How to Make a Manicure Last Longer

One way to make a nail client for life is to make their manicure (or pedicure) last longer than one they get anywhere else. How to do that? Creative Nail’s found a way, offering steps for the best nail preparation.

“Impeccable nail prep is the foundation for all nail services,” says Shelena Robinson, education ambassador for the company. “Good prep prevents enhancements from lifting and polish from peeling.”

1. Start by killing germs. Massage a hand sanitizer into the client’s hands.

2. Remove existing nail enamel using an acetone-based polish remover using lint-free pads. Then, shape nails with a 240 soft-grit file—never remove sidewalls. Filing in two directions is okay if the grit is not too coarse.

3. Apply a small amount of professional strength cuticle remover evenly around each nail to help remove dead skin easily from the nail plate.

4. Gently loosen and lift dead cuticle that sticks to the nail plates (being careful not to push it back) using a metal cuticle pusher.

5. Remove the dead cuticle from the nail plate using a cuticle curette. “The most crucial step in a meticulous manicure is to completely remove all traces of the cuticle from the nail plate without damaging the seal at the base of the nail,” says Robinson.

6. Nip dead bits of skin and hangnails around the cuticle area using a cuticle nipper, never cutting the living tissue

7. Rinse thoroughly with warm, soapy water and towel dry.

8. Squeeze a small drop of an alpha-hydroxy acid cuticle treatment onto the skin and rub in. This acts as a micro-exfoliator and aids in hydration.

9. Apply a drop of cuticle oil to the base of the nail plate and surrounding tissue. Then, buff nails in the direction of nail growth with 1,200-grit side of a buffer to remove shine.

10. Finally, remove any remaining oil and debris from the nail plate, as oil, moisture and dust will cause polish to peel and chip.