Every nail on this site is drawn from the same steps you follow.
Where to start
Most home manicures go wrong in the same few places: oily nails, thick coats, a rushed drying time and polish scraped off at the end. None of it needs special skill. It needs a routine and some patience between coats. The guides here follow the order you would use at home.
Prep the nails
Clean, shape, push back cuticles gently and remove oils so polish can grip.
Pick a shape
Square, squoval, round, oval, almond and coffin, and how to file each one.
Paint a smooth coat
Base coat, two thin color coats and a top coat, with the three-stroke method.
Try a design
Dots, a pinstripe and a sponge gradient, each broken into five small steps.
Designs, drawn step by step
Every design on this site is drawn as a strip of nails, one nail per step, so you can see what the nail should look like before you move on. Pick one to start. The polka dots are the easiest, and the French tip takes the most practice.
A basic manicure routine
- Remove old polish and wash your hands. Let the nails dry completely.
- File the nails to the shape you want, working from the side toward the center.
- Push back the cuticles gently after a shower or a short soak. Leave them uncut.
- Wipe each nail with a little remover to take off oils and lotion.
- Apply a thin base coat, two thin color coats and a top coat, letting each one set.
- Clean up the edges with a small brush dipped in remover, then leave your hands still for a while.
The prep guide and the polish guide go through each step, and fixing mistakes covers smudges, bubbles and chips.
Gentle on the nails
Home nail art should leave your nails in the same shape they started. That means removing polish with a soaked pad instead of scraping, giving nails a break now and then, and keeping files and brushes clean. The removal guide and the hygiene guide cover both.
These guides are about painting healthy nails. If a nail is painful, swollen, lifting, changing color or shape, or anything else worries you, skip the polish on that nail and ask a doctor to look at it.
Common questions
Do I need a base coat and a top coat?
They help. A base coat gives color something to grip and helps keep dark shades from staining the nail. A top coat adds shine and slows chipping. You can paint without them, but the manicure usually wears faster.
How long does a home manicure take?
Plan on about 30 to 45 minutes for a one-color manicure, most of it waiting between coats. Designs add time, and a first attempt always takes longer than the tenth.
Do you recommend brands or products?
No. We describe types of tools and polish and how to use them, and we never name brands or link to stores. See the about page.