Just a Ghoul: Manicure (basic)

Here's everything you need to know for your basic nail care and maintenance...

This is pretty much everything you need for your basic manicure. By basic manicure I mean focusing specifically and solely on the nails, we won't be going into hand/arm massage today.

Before you do anything else, wash hands, preferably with a softening hand wash.

Begin by cutting/clipping any unwanted length from your nail

Using your nail brush, remove any dirt from the underside of your free edge.

Using the rougher side of your file, file your nails to the desired shape and length. You see the classic office secretary filing using small strokes with the file horizontal to the nail plate - wrong! You want to hold your file in-between your thumb and forefinger vertical to the nail, and begin by running it in a long stroke underneath and out across your free edge. It's difficult without a video, I know. Can't promise that I can upload a good quality vid at the minute, having a time and a half with after effects and all that, but I'll do my best to sort that out.

After filing, squeak your nail with a cotton pad and acetone. This simply makes sure your nail is free of any filing debris or remnants of nail polish.

Massage some cuticle massage cream into the matrix and all around the outside of the nail. This helps to soften the cuticle ready for removal.

Lets your fingers soak in some warm water for a couple of mins, and then make a start with the cuticle remover. Squeeze a drop onto each nail and give it at least 60 seconds to sink in.

Take your hoof stick and using circular movements begin pushing back the cuticle.

You can then use your cuticle knife or clippers to remove any last bits of cuticle or any dry skin/hangnails. Leave fingers to soak for a further 2 mins.

Cuticles should be fully removed by this point. Using the less abrasive side of your nail file, quickly buff the nail plate by using long vertical strokes all over. Massage some nail buffing cream all over the nail plate, and using vertical and long strokes, take it off with your buffer. Leave fingers to soak.

If you're planning on finishing your manicure there, massage some nail balm into the nail plate, and you're done. If you wanting polish, squeak your nails again with some more acetone, and prep them with some dehydrater.

Then it's simply a case of applying your base coat, a couple of coats of your chosen colour and for matte polish - top coat. Apply a small amount of cuticle oil around your matrix and outside of the nail once dry.