Lacquered nails is a regular part of my look. I love to have that pop of color or create a dramatic effect with my manicure. The thing is, nail polish, and most of the products that go along with my beloved manicure, are full of nasty chemicals and harmful toxins. So what’s a girl to do?
Luckily, we don’t have to give up our fancy fingers. There are plenty of awesome companies making safer versions of our favorite nail care products. From cuticle cream to polish remover, these products will give do the same thing as those hazardous salon products, without the health concerns.
Five Steps to the Perfect Manicure
1. Clean and Shape
You need a ready canvas on which to do your best work. Trim your nails with a good set of clippers as poorly-made clippers will not make a clean cut which will impede your manicure process. Then, clean them with a natural-fiber nail brush such as Earth Therapeutics 100% Pure Bristle Nail Brush. Lastly, you’ll need to file your nails to the desired shape. Though long and pointy is the current trend, there’s something to be said for the good old natural round.
2. Cuticle Care
Dry, cracked, and peeling cuticles will ruin even the best polish. To get that “salon look”, massage your cuticles with Organix South TheraNeem cuticle scrub and follow it with Organix South TheraNeem cuticle oil. Trim any hang nails and be sure to gently push back any cuticles that have grown over onto the nail
3. Moisturize
Choose a moisturizer that is tailored to repair the damage our hands suffer from hand washing, hard work, and the challenges of everyday life. Jason lavender-scented Pure and Natural Hand and Body Lotion is a great non-greasy formula and gentle on sensitive skin. If you’re looking for a hand cream to combat premature aging caused by exposure to sun and the elements, derma E Anti-Aging Hand Creme is made with natural antioxidants and botanicals to heal repair and protect your hands while leaving them softer and younger-looking. After you moisturize, swipe a cotton ball with a small amount of rubbing alcohol over your nail to ensure a completely dry nail as any lotion or oil on the nail will cause your nail enamel to lift and chip.
4. Polish
Apply three coats of your favorite color nail enamel. I know, those bottles might say 2-3 coats, but trust me, it’s three. Make sure you bring the first coat of polish over the tip of each nail to prevent chipping. This is the most common mistake and usually the culprit behind complains of immediate chipping. Honeybee Gardens Watercolors is a water-based polish, free from fd&c colors, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, xylene, and formaldehyde, that goes on evenly and lasts as long as the conventional polishes out there. My favorite shades are Risque and Whisper; both are versatile and classic and will work for any occasion. Finish your manicure with a clear coat to add shine and durability. And when you’re ready to change your polish, Watercolors can be removed with rubbing alcohol, grain alcohol, or Honeybee Garden’s acetone-free polish remover.
5. Nourish and Protect
Take a daily supplement like Hair, Skin & Nails Formula from Vitacost or biotin to keep your nails, as well as your hair and skin, healthy and strong.