There are various reasons why one is plagued with the extremely unfashionable yellow stained nails. Health disorders are one reason, since jaundice and other such diseases cause internal damage which in turn affects your nails. Another cause could be smoking, since nicotine causes nails to turn yellow. But women usually face yellow nails due to infinite use of dark colored nail polishes. So once you have been victimized by such a horrendous problem, how do you rectify it?

There are several remedies that can help you in this quest of yours.

They say that ‘your hands reflect who you are’. But how can a hand look beautiful if it does not have long fingers with perfectly manicured nails? Well, there are lots of popular manicure kits readily available in the market and sorting out the most perfect one for your hands is truly a daunting task. Let me help you in your way. In this post, I’ll be telling you about the famous Shellac French Manicure, how can you try it at your home and whether it is a good choice for you or not. So, get ready.

How to Do Shellac French Manicure at Home


Shellac French Manicure can give you gorgeous yet natural-looking nails that can be flaunted at all types of events and with any kind of outfit. Here is how you can get it by yourself:

1. Supplied Needed for Getting the Manicure

Also Read – Maybelline color show Nail Polish in DownTown Red: Swatches & Review Here

2. Steps to follow for Getting the Manicure

Go for a complete clean up of your nails. There should be no trace of dirt, soil or old polish on them. If you want to alter their shapes, trim them carefully. Also, file each of your nails by running the filer in long strokes.

Pour the warm water in a small bowl and dip your fingers in it. Once your cuticles become soft enough, take the fingers out of the water and push the cuticles back in order to bring the nails out properly.

Now, start applying the Shellac Nails Base Coat to all of your nails one by one. Make sure that you apply it uniformly right from the base to the tip. Place both your hands beneath the LED (or UV) Nail Lamp at least for 2 minutes. You might follow the instructions that come with your manufacturer’s booklet.

Take the Studio White Shellac Nail Polish and apply a thin coat along the tip of each nail. Put the fingers underneath the LED Nail Lamp again and wait for 2 minutes so that they get cured.

Now, it is time to apply the favorite shade of your Shellac Nail Polish. The strokes should be broad and even all through the nails. Place the hands beneath the LED Nail Lamp once again for a couple of minutes. Repeat the entire step for making the nail color stable.

Finally, apply the Shellac Nails Top Coat to your colored nails and cure them perfectly by putting them below the LED Nail Lamp for last 2 minutes. Finish your task by wiping away the residue (if any) from the nails with the alcohol wipe.

Also Read – Ways to Get Rid of Stained Nails Here

Is the Shellac French Manicure Worth Trying?

Yes! Of course! It is an excellent choice that you can make for your nails. The Shellac French Manicure offers a comparatively thinner texture, which gets dried quickly, stays for longer time, looks extremely glossy, and above all really pocket-friendly. Aren’t these enough to excite you?

Did you know that there are alternatives to buying the expensive commercial nail polish removers? You can make these at home, for a fraction of the cost at which the removers are sold in the market. What’s more, the removers that you make at home will not be as harsh as your commercial nail polish removers and will not do any damage to your nails while taking off the nail paint. Even if you swear by your favorite brand of nail polish remover, you can give the home made nail polish removers a try during times when you run out of your store bought remover. We give you here recipes which you can use to put together your own homemade nail polish remover.

Homemade Nail Polish Remover Recipes 

1. Vinegar and Lemon Juice Nail Polish Remover

To make this nail polish remover, you would need equal parts of vinegar and lemon juice. Mix them together well. Use a cotton ball and dip it in the mixture. Squeeze out the excess liquid. Place the cotton ball on your nails for about 10 seconds and gently rub it on the nail. Both the vinegar and lemon juice are acidic. They cause the nail enamel to dissolve with them when the cotton is rubbed. Repeat if necessary to remove all the remnants of the nail polish and you are done! If the nail polish is hard to come off, then you could soak your nails in lukewarm water for about ten minutes before trying to remove it.

2. Rubbing Alcohol

If you have rubbing alcohol in your medicine cabinet, then it can easily double up as a nail polish remover. It is a natural substance that is not as harsh as commercial nail enamel remover. If you suffer from any nail infection, then rubbing alcohol is the best thing you can use since it is antibacterial. Soak your nails in lukewarm water for about five minutes. Dry them with a clean towel. Now dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and squeeze out the excess. Rub it on your nails to ease out the nail enamel. Repeat if necessary.

