Having a French manicure is a dream of every girl. Not only do they look neat, but they also look natural. They may look difficult at first glance, but in reality it is an easy task.

Preparation – It’s essential to prepare your hands and nails before applying. Exfoliate your hands by massing them using a small amount of body scrub. Rinse the hands with water and dry thoroughly. Remember that one of the main causes of chapped hands is not drying them properly after rinsing.

Filing – Grab a nail file and start filing your nails before applying the nail polish. If your nails are brittle and tend to split, keep them flat with smooth, rounded edges. Move in one direction when filing, starting from outer corner to center. Filing in a sawing movement can damage the nail plate. In choosing a nail file, check for the fine surfaces that glides over the nail.

Moisturize – Coat both hands in a layer of sweet almond oil to nourish and soften. After which, wrap the hands in a warm towel and relax for 15 minutes. Unwrap and gently push back the cuticles using a rubber hoof stick (available in most chemist shops). Using cuticle nippers for these could actually nick the skin. Rinse the hands in warm water and dry thoroughyly to remove any residue.

Base coating – Apply one coat of the base coat over your entire nail and allow a couple of minutes to dry. This will help strengthen the nail. Some products have fine ridges and imperfections, leaving a smooth surface to apply polish.

Application – Using a white nail polish, paint a line across the tips of your nails. For a square look, paint a straight like across the tips. For rounded nails, follow the curve of the nail. If your nails are pointed, paint from each side to the center. Leave it to dry.

Finishing – Finally, apply a coat of translucent shell-pink polish over th entire nail to seal the whitened tip and complete the look. Allow 10 minutes to dry. For extra shine and protection, apply a clear, glossy top coat.