Want to learn manicure by yourself but don't know where to start?

This beginner-friendly basic step-by-step tutorial will guide you through the core process of manicure, from shaping to sealing. Getting started is not a problem.

Today, I will share two simple and easy-to-use manicure

tutorials: solid color and plaid print. Let’s learn together!

Solid color manicure

List of tools and materials required:

– Nail clippers: used to trim the length of nails and create basic contours.
– Nail file (coarse/fine grit available): the coarse grit surface is suitable for quick shaping, and the fine grit surface is used for fine grinding of edges to make the nail lines smoother.
– Dead skin pusher, dead skin scissors (optional but recommended): Dead skin pushers can gently push up the dead skin at the back edge of the nail, and dead skin scissors can accurately trim excess dead skin to make the edge of the nail surface neater.
– Polishing block/sponge file (optional): can further polish the nail surface, remove residual oil and impurities, and enhance the adhesion of subsequent products.
– Lint-free wipes/alcohol (concentration 75% and above): used to clean the nail surface, wipe off the dust and grease after polishing, and ensure that the nail surface is clean.
– Nail polish remover (used to remove old nail polish/gel): can completely remove the remaining old nail products to avoid affecting the durability of the new nails.
– Base gel (must-have for gel nails): like the “foundation” of nails, it isolates the nails from the colored gel, prevents pigment precipitation, and enhances the adhesion of subsequent products.
– Colored gel/nail polish (main color): choose your favorite color, which is the main color of the nail.
– Top glue/sealing layer: as a “protective layer”, it can make the nails more wear-resistant, prolong the holding time, and increase the gloss or create a matte effect.
– UV/LED lamp (must-have for gel nails): used to cure gel products and quickly shape the nails.

Steps for making solid color nails

1. Trim the shape of the nails:

First, “shape” the nails. Take out the nail file and trim the nails according to your favorite style, such as a round oval or a neat square. Slowly polish until you are satisfied. This is the basic framework of manicure.

2. Deal with dead skin:

Then deal with the annoying dead skin. Drop a dead skin softener on the edge of the nail and wait patiently for 10 to 20 seconds to fully soften the dead skin. If you have less dead skin, like me, you can remove it by gently grinding it with a quartz rod. After grinding, wipe it with a cotton pad, and the nail edge will be clean; if the dead skin is a lot and stubborn, you have to use a grinder and use a dead skin scissors to completely clean it. If there are small debris, you can also use dead skin scissors to trim it to ensure that the nail edge is fresh.

3. Pre-treat the nail surface (the key to enhancing adhesion!):

The key step to make the manicure more solid is to polish the nail surface. Take out the sponge and carefully polish the nail surface until the originally bright nail surface has no reflective points at all and becomes a matte state with a little scratch. Don’t underestimate this step, it can make the base glue and nails firmly “stick” together, reducing the subsequent glue falling.

4. Thorough cleaning:

After polishing, quickly wipe the nail surface with alcohol to clean up the dust and grease. Remember, don’t touch the nail surface with your hands after cleaning, the grease on your hands will affect the effect of the subsequent steps.

5. Apply base glue:

Next, apply the base glue, which is the “foundation” of manicure, and it is indispensable for even the most complex styles. Bottled or canned base glue can be used. Apply a little force when brushing, and be sure to avoid the skin next to it. If the back edge is difficult to apply, press it back gently; pull the skin on the side down a little before applying, to ensure that the nail surface is covered with base glue, and then cure it under the light.

6. (Optional) Construct plasticity/create apex high points:

If you want to make your nails fuller and more beautiful, don’t ignore the construction step. First take a little construction glue and apply it thinly on the nail surface. Don’t shine the light at this step. Take a large lump of glue, put it on the nail surface, push it to the back edge, adjust it forward, then turn your finger upside down, let the glue flow naturally, and pile up a beautiful arc with high in the middle and low on both sides. When the aperture is even, shine the light. After doing this, the side of the nail will become full, the aperture is smooth, and it has a self-reinforcement effect, so there is no need to apply reinforcement glue separately. If there is a problem with fan-shaped nails, use a shaping clip to clamp the two sides of the nail to make the shape more perfect.

7. Apply color glue:

After the construction is completed, you can apply color glue or make your favorite style. Today, I will simply demonstrate applying a solid color, apply a layer evenly, and cure it under the light.

8. Sealing layer:

The last step is the sealing layer, which is to put on a “protective coat” for the manicure. The glossy sealing layer can make the nails shiny, and those who like matte texture can choose frosted sealing layer, which has great effects. Dip an appropriate amount of sealing layer, brush it evenly on the nail surface, and you’re done after shining the light.