3. Nail Polish

Nail polish to remove nail polish? That’s right! This is not exactly a “homemade” solution, but a quick fix for times when you are stuck without nail polish remover. Apply a thin coat of a transparent or light colored nail enamel on your existing nail polish. Do not let it dry. Immediately wipe it off with a cotton ball.

Read more about DIY manicure and pedicure tips here

4. Acetone and Glycerin Nail Polish Remover 

Acetone is the main ingredient in the store bought nail polish removers. But acetone can be drying and harsh. So when we make our own nail polish remover, we make it less harsh by adding some glycerin to it. Acetone and glycerin are inexpensive1 and can be bought off your chemist. To make the remover, take 200 ml of acetone and add 2 tsp of glycerin to it. Glycerin won’t mix with acetone so you would need to add a couple of tsp of water to it and whisk well until it forms a uniform solution. And there you have your own homemade nail polish remover that is gentle of your nails while removing the nail polish.

5. Deodorant 

Need to quickly take off your nail polish and do not have any of the above supplies? Fret not. Just grab your can of deodorant and spray it on your nails at close range. Immediately wipe it off with a cotton ball. Deodorant has alcohol content which will help you remove the nail polish.

Read more about how to get rid of stained nails here

Do you also want long, pretty and healthy nails? Would you like the surrounding skin area of your nails to look young and glowing? Here’s our guide to quick recipes to make homemade cuticle oils for nails.

1. Homemade Multi-Purpose Cuticle Oil for Chapped Nails


Ingredients:

Olive Oil

Method:
Yes, all you need is olive oil. Take a few drops of olive oil in a bowl. Dip your fingers in the bowl and massage the oil on your fingers on your nails and cuticle. Allow it to be absorbed overnight for maximum benefits. It’s great to massage this oil especially in the winters when the sensitive skin surrounding the nails becomes dry, dull and for some even chapped. Olives are known to have  great effects on the skin and nails.

Also Read: Homemade Nail Polish Remover Recipes Here

2. Homemade Multi-Purpose Cuticle Oil for Strong & Healthy Nails

Ingredients:
Lemon Essential Oil

Method:
You really do not have to be a cosmetologist to find simple ways to make homemade cuticle oil for nails. Did you know lemon or lemon oil is one of the most simplest and cost-effective homemade remedy for strong, clean and healthy nails. It also aids in skin generation. Not just that lemon cuticle oil also is your remedy for discolored or yellow nails caused by low quality polishes or prolonged application of a single nail polish.

Also Read: Ways to Get Rid of Stained Nails Here

3. Homemade Cuticle Oil for Nails for Anti-Ageing

Ingredients:
2 teaspoon jojoba oil
10 teaspoon Carrot seed essential oil

Method:
Add jojoba oil and carrot seed essential oil in mentioned quantities in a clean bowl and stir thoroughly. You can store the excess oil in a bottle, at room temperature. When using this oil for application, you can warm it slightly, dip your fingers in the oil and gently massage the nails and surrounding area. Leave it overnight for nutrient absorption. Essential oil like jojoba have antibacterial and antifungal properties, they aid in removal of dry, dull skin, act as skin generators making them look young and fresh as well.

4. Homemade Cuticle Oil for Nails to Stimulate Growth

Ingredients:
2 tablespoon almond oil
Few (approx 10 drops) lemon essential oil
Few (approx 10 drops) lemon essential oil

Method:
In a bowl, add almond oil to the essentials and mix all the above oils rigorously. Make sure they all seem like one. Store the excess oil in a clean bottle at room temperature. Almond oil is a rich source of Vitamin E which aids in skin generation, purification and improves blood flow as well. It’s an oil used primitively for its extravagant benefits. Essential oils too have anti bacterial and anti fungal qualities that when mixed with the benefits of almond oil, stimulate healthy and strong nail growth.

Also Read: 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Almonds Here

5. Homemade Cuticle Oil for Nails with Moisturizing quality

Ingredients:
Grape-seed Oil – 1 teaspoon
Apricot Kernel Oil – 2 teaspoon
Jojoba Oil – 3 teaspoon

Method:
In a clean bowl, add grape-seed oil and apricot kernel oil two teaspoons of each. Stir it gently. Now add three spoons of jojoba oil, stir it all continuously and thoroughly. It is recommended you use all these oils in its purest organic form. Your homemade cuticle oil for nails with moisturizing quality is all ready. Always store these oils at room temperature for longevity. Do not refrigerate. Massage this oil once a week on your nails and cuticles to get soft, revitalized skin and strong nails.

