How to do an at-home manicure | NOTD: China Glaze "Peachy Keen"

Apparently I was long overdue for a manicure and missed the memo.  When I saw the photos from the Shrek Collection I thought “why didn’t anyone tell me!”  It didn’t take me long to do my mani and I thought I’d share my at-home manicure tips with you all.

1. I wash my hands and use a nail brush to scrub under my nails.
2. I remove all nail polish using jumbo size cotton balls and nail polish remover.  I use nail polish remover with acetone.  It works for me…well for now.  I’d love to find a GREAT acetone-free nail polish remover but I’ve yet to find one.
3. I apply cuticle remover to the cuticles and let it sit for 10 minutes.  I don’t know the name of the brand I’m using right now.  I picked it up from a local beauty supply store.  All I know is that it’s in a little squeeze bottle and it’s light pink….sorry it doesn’t have a label on it anymore.  I use a cuticle pusher and gently push my cuticles back.  I remove the excess cuticle remover with a damp cloth and trim the cuticles with a cuticle nipper.
4. I use an Essie Crystal nail file to shape my nails.  It makes my nails smooth and doesn’t damage them either.  I opt for a square tip with slightly rounded edges.  Rule of thumb:  your nail shape should match the shape of you nail bed.  This may or may not work for you.  Scrangie has very square nail shape and her nail bed has a round shape.  It works for her and her nails look great.
5. I use a fine nail buffer and buff my nails.  I don’t always buff because I have thin nails and want to keep them as thick and strong as possible.
6. Finally, I wash my hands using soap and warm water (as well as the nail brush) and completely dry them with a towel.

Now if you opt for nail polish this would be the point where you apply your base coat, nail color, and top coat.  You can use just a nail treatment and top coat or if you want a really natural look a matte top coat such as Man Glaze “Matte-Astrophe”.  The possibilities are endless!  When I first started doing manicures at home I purchased the nail kit below.  I purchased it from CVS because it was $3 off!

China Glaze “Peachy Keen” (2 coats)

This formula was so far off from every other bottle of China Glaze I own I’m almost sure I got an old, bad, or returned bottle.  It was thick and goopy, dried so fast I had a hard time applying it.  The color also became a shade or two darker once it dried completely.  So far off for a China Glaze polish.