Checkered pattern nail art

List of tools and materials required:

Nail scissors
Nail file (optional thickness)
Cuticle pusher, cuticle scissors (optional, but recommended)
Polishing strips/sponge polish (optional)
Cleaning cotton pads/alcohol (75% concentration or more)
Nail polish remover/removal bag (if removing old nail polish)
Base glue (essential for phototherapy gel)
Color glue/nail polish (primary color)
Sealing glue/bright oil (top coat)
Phototherapy lamp (UV/LED lamp, essential for phototherapy gel)
Transfer gel nail polish (or ordinary transfer nail polish): specially used for transferring patterns, with strong adhesion and rich colors.
Checkered pattern transfer plate: with various checkered patterns on it, it is the “template” for transfer.
Silicone transfer head: used to take patterns from the transfer plate, with a soft texture and better fit to the nails.
Scraper: Scrape off the excess nail polish on the transfer board so that the pattern can remain clearly on the transfer board.

Production steps:

Steps 1-6 are the same as for solid colors, so I won’t write them.

Base light:

First, choose a nail polish gel you like, apply it evenly on the surface of the nail as the base color, and pay attention to the smooth edges to avoid overflow. After painting, put the nails into the nail lamp to dry (usually for 30-60 seconds) to make the base color more firmly attached to the nail surface, laying a foundation for subsequent steps.

Base glue wrapping:

In order to protect the existing color layer and enhance the integrity of the nail, apply a thin layer of base glue next, ensuring that the entire nail surface, including the edges of the nails, plays a “wrapping” role. After painting, cure it with a lamp to make the color layer more stable.

Transfer checkered pattern:

Prepare the sticker, first transfer the checkered pattern from the sticker backing paper completely, and pay attention to operate gently to avoid deformation of the pattern (newbies are advised to operate with both hands for more stability). Then align the nail surface, carefully transfer the pattern to the nail, and press gently to make it fit. After confirming that the pattern is flat, put it into the nail lamp to dry it, so that the pattern is firmly fixed.

Finished with the topcoat:

The last step is to apply the topcoat, evenly covering the entire nail surface and pattern, which not only makes the nail art more shiny, but also protects the pattern and color from wear and fall off. After applying the topcoat, shine the light again (it is recommended to shine for more than 60 seconds), and after drying, this manicure with both sweet base color and exquisite plaid is completed.

If you want to make the manicure both beautiful and long-lasting, some details and tips can help you avoid many detours, make the manicure effect more amazing, and reduce damage to the nails.

You can pay attention to the following aspects:

– Don’t ignore the cleaning of tools

After each manicure, the used nail files, dead skin scissors, scrapers and other tools must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. You can wipe it carefully with an alcohol cotton pad. If conditions permit, use a professional disinfection instrument to avoid bacterial residues, so that the nails will not be infected and inflamed when used next time. This step is especially important when multiple people share tools.

– There are some tips for applying the primer

when applying the primer, don’t just apply it in the middle of the nail surface, you must “wrap the edge” – that is, let the primer slightly cover the edge of the front edge of the nail, like a border for the nail. This can prevent the subsequent manicure from curling up from the front end and greatly extend the retention time. And when applying, it should be thin and even. Too thick will easily shrink the glue, which will affect the adhesion.

– Don’t rush to stack colors:

Many people think that the color is not saturated enough once, so they apply it thickly. In fact, this can easily cause wrinkles and not dry thoroughly. The correct way is to apply thin layers multiple times, and thoroughly cure each layer under the light before applying the next layer. For example, dark colors usually achieve a full effect with two layers, which is both uniform and not prone to problems.

– Be gentle when removing nail polish:

When removing nail polish, do not remove it hard. Whether it is ordinary nail polish or gel, soak the nail polish remover with nail polish remover (use special nail polish remover for gel), apply it on the nail and wrap it with tin foil, wait for 5-10 minutes, let the nail polish fully soften, and then gently push it off with a push stick. Hard tearing will take away the cuticle on the surface of the nail, making the nail fragile and easy to break.

– Nails should also “breathe”:

Although manicure is fascinating, don’t let your nails be covered with nail polish all the time. It is recommended to leave about a week for the nails to “run naked” after the manicure. During this period, you can apply some nail nutrient solution or care oil to supplement the nails, so that it can restore its own hardness and toughness, and avoid long-term coverage causing the nails to become thinner and stratified.

– Daily care bonus:

After washing your hands or doing housework, remember to apply a little nail edge oil to the edge of the nails, gently massage to absorb, which can prevent the accumulation of dead skin, keep the edge of the nail moisturized and smooth, and make the manicure look more delicate. In addition, try to wear gloves when doing heavy work to avoid bumping and scratching your nails, and extend the “life” of your manicure.

These tips may seem simple, but if you stick to them, they will not only make your manicure more colorful, but also take good care of your nail health, so that you can gain a full sense of accomplishment every time you do a manicure.

In fact, manicure is not as difficult as you think. Beginners can start with solid colors, and then slowly try complex styles. You will become proficient after doing it a few times. I will share more tutorials later, and we will improve together~

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