If you also love pretty, long and strong nails with clean, young and lively surrounding skin area, do give these homemade cuticle oil for nails a shot. Do not make them a habit by using them every day for quick results as your nails will get used to them and then may refuse to naturally grow, remain healthy by itself. However once a week is good to go to give your nails and surrounding areas the nutrients it needs to look at its best. If you have any suggestions or a recipe you think we may have missed, feel free to share it in comments.

Also Read: 11 Easy Homemade Toners for Oily Skin Here

Nail salons use high intensity ultra violet lamps in order to dry and cure nail enamel. These lamps emit UVA light which is associated with skin cancer. Does that mean that nail salon UV lamps can cause skin cancer? Most definitely not in one visit but if you repeatedly expose your nails to this light, the chances of skin damage is high and it could perhaps lead to cancer too.

What do UV lamps in the salons do?  

The UV lamps in nail salons act as dryers which quickly dry either the nail enamel or harden the gel manicure and also help them last longer. Normally, after every coating of nail enamel or the gel manicure, the nails are placed under these lamps so that they can dry and harden faster. The light that comes out of these UV lamps is UVA light.

Why is UVA light harmful?

The component of sunlight that is attributed to causing skin cancer is UVA light. The powerful radiation is capable of causing melanoma, damage to the DNA and skin aging upon prolonged exposure.

Do all UV lamps cause damage?

The wattage of the light used in the nail salon differs from place to place. If the wattage of the lamp is high, then the level of UV-A radiation in the light is also high. Lower level of radiation does not pose as much risk and would need hundreds of visits before it can cause any damage to you.

If the lamp is of a high wattage, then you run the risk of the UVA radiation causing lasting damage to the cells in your body. Again, a single visit is completely safe since the danger of cancer occurs only upon cumulative exposure.

Read more about how to get rid of stained nails here

Does this mean saying no to UV Lamps?

Prolonged exposure to high intensity UVA rays, occurring from multiple visits in a month can cause basal cell carcinoma. A study has shown that depending on the intensity of the rays, it could take anywhere between eight to 200 minutes under the UV lamp in order to cause damage to the cells and pose the risk of cancer.

If you occasionally visit the nail salon, then there is no cause for concern. A single sitting will expose you to about 5 minutes of tolerable intensity of UV light which is not going to do any harm to you.

Moreover, most of the studies are in the preliminary stages and do not have any solid proof to link exposure to nail salon UV lamps and skin cancer. This does not mean you do not take the threat seriously since you cannot rule out the possibility either.

How do you prevent damage?  

If you are worried about the UV lamps in nail salons causing cancer, then the best thing for you to do is to use a broad spectrum sunscreen on your fingers before you stick them under the lamp. Restrict exposure to once a month. Better still, air dry your nails to stay away from any kind of fear of cancer risk.

Read more about cancer causing foods here

Moon Manicures are fast catching on French manicure. Actually French manicures are so polished, I doubt any other manicure technique can replace its popularity. But Moon Manicure comes close and it does look very pretty! You do not have to spend a moolah at the salon to get this fancy manicure done. Read our Step by Step Tutorial on Do it yourself moon manicure at home and you will be moon manicure ready in couple of minutes with these simple and easy steps.

What you’ll need:

Nail Polish Colour A
Nail Polish Colour B
Cotton ear buds
Nail polish remover
Cotton
File Binders

Step 1: Apply the coat you would like to see as the base colour. Choose a nice and vibrant colour, moon manicures look best in exuberant colours. You can double coat the color, if it is a lighter shade or you just like the paint to be dark. Once you have applied the nail colour, let the nail paint dry out completely before you move on to Step 2.

Step 2: The circular file binders will now come handy. Paste them at a distance of half a inch above your cuticles. Now take the second nail polish, you want to create moon manicure colour block effect with. Apply it in the area above the binder. Slowly and neatly apply it, make sure that you avoid the nail paint from dripping in the binder area or gap. It’s okay if you mess the binder up but don’t let the second nail color get into the binder hole. After application of polish, let it dry completely.

Also Read: Can Nail Salon UV Lamps Cause Cancer Here

Step 3: It’s time to see the moon, your very own creative colour blocked, half moon manicure. This step is easy but needs to be done very carefully. It’s time to take those binders off. Peel them very slowly, in one go. If there’s any nail spill or any messy edges, take a cotton bud or cotton (in case the clean up required is more), pour some nail remover on it and carefully clean it up. Apply top coat to complete the manicure and your nails are now manicured just like the celebrities, in latest trend and style.

