French Manicure - An American Tradition! Perfect nails thanks to a French manicure, are the envy of many. Why do we call it French? Did it start in France? The French manicure is in fact an American creation. It appeared in France only about 10 years ago, but has been a technique of nail decoration for more than 30 years in America. So why French? Simply to make allusion to the elegance A la francaise of this technique to polish nails. Elegance is really what French manicure brings to mind. It values nails that are the focus of attention while they remain discreet and natural. it consists to apply a white opaque line of varnish to the edge of the nail (it is also called the smile of the nail) in order to make it look longer by an optical illusion while the nail itself stays natural. This type of nail care is suitable for every women regardless of her style, regardless of age. She can be classic and elegant, or sportive and sassy, she will distinguish herself equally. How to do a successful French manicure in 5 steps: 1 - File your nails carefully. After removing all nail polish from your nails, file your nails with an emery or crystal file (do not use a metallic file, it is much too harsh and aggressive.) The file is always used in the same direction, from the edge of the nail to the center, do not use a back and forth motion. 2 - Soften your cuticles. To soften the thin skin around your nails (called cuticles,) soak your fingers a few minutes in warm soapy water, then push the cuticles back lightly with a wooden stick. There are also creams of gels that can be used to soften the cuticles quickly. By pushing back the cuticles you give more definition and depth to your nails. 3 - Apply the white opaque polish to the edge of the nail. Sit comfortably and place your hand on a table to avoid any shaking. Apply the white opaque polish to the edge of the nail (thats the French touch) following the natural curve of the nail. If you go out of the line, you can correct if with a Qtip dipped in remover, or by using a correcting pen designed for that purpose. Let your nails dry. If this is the first time that you are doing it, we highly recommend the purchase of a manicure kit, that contains stickers that you can apply to the nails to mask the area where no polish should be applied. These stickers will help you make a clean white line easily. 4 - Apply the natural polish. Once the white polish has dried thoroughly, you can apply a coat of natural, clear or very lightly colored pink or beige, on the entire nail, covering also the white part done previously. You can apply a second coat for a more intense look, but ensure that the first coat is very dry before proceeding. 5 - Last step top coat. To insure that your French manicure will last as long as possible it is important to apply a top coat. This will not only fix the polish underneath, but also will make your nails more resistant and shiny. You can of course have this done in a salon, where a nail specialist will be happy to help you, but you now know all you need for a successful French manicure. You should ensure that your nails are healthy regardless of the style you choose, remember the wonder of Argan oil for nails
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:23:27 +0000
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