French Manicures

Mention the words "French Manicure" around nearly any woman, and you'll immediately see their face light up like a kid on Christmas morning. This is because many women regularly indulge themselves in this classic beauty routine, whether they go out to a salon or do it themselves at home. It has become known as a common form of manicure in the United States, as it most resembles a "natural" look for fingernails. It's very universal in that the look is ideal for day-to-day life, weddings, proms, special events, or nights out on the town.

The history of the French Manicure is thought to go back to the mid 1970's when a man named Jeff Pink, president of the popular manicure company Orly, attended a fashion show where he noticed several of the models were using a white pencil to whiten the tips of their fingernails. He immediately realized this could be major fashion trend and brainstormed a way to recreate the look. The result was a kit that contained two shades of polish; a light pink base and white polish to paint the tips of the fingernails. He also included adhesive strips to place at the baseline of the nail so that women could effortlessly create a stunning, perfect look when applying the white paint.

French manicures are still sold in this form today, but have varied slightly since their beginning. Today you can choose from a classic light pink shade, a nude base, or you could even choose a pearl-based shade to add a bit of glamour to this classic manicure. Several kits contain jewels or other accents to add to your newly manicured nails if you are looking to "kick it up" a notch or two. Of course these kits are meant to be applied at home, but if you'd rather head to a salon, you'll find French Manicures to be a popular choice among salon clients.

Sometimes nail technicians at salons will use acrylic tips when providing a French Manicure. This is usually done when the actual nails are not long enough to get the stunning white tip look. The technician will place long tips on your fingernails, cut them down to your requested size, and sand them down so that tip blends with your actual nail. They will then apply an acrylic foundation that hardens your nails to make it smooth and even, then proceed with the French Manicure techniques. After painting your nails with a base shade, the technician will then add the white paint to your faux tips and finish them off with a drying spray.

For a French Manicure without acrylic tips, prices usually range from $10-$15. You can expect to pay around $30 at a salon for a French Manicure using the tips. The kits to do it yourself at home are sold at any drug or department store for around $8. If you decide to go to a salon, you can rest assured that nearly any nail salon will be trained in the French Manicure application.

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FREE Manicure Sets Info- Why they are Handy

Manicure Sets can be as simple or as complicated as you want them to be. You can purchase a basic manicure set at the drug store or your local discount store. A basic manicure set will probably consist of a nail file, tweezers, nail clippers, fingernail scissors and a cuticle pusher. I remember the kind that my grandmother used to have. It was a leather case and each item had its own little elastic compartment that held it in place. The case could be closed with a zipper. She always had it handy in case of an emergency hang nail or broken fingernail. It was basic, and absent of any frills, but in a pinch it did the trick.

Well, nowadays the manicure kits can be a lot more complicated than that. Mine for example is probably the most elaborate of its types. I use a small silver train case as my manicure kit. I have all of the basics mentioned above, except a cuticle pusher. I never much enjoyed that part of an at home manicure anyway. I did replace the cuticle pusher with an orange stick which accomplishes the same basic thing. I also have some cotton, fingernail polish remover (I have both the bottle and the jar that you stick your fingers into), sticky tapes for fool proof at home French manicures, tons of different polishes, and of course one of those cute little toe separator thingies. Mine is hot pink and has palm trees on the end. This is a manicure kit that would make my Grandma proud.

In addition to the old fashioned manicure sets you can purchase all kinds of kits at all different kinds of stores. Some kits will have cute little carrying cases like mine (well not as cute as mine, but cute nonetheless). There are kits aimed at the target market of teenagers and small children. You can even purchase a manicure kit with Dora the Explorer on it. There are also more sophisticated kits that cater to an older more sophisticated target market. These can be compact for the frequent traveler or huge and strictly home bound like mine.

If in doubt, you can purchase one of these preassembled kits and then gradually add to it. You can get all of the basics in the beginning, and add new pieces as you need them. After all, who doesn't need one of those cute little toe separator thingies.

It is a good idea to go through your manicure set periodically and purge any old and outdated manicure supplies. You should replace the orange sticks and emery boards pretty regularly in order to avoid spreading fungus and bacteria that live under our nails. In addition, you should throw out polishes after about a year. I am guilty of adding fingernail polish remover to that last favorite bottle of discontinued perfect red. You know this particular beauty sin; the polish is real thick so you thin it out using remover. Well stop doing it, its ridiculous. Buy a new color already!

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Images and the manicure

Why go through all of the trouble of getting a manicure you may ask. Well manicures are one of women's many secret weapons. One of my friends says that she gets manicures because they are cheaper than therapy. A manicure can be a nice quick pick me up when I am feeling blue. They also instantly make me feel prettier (or at least a little fancier). There are pictures everywhere of women with perfectly manicured fingers.

You can't open a magazine or turn on the television without seeing a set of perfectly manicured digits these days. Maybe it's the ease of which we can now get manicures. There are nail salons popping up everywhere. They are so competitive that some salons offer a first time free manicure, while others have half price days.

You see pictures of different types of manicures in magazines and catalogs. Lately, I have seen a lot of different images put on the tops of people's nails and toenails. The last time I got a pedicure, the manicurist asked me if I wanted a picture of a flower on my big toe for a special occasion. I thought about it for a minute before answering no. I guess it would have been cool to have a picture of a butterfly or a flower on my toe, but in the end I decided that this must be her way of getting me to spend more money. After all, I'm not the trendiest person in the world and I'm not exactly a teenager either, so I would have probably looked ridiculous with a picture on my nail or toenail. That being said, I think that pictures or images have their place in the manicure world. I've seen a lot of other people with these images, and it looks great on them.