There are multiple ways to spot the moon manicure look. If you want you can apply binders before you start your moon manicure. It’s time to now paint your nails with colour. Once your polish dries out completely, take the binders off. This moon manicure will have the moon colour of your natural nails and to compliment it, the bright nail paint you applied.

Also Read: Ways to Get Rid Of Stained Nails Here

You can do a monochromatic colour combination of white base moon and black as your second colour too. It looks fabulous. Moon manicures look wonderful in complimentary two colours, adjacent colour wheel shades or even contrast if you like to go bold. The color play for this manicure trend, you can go as bold or subtle or pastel as your imagination takes you.

Do let us know how did the manicure turn up. (Pictures are even better!) How many compliments swooned your way. If you have any other manicure technique you want to let us know, do share it in the comment section or you can even mail us.

Also Read: Homemade Nail Polish Remover Recipes Here

Nails are often done up in one particular way, either you colour them with a single colour or with the popular French manicure. It’s nicer to give your nails, a little more than the look of a single colour. Rainbow manicure looks pretty and alluring . It is as easy as to do as it looks amazing. You too can do up a rainbow manicure at home without having to burn your pocket at a salon, whenever you like. We are here to guide you how to get the rainbow manicure effect for your nails  in more than one way. Follow this simple step by step tutorial and get yourself  a gorgeous rainbow manicure.

Things you’ll need:

You would need these things in order to get a lavish look for your nails.

Base coat

A white opaque polish

A thin striper brush, a nail filer,

Nail polishes (Pink, Yellow, Blue, Red, Orange and Purple) and

Top coat.

Also Read: Homemade Nail Polish Remover Recipes Here

You would need a set of seven rainbow colours or gamut of colours using which you want to do the rainbow manicure .

Step 1: Decide how many colours you want to get the rainbow with. Bright colours look best for rainbow manicures. You can even do a rainbow manicure with monochrome look of seven shades of same colour or go for a bright hue based rainbow manicure. If you like the neon’s or pastel shades, combine either one of a kind or mix and match seven contrast colours for rainbow effect.

Step 2: You need to make sure your nails are fine shaped, manicured before going further. To start, first apply base coat. By applying the base coat, you are protecting your nails from turning yellow due to application of dark colours. Also, with base coat, you are now set to advance to next step for your rainbow manicure.

Step 3: Start your rainbow manicure with a light shade, and transcend light to dark. Pick up a striper brush, dip it in pink neon polish (or any colour of your choice) and then create the first thin French tip of your chosen colour.

Also Read: Ways to Get Rid of Stained Nails Here

Step 4: It’s important to keep cleaning your striper brush before using it to apply a new colour. To clean off the striper brush, dip it in a bowl of nail-polish remover and before you use it to apply another colour, dab it on a cloth to make sure it’s clean.

Step 5: It’s now time to create second French tip, dip it in the second nail polish colour to create the arch, following the first one. Follow step 3 and 4 to create all seven layers of the rainbow.

Step 6: To create a salon like finish, creation of French tips will require a little practice. For some of you, the rainbow will come right at the first go, for some, like we said a little practice and you’ll perfect this gorgeous looking manicure.

Step 7: Once the seven colour French tips are dry, completely, brush the fingers with top coat to protect. Your nails are now rainbow manicure ready to flaunt!

If you are apprehensive to create the French tips for all seven colours aptly, you can still get the splendid look of Rainbow Manicure, with the below steps. This alternative rainbow manicure technique is easier and looks if not more, equally gorgeous.

Take a clean bowl of water and drip all seven colours in the water. Swirl the colours with a toothpick, to make sure all the colours find a place. At an angle, dip your finger nail in the coloured polish ripple. Clean the excess nail polish with a ear bud and remover. Your nails are now trending with an easy to do, multicoloured rainbow effect manicure.

Also Read: 10 Bad Skin Habits to Avoid Here

If you are a nail paint lover who likes to change her nail colors every now and then, it is quite obvious that you also use commercial nail polish removers repeatedly. But almost each and every nail polish remover available in the market contains ‘acetone’, which is a noxious chemical compound posing lots of health risks to us. Well, in this article, we are going to tell you about some risk-free, easy and convenient ways to remove your nail polish without using acetone. Here we go:

1. Hot Water

Take a medium-sized bowl full of slightly hot water (it should not burn your skin) and dip your fingers into it. You need to soak them at least for 15 minutes or until your nail paint gets soft and loose enough to come off. Take the fingers out of the water and rub gently the nails with a soft, dry piece of cloth.

