Speak About It! | 3 Quick Tips for doing your own French Manicure in as little as 20 minutes

3 Quick Tips for doing your own French Manicure in as little as 20 minutes

Written by Gloria Buono-Daly

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A 3 step how-to on doing your own french manicure; anyone can do in as little as 20 minutes. Illustrates the basics in 3 simple steps with 3 simple visuals.
As easy as 1 - 2 - 3! Hope this helps and inspires some of you to try it.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

prepared finger nails and cuticles - cleaned, filed, etc.
* nail base (bottom) coat (I used Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails with Nylon + Retinal)
* french manicure polish (I used ORLY French Manicure)
* 2 in 1- combo nail dryer & top coat (or separate top coat and nail dryer - I used Sally Hansen INSTA-DRI ANTI CHIP TOP COAT)

STEP 1: APPLY BASE COAT (7 - 10 mins includes 3 1/2 mins drytime)

I used the Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails with Nylon + Retinal: Shake gently and apply one coat to clean, bare nails. This dried within 2 minutes but I waited until about 3 ½ minutes before step 2 below.

STEP 2: PAINT NAIL TIPS (10 - 15 mins includes 4 mins drying time)

I used ORLY French Manicure: I used the bright white (White Tips # 42001) but there are softer colors such as a pastel pink, beige, off white, etc. Try to avoid using any tip guides which tend to be more of a problem then help. Shake ORLY bottle well and in smooth strokes, paint each nail tip from left corner to center; then from right corner to center, following the curve of your nail. This dried within 4 minutes but I waited until about 6 minutes before continuing. Then if needed, lightly brush nail tip across and let dry. Optional, apply a 2nd coat of Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails with Nylon + Retinal. Let dry for a few minutes.

STEP 3: APPLY TOP COAT (3 - 6 mins for 2 coats includes 1 mins drying time)
Sally Hansen INSTA-DRI ANTI CHIP TOP COAT. One coat is enough but I applied 2 finishing coats. First coat dried less than 30 seconds. I waited about 1 minute before applying the 2nd coat. Enjoy your beautiful nails which last about 5 to 7 days and think of all the valuable time you will save and dollar savings (up to about $1,000 per year).

HELPFUL TIP: * Before polishing, make sure your hands/nails have been prepared (nails trimmed as needed, cleaned, filed, cuticles pushed back); I usually do my manicure right after I shower. Nails look best when tips are similar length (about 1/8th “).