For this month’s The Beauty Thread, we asked our Partnerships Manager, Doné, to talk us through how she transformed her nails during lockdown without the salon…
When lockdown hit, the first thing many of us may noticed was just how quickly our nails were growing out. That realisation that for the first time in years (for some of us) we would not be able to go for our regular in-fill or gel set was downright frightening.
Well, I am here to show you just how easy it is to take care of your nails during lockdown. See below a step-by-step guide to removing gel/acrylic, and generally caring for your nails at home.
What you will need
Acetone / Rapid Removal Nail Polish Remover
Nail file
Cotton pads – Cut each pad into 4 pieces
Aluminium foil
Dr Lipp Nipple Balm
Nail polish of your choice
Foot mask of your choice
MANI
Step 1: File down the shiny top coat of your gel polish / acrylic nails (it should look matte/rough once the top coat is off)
Step 2: Tear the aluminum foil into strips, long enough to fit over your finger like a peg, and wide enough so it can wrap around a few times (see pictures).
Step 3: Take one of the quarters of the cotton pad you cut, and dampen it with acetone.
Step 4: Place the quarter on your nail, and place into the fold of the foil.
Step 5: Wrap the foil around your finger like a plaster and squeeze to keep in place.
Repeat step 5 for all of your fingers.
Step 6: Set a timer for 20 – 40 min depending how thick your gel/acrylic is and put on an audiobook to make time pass quicker.
Step 7: Remove foil from ONE finger at a time, using the side of your nail file to scrape off any excess gel while it is still soft from the acetone. If you take all the foils off at ONCE the gel will dry and you will not be able to scrape the gel off.
Step 8: *crying* trim and file your nails so that they are shorter as the acetone will have weakened them. If you have really strong nails and would like to attempt keeping the length – GO FOR IT!
Step 9: Use some nail polish remover to clean the nail and prepare it for polish.
Step 10: Apply a strengthening or hardening treatment, followed by 2 – 3 coats of a nail polish of your choice. (The Sally Hansen Hard as Nails is GREAT)
Step 11: Apply a treatment to your cuticles to nourish them (I use Dr Lipp Nipple Balm).
PEDI
Step 1: Remove nail polish (I love The Sign Tribe’s reusable pads).
Step 2: Trim toenails and file to shape them if need be.
Step 3: Apply foot mask of your choice to soften and moisturise feet (I have been loving the SKIMONO mask from this month’s selection).
Step 4: Remove foot mask and massage in the excess serum.
Step 5: Wipe down toe nails with nail polish remover to prep and remove oils from nails.
Step 6: Apply 2 – 3 coats of your nail polish of choice.
There you have it! My step-by-step guide to getting your fingers and toenails into shape (haha excuse the pun) at home.
