#Stayathome and get your nails in great shape 
By Carla Snuggs 

 Currently, we’re staying home and doing our own nails, hair and facials more than ever as we stay in place during the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re like me and you need a little help keeping your nails looking great, keep reading. I’ve sourced Danielle Candido, regional manager of education, Morgan Taylor/Gelish for the following manicure and pedicure tips. 

Manicure Tips

Candido says the key to achieving a salon quality manicure at home is getting perfect cuticles. Smooth, moisturized cuticles with no hangnails or breaks make even an unpolished nail look complete and cared for. 

Using a quality cuticle softener/eliminator aids in gently removing dry cuticles stuck to the nail plate. Candido recommend Morgan Taylor BareLuxury Dissolve Cuticle Remover and Callus Softener which contains a Bio-Organic Complex that hydrates and softens the cuticle, making for efficient cuticle work. Push the cuticles using gentle pressure –– remember, you are only trying to lift dead tissue that is stuck to the nail and create a smooth and even cuticle line. 

After your cuticle work is complete, wash the cuticle remover away with soap and water. After all your nail prep work is complete, wipe the nails with a nail cleanser like Gelish Nail Surface Cleanse to remove any remaining residue. This allows the polish to adhere perfectly for a salon-worthy manicure look!  

Pedicure Tips 

Yes, you can do your own pedicure at home. For an at-home pedicure, Candido says it’s ideal to get pre-packaged soaks, masks, scrubs and massage lotion packets, so you get the perfect amount with no waste. Plus they are totally sanitary!  Bare Luxury by Morgan Taylor  gives you that spa quality experience.  

For an at-home pedicure, Candido recommends you have a double-sided foot file, one-sided coarse file, a 240 grit nail file and 180 grit nail buffer. You will also need toenail clippers, cuticle nippers and an ingrown toenail file.  A note on nail buffers: Use a good nail bugger to file, buff, polish and shine your nails. This will increases the blood circulation in your nail bed which helps the nails grow, gives you a smoother surface for the nail polish to adhere to and leave your nails shiny. When you’re buffing, so so gently and in one direction because if you do it too hard, you can lead to chip and dry out the nail. 

Start by soaking your feet for 5 minutes to soften., says Candido. Then remove old nail polish. Apply cuticle softener, to cuticles, then clip toenails, making sure to cut the toenail as straight across as possible to prevent ingrown toenails. Wipe the cuticle softener off and push cuticles back. Remove any remaining cuticle from the nail plate, then file the free edge of nails. Apply your mask to the top of the foot and the ankle area. Apply callus remover to feet, but only if needed. Use the coarse side of a foot file to reduce any calluses, but do not use a lot of pressure and do not remove the entire callus all the way down to pink flesh.  

Next use the fine or medium side of the foot file to lightly smooth the entire bottom of your foot. Using a sugar or salt scrub, rub in a circular motion over the ankle and entire foot from top to bottom. Rinse any remaining mask and scrub in the pedicure soak. Remove feet from the soak and dry off with a towel. 

 Using an ingrown toenail file, clean the sidewalls and under the nail. Using a massaging lotion, rub lotion into the foot and ankle. Cleanse nails with a nail cleanser, then apply Pedi slippers and toe separators. Apply base coat, polish then topcoat. Candido’s go-to hack for long lasting polish is using a base coat and a top coat. Doing this doubles the life of the polish and provides a long lasting shine. Apply quick dry drops and cuticle oil and you’re done!  

When is the last time you gave yourself a mani-pedi? Leave me a comment below.