Manicure like a professional – that's how it works

We all want the manicure at home to look just as good as if it was done by a professional. It just doesn't work – unless you know these tips …

Isn't it just convenient when we don't have to take care of some things ourselves? Styling hair, painting fingernails or plucking eyebrows. Unfortunately, there are times (like now) when we still need to mutate into a beauty guru ourselves.

Polish until it squeaks

Admittedly, there are worse things, but getting there is sometimes quite nerve-wracking. We asked Ute Lipsdorf, professional trainer at alessandro, how our manicure looks exactly like it does from the nail designer.

We all know the "preparation is the alpha and omega" bla bla. But you know what? That's true, unfortunately. But this is less about which 300,000 top and bottom coats you apply, but about preparing the nail.

Ute Lipsdorf advises degreasing the nail beforehand (e.g. with alcohol) and then polishing it. This works best in two steps with a perfectly normal polishing file. The first side eliminates small grooves and bumps on the nail surface; the second side polishes the nails to a shine. "Until it squeaks," advises Ute Lipsdorf. So polish what it takes …

Important to know: If you use normal nail polish, you should NEVER file or roughen the natural nail.

If the surface is roughened, you always have a longer shelf life, but removal is accordingly not gentle. And we want the natural nail to be preserved so that nothing can happen to it.

How much is too much

Then, when you apply the nail polish, it is important that you don't paint over the nail ten times. Less is more. Ute Lipsdorf advises dipping the brush in the paint, then wiping off the back side of the bottle and using the paint that is then on the other side for a nail. Please don't try to paint the whole hand with it. It won't work!

I put the brush in the middle of the nail, go up to the cuticle and back to the front. Then turn left and right, coat the edge of the nail – done.

And you see: you don't have to brush it over it another 500 times. That would only make the result worse (and rob you of valuable time).