How‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ to Do a Professional Manicure Step by Step

Written by Bodycraft | Dec 14, 2025 12:09:45 PM

The guide shows you every step, from the preparation to the application of the polish.

Prep Your Hands and Nails

First of all, clean your hands carefully using soap and warm water. Dry them up with a towel. Old polish or oily layers can make it difficult for polish to stick properly.

Shape and Smooth

If your nails are overly long or have uneven edges, then clip or trim them first. After that, use a nail file — always file in one direction, i.e., not back and forth, to avoid micro-tears.

To get an even base, use a buffer gently — just a few strokes of each nail are enough for the polish to glide.

Soak & Cuticle Care

Put your hands in warm, soapy water for 5–10 minutes to loosen the cuticles.

After that, with the help of a pusher, softly (not too forcibly) push the cuticles back and, if there is any, trim the excess skin — not as a rule. Always be gentle so that you do not harm the nail bed.

Apply Polish Like a Pro

Make sure nails are dry and if there is any oil, remove it with a little polish remover.

Put on a thin base coat and let it dry.
Put on 1–2 thin layers of your colour — thin layers are a way to prevent smudges or clumps. Waiting for a few minutes between layers.
Add a top layer to your look for brilliance and durability.

Quick Checklist ✅

Step	Why It Matters
Clean & dry nails	Help polish sticking better
Shape & file (one direction)	Prevents splitting & rough edges
Soak + push back cuticles	Keeps nails and skin healthy
Base coat → 2 thin colour coats → top coat	Smooth, lasting finish
Moisturize hands + cuticles after	Keeps nails strong and skin soft

Aftercare & Small Tips

Make sure nails are dry completely before you go and do the cleaning of the house.
Put on cuticle oil or lotion every day — it prevents nails from drying or peeling.
Stop being too rough with filing and cutting of cuticles — overdoing it may weaken nails.

FAQ

Q: How often should I do a manicure?

A: One time every 3–4 weeks is enough. Frequent polish or aggressive filing may result in dry nails.

Q: Can I skip cuticle trimming?

A: Sure — pushing cuticles back is sufficient. Over-trimming increases the risk of irritation and infection.

Q: Why does my polish peel off quickly?

A: Most probably nail was oily or you didn’t put on base/top coat. Besides that, thin layers and proper drying make the polish last ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌longer.

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