2. Vinegar and Lemon Juice

Pour some white vinegar into a small bowl and squeeze out the juice of a fresh lemon in it. Take as cotton stick and soak its tip into this mixture. Now, press it gently against your painted nails anywhere between 10 to 20 seconds. Finally, wipe the nails nicely with a cotton pad.

3. Spray Deodorant

If you use spray deodorant, you can make use of it for removing polish from your fingernails too. Just spray it on each of your nails (hold the bottle at such a distance that the nozzle remains very close to the nails) and then, rub them gently with a cotton pad until all the paint goes away.

Also Read – Homemade Nail Polish Remover Recipes Here

4. Body Spray

Just like the spray deodorant, your favorite body spray can also be used to eliminate the old paint from your nails. The application procedure is absolutely similar to the previous one and both of them work in the same manner as there is no difference in their properties.

5. Perfume

If you are a perfume person, give it a try for removing polish from your fingernails too. All you need to do is soak a cotton ball in it and rub that thoroughly on your painted nails. This way, the polish should be removed very easily.

6. Hair Spray

Your hair spray can also be a great solution for acetone-free nail paint removal. Spray it on your nails and wipe off the paint by rubbing gently yet thoroughly with a cotton ball. However, make sure that you start the wiping part immediately or the nails may get dry.

7. Another Nail Paint

How about making use of another nail paint (either a very dark color or a clear / transparent top coat) to get rid of the old one from your nails? Just apply it all over your painted nails and wipe them away with a cotton swab as soon as possible. Do not let the new coat of paint get dry.

Also Read – Homemade Cuticle Oil for Strong & Healthy Nails Here

8. Toothpaste

There are certain toothpastes that can be used as an acetone-free remover for your fingernail polish. You have to apply it to your nails and rub them slowly with a soft piece of cotton.

9. Hand Sanitizer

It has been found that hand sanitizer can help eliminate old nail paint easily. Squeeze out a little of the product and apply all over your nails. Rub them with your fingertips for some time so that they become completely free from the polish. Finally, rinse off your hands with plain water.

Painting nails may not seem a big thing to many, but those of us who like our look absolutely prim and perfect, just know how important nail colouring is. If you too are fanatic about nail colours and absolutely love colouring your nail of different colours, read on our guide on Must have nail colours this season.

NEONS: You cannot go wrong with a neon nail paint! It’s fresh, young and looks gorgeous. Available in an array of shades from orange to blue to even a yellow. Neon colours will light up your outfit and your day just with a single dash of this shade or go dual if you just can’t get enough of neon nail colours.

MATTE SHADES OR THE  POPULAR LATTES: If you are looking at something that can make you look good but not steal too much attention your way. Keep it subtle with matte shades also popularly known as latte shades. A colour in this type of shades is a must have. We are not saying for the sake of it but for the fact that these are classic shades you can singularly apply or add for a fun play with neons or gels.

Also Read: The Easy DIY Rainbow Manicure Here

THE EVERGREEN RED:  When in doubt, wear red! Yes that’s the power of red. You can never go wrong with it. It’s bright, effervescent and a strong colour by itself. It can suit all types of skin tone and no matter what outfit you are wearing and how you are styling it, the beauty of red shade is that it will match all. Just make sure you have the right shade of red and you are sorted. Given how lovely this colour is, do you think you’d want to not have it in your wardrobe?

WHITE AND BLACK: In solitude or otherwise, black and whites are your go to nail colours anytime. In French manicure or a dual nail art. Even in a single shade these colours are classic elegant and just the right amount of  sophistication in your look. We know these colours are never out of fashion, why miss out on the beauty that these colours bring. Add them to your wardrobe today, incase you still haven’t opted for these colours as yet.

Also Read: Ways to Get Rid of Stained Nails Here

SHIMMERS: Add the sparkle that shimmer nail polishes being in, to your look. A perfect nail paint for occasional wear or even otherwise. A single coat and these can pep up your mood right away. Silver and Gold are an all time favourite, dig in your moms closet and you are sure to find one of these. Buy yourself a colour in shimmer this season, they make up for perfect party colours.

NUDES: On days when you want to keep it simple and pretty, just wear the nude colour on your nails. Make sure you have well manicured nails before you go for only the transparent colour or any of the various shades available in it. If you apply nude colour or non filed nails, it will look very unkempt. If done rightly, this shade will give you a clean and an exemplary look.

What are you waiting for ? With so many shades and types of nail colours available, we know it’s difficult to choose but all we can say have fun colouring your nails.

Also Read: Can Nail Salon UV Lamps Cause Cancer Here