Female feet in spa bowl with sea salt
In most job situations, from the fast-food weekend gig to the executive suite, women and men need to have well-groomed hands. This level of care is not hard to attain, though, even without a visit to the local manicure parlor.
Our hands say a lot about us. Work-roughened hands, dirty or unkempt fingernails, or torn cuticles are not appealing. Wearing rings and bracelets also calls attention to hands and nails, so make sure yours are always presentable, even if it simply means moisturizing, filing, and the application of clear polish. Your feet, too, should never be so rough and callous, or have toenails so long and ragged.
Female feet in spa bowl with sea salt
TRICKS AND TIPS
Below are some easy-to-follow treatments that will make sure you always leave the house with neat, attractive nails.
Hot Oil Hand Treatment: This simple trick will soften your hands and benefit your nails as well. Microwave 1/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil for 20 seconds. Massage the oil into your hands and cuticles. Cover each hand in plastic wrap. Soak your hands in warm water for 5 minutes to help the oil absorb better.
Cuticle Creams: Healthy nails begin with smooth, healthy cuticles. Mix 1 or 2 ounces of beeswax pellets (available online), 3 ounces apricot kernel oil, and 1 tablespoon honey in a paper bowl. Heat for 15-second increments in a microwave until melted. Blend and place in a small lozenge tin. Or whip together 1 drop of your favorite essential oil with 2 tablespoons coconut oil, or an equal amount aloe vera gel and coconut oil, and store the cream in a small glass jar.
The Perfect Manicure: With practice you can handle nails like a pro. Soak fingertips in warm sudsy water, then dry. Gently push cuticles back with the flat end of an orange stick. Trim nails straight across then round the sides in a curve. File them smooth with a 4-way emery stick—use rough grade, fine grade, then buff. Apply base coat, moisturize your hands, add two light coats of polish, then finish with the top coat.
The Manly Manicure: Men who want well-groomed hands and nails should invest in a good nail clipper and several 4-way emery boards. Trim and even out the top edge of the nails, then apply a clear matte polish or simply polish the surface with the buffing side of the 4-way emery board. Apply olive oil or cuticle oil to fingertips at least twice a week.
Male manicure
The Manly Pedicure: Far too many men feel free to wear sandals without really taking a good look at their rough toenails. If you have overgrown or ragged nails, it is the work of five minutes to correct them. First, clean your nails with a toothbrush. Then use the flat end of an orange stick to gently ease cuticles back. Use a large nail clipper to trim off excess nail—cut straight across, then round the sides. Afterward, use a 4-way foam emery board to rough file, then fine file any snags. Place a few dabs of olive oil on the cuticles, and you’re ready to rock your sandals. Keep up with filing every week.
MANICURE/PEDICURE TOOL KIT:
Here are a few basic supplies for your home manicure set-up:
• Cotton balls and cotton swabs
• Non-acetone nail polish remover
• 4-way foam emery board with rough filing, fine filing, smoothing, and buffing
• Orange sticks
• One small and one large nail clipper, plus cuticle scissors
• Top coat and base coat clear polish
• Colored polishes in several shades
• Cuticle nourishing cream (make your own!)
• Exfoliating wand to keep soles of feet smooth