#nailprep

If your wondering some of the steps on how to prep your nails for polish, here is how I always prep mine. ✨

This is a part one...part two is gonna come soon.

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There's nothing worse than trying to give yourself a manicure but not having the right tools to do so. The way you take care of your fingernails and toenails is a tell-tale sign of your personal hygiene levels. Having proper manicure tools on hand will keep your hands and feet looking healthy for whenever you want to give yourself a manicure or pedicure. Here are 10 manicure tools you absolutely need, and how to use them.

1. NAIL CUTTERS

A Nail cutter or clipper is the most basic tool that you need for manicure and pedicures. Trimming them from time to time is important for maintaining overall health, or for changing up nail length quickly and easily. 

How to use: Make sure your tool is clean. Place your nail in between your nail cutter, and snip. Don't cut too much, as this can expose the sensitive part of your nail bed and lead to a possible infection

2. NAIL FILE

This tool is used to gently grind the edges of your nail down to make them smooth. They're also used in helping shape your nails. There is plenty of variety in nail files - emery boards, metal files, and glass to name a few. 

How to use: Ensure your nails are completely dry before trying to file as wet nails split very easily. Hold the file at a 45-degree angle, start at one corner and move to the center. Make sure you file in one direction, as a "seesawing" motion can make your nails split.

3. NAIL BUFFER

The nail buffer's main job is to give your nails a consistent look. They help buff out any ridges or peeling nails to create a smooth base. If you want to get rid of dullness, this tool is also used to help provide a nice natural shine. 

How to use: Make sure your nails are clean and dry before buffing. Like with filing, make sure you buff your nails in one direction, either forward or backward. Don't go overboard and buff to harshly or too much, as that can cause your nail bed to become thin. Lightly buffing your nails once a month should be enough.

4. CUTICLE PUSHER

Cuticles require special care so they don't end up dry and flaky. A cuticle pusher is used to push back the skin on your nails. Metal cuticle pushers can be too harsh if your cuticles are more delicate, so wooden or plastic ones are your best bet. 

How to use: Pretty simple: Take your pusher and gently push the cuticle and skin around the base of your nail. If you're a little too rough and accidentally slice your skin, make sure you clean it well because it can lead to infection. The main take away from this tool: be gentle!

5. CUTICLE CUTTER

While you shouldn't actually cut your cuticle away, cutting the excess skin that collects around your cuticle, hangnails and dry skin is what this tool is mostly used for. It offers great precision in trimming annoying ingrown nails too. 

How to use: Once the cuticle is pushed back, if you have quite a bit of dead skin that's built up around your nail bed, you can use the cutters to nip away at them. Use an upward motion to lift the dead skin up and away from your nails.

6. NAIL BRUSH

A cute little brush that helps to get under your nails to clean them. If you want your nails to look neat, using this tool every day can definitely help you achieve that. 

How to use: Hold the brush under warm water and squirt a small amount of anti-bacterial soap on to it. Then scrub your nails and create a lather. Rinse and say hello to squeaky clean nails!

7. PUMICE STONE

Pumice stones are perfect for keeping your feet in check. The pumice stone removes the outermost layer of dead skin and calluses and are found on the bottom of the feet, especially the heel. This also helps get rid of dry, cracked skin. 

How to use: Soak your feet in warm, soapy water for 10 minutes. Once the dry skin has softened, wet the pumice stone and scrub your dead skin away!

8. TOE SEPARATOR

This tool is most commonly used to separate your toes before you put on nail polish so that it doesn't smudge. But it has a few other uses as well, including realigning joints, improving circulation, and straightening bent toes which help relieve foot pain. 

How to use: Just place between your toes and voilà, you're done!

9. ORANGE STICK

Orange sticks are the perfect multi-purpose tools. They can be used to push back cuticles, clean out dirt from under the nail, or fix nail polish mistakes. There's no right "how-to" when using these, but definitely keep some on hand for quick fixes!

10. CUTICLE OIL

Last but not least: cuticle oil. After all is said and done, there's a lot of harsh tools and products we use on our hands and feet when we do a manicure. Adding moisture back into our cuticles helps prevent hangnails and promotes better growth and stronger nails. 

How to use: You can use dedicated cuticle oil or olive oil if that's what you have on hand. Use cuticle oil at the very end of your manicure.  Dot a small bit onto each cuticle, rub it in, and that's it!