton balls or a roll of cotton. Be very careful to keep the cotton away from the nails themselves, as cotton fibers will ruin the look of the polish.
    
11. Brush 1 coat of the base coat over each nail. Allow it to dry for one minute.
    
12. Apply 2 coats of the nail color. Allow it to dry for 5 minutes.
    
13. Apply the top coat. Allow it to dry for 1 minute, and then spray your nails with the quick dry spray.
    

Your pedicure should be completely dry after 30-45 minutes. Be sure and wear open toed shoes to allow for additional drying time. Your pedicure should last about two weeks.

Do you have any tips or techniques you’d like to share with others? Post your comment below!