Every time I open a magazine I see a picture or an ad for a new type of polish. Some polishes promise to be chip proof, while others advertise long lasting shine. I even saw a picture of a dog with its nails polished. I though it was pretty cute, as a dog lover myself. The product they were advertising was called dog pawlish. Get it? Like, polish for the paws. Anyway, I thought it was really cute and would have bought some, but my dog is a boy. Dogs aside, manicures are important to all women at some point and time in their lives, even if they won't admit it.

One time when every woman considers a manicure to be of the utmost importance is when she first receives an engagement ring. I remember getting more manicures that first month, of being an engaged woman, than I did in the past year. It's always fun to have freshly painted nails when you are going to be heavily photographed. Manicure and pedicure parties are becoming a staple of all bridal parties. Even if you aren't the bride everyone wants to compare rings with the other married women, so it's a good idea to have those digits polished.

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How to Give a Manicure

If you are interested in learning how to give a professional manicure, then you should enroll in classes, as this type of profession does require a license. If however you just want to learn how to give an at home manicure, then I have some great tips for you.

First, when giving a manicure, you should start by removing any existing polish. You will need cotton and fingernail polish remover. Some heavy duty salon polishes have acetone in them, and will require a heavier type of remover, most polishes, however, can be removed with a basic non- acetone remover. If you happen to have an aversion to cotton (some people do) you can use those plastic jars that contain finger nail polish remover. Most cosmetic companies have there own version of them, like Sally Hansen or Revlon for example.

Next you should soak your hands in water. You may add some oils or cleaning solution to the water, or you could simply use tap water. Allow your fingers to soak for at least five minutes. The purpose of this soaking is to allow your cuticles to soften in order to make it easier to push them back.

Once your fingers have soaked, you should dry them thoroughly before trimming and shaping your nails. Some people like to use a buffer on the nail to smooth it, before shaping. Next, while your cuticles are still soft, use an orange stick to gently press your cuticles back. This will not only give your nails a more groomed appearance, but will also allow your nails to grow longer. Also use the orange stick to clean any remaining debris from under nails.

The next step in giving a manicure is to shape the nails. You may shape your nails any way that you like. Some people prefer to round their finger nails, while others prefer a more squared off look. Whichever you choose, be careful to only use the emery board in one direction. If you go back and forth with the board, it may damage the nail. This may take a little longer, but the results will be worth your patience. Now, you should apply a moisturizer to your hands. There are tons of different moisturizers to choose from. Just pick one that works well for you.

Now you are ready to polish those digits. I would recommend at this point if you are going to polish your toes as well, do the toes first. This way it lessens the chance of you damaging your freshly polished fingers. Before using color, you should first apply a base coat to the nail. This will smooth out any imperfections and help the color bond better to the nail. Wait a few minutes for the base coat to dry, and then apply one layer of color. When applying color, less is more. You don't want to put it on too thick. You can always come back and apply another coat later. Lastly, you may want to apply a clear coat to prevent chipping and add extra shine. Try to sit still and touch nothing for about an hour in order to keep your nails from smudging.

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Handy Tips for French Manicures

The popularity of the French manicure is undeniable. Maybe it's because of the versatility that is offered by a French manicure. They allow you to have groomed and polished looking hands without having to worry about picking a color. Picking a color is one of my least favorite things about getting a manicure, especially at a nail salon. I always end up picking a color that I don't like once it's on my nails. Then I either have to live with the unfortunate color or embarrassedly ask the manicurist to change the color. That's the beauty of a French manicure. There really aren't that many decisions to be made. Sure you may have to choose between white and off white for your tips, or possibly have to choose between blush and beige for the base color; compared to having to choose between wild orchid or pink palm, that decision is for amateurs.

Another great think about the French manicure is that it usually lasts longer than a traditional manicure with color, if only because it shows fewer chips and imperfections. Also, I like that I don't have to think too much about the color of my nail polish when choosing my outfits. Nothing is worse than having someone point out that my hot pink polish clashes with coral dress.

Now that I've sold you on the great art of French manicures, I will have to tell you that it is more difficult to give yourself a French manicure than it is to just paint your fingernails one solid color. I do have a quick fix as an alternative. If I am in a hurry, but still want my nails to look great. I will dig my fingernails into a bar of dove or ivory soap. Really and white soap will do just fine. Then, I wash my hands thoroughly. The soap really helps to whiten the tips of my nails. Lastly, I will quickly apply a clear coat of polish. The affects are not quite the same as taking the time to do an actual French manicure, but it works in a pinch.

Now if I have more time on my hands, I will give myself an at home French manicure. It's not as great as getting one in a salon, but still a treat nonetheless. First I will soak my hands and scrub them well with an exfoliating scrub. Next I will trim and shape the nails. Then I will apply a base coat of polish to my nails.

When attempting to paint the tip of my nails, I have tried a couple of different things. In the past I have used those tape strips that you can buy in a French manicure kit. They don't seem to work for me. When I peel the tape off, half the time the polish comes off with it. The other half of the time I find out that I have managed to paint underneath the tape. I've found that the thing that works best is to use a super thin brush, like an eyeliner brush. Next, I just take my time and apply a very light thin strip to the tips of my nail. After allowing the tips to dry, it's time to apply the pink or beige top coat. Lastly, I apply a clear chip proof top coat to my new French manicure.

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