French Manicure DIY

Just read the new year resolution thread where someone mentioned they have and love french manicures. I have (or had if Steph hasn't destroyed them all :doh:) the little tape thingys that you put across your nails to paint them, but am wondering.... Should the edges of your nails be rounded or more square? Is this a fashion that changes? I prefer mine a bit more square.

I also saw a magazine ad for something the other day, and there was a picture of lovely french manicured toe nails! Wouldn't that mean that you would need to have long toe nails? I wish I could get this done or just a lovely pedicure before baby comes! I can barely reach my feet!

Last question, for those that get their manicures professionally done, how much does a french manicure typically cost, and how long does it last? I have NEVER EVER had a manicure or pedicure of any kind, but am thinking it would be nice to treat myself every now and again. Especially pedicures, I would love to have lovely toe nails all the time and pretty soft feet

Hi Netix - I haven't had my nails done for AGES!

I always had my french manicure done with square tips (I think that has always been the trend with a french polish). I used to pay about $40 for mine and it would last about 3-4 weeks if I looked after them and had no breakages.

I despise acrylics - they are SO SO bad for your nails!!!!

Like Amysarah said, a decent french manicure will cost about $30-$40. I got a cheapie done once which I paid $10 for... half of the polish had chipped off within hours :rolleyes: Waste of time!

Pedicures are great, especially when you can't reach your toes :lol:, having the same problem here at the moment. I pay $45 for mine which gives you the works! They 'tidy' up your feet and nails, give you a foot massage and paint your toes in the colour of your choice! Ohhh I love it. If you just want your toenails shaped and painted its about $15 i think. Oh and the colour has never chipped for me!

You should indulge for sure. All us ladies deserve it and the most important thing - it makes you feel so good!

I use the Sally Hansen Nearly Nude French Manicure Set on my nails and i`ve never once used the nail guides as I have my nails square as I don`t think round would look good and I make sure I take my set absolutely everywhere with me in case my nail varnish chipped

Nat, how do you manage not to use the nail guides? Do you paint the underneath of the nail?

I also just have to gloat a little....

For Christmas, the Man got me an "Escape Package" at a local beauty place (where I just found out a friend of mine works), and I will get a body scrub, body wrap, top manicure and pedicure and a massage! I don't even have to get everything at once, I can get a bit at a time. The Man says it is to get the old me back. Isn't he good!

If you're on a budget, and usually paint your nails yourself at home, you can learn to do a French all by yourself! You can buy the little tape guides or teach yourself to simply do it unaided like I do, it's really easy once you get the gist of what you're doing, and it's so much cheaper than going to a salon.

I like doing Frenches myself because I can pick and choose any old colour I want, sometimes I will do the regular sheer pink and white, sometimes I do just black tips and no colour on the beds, and for things like Halloween and Christmas I can do red-and-green or orange-and-black, or glittery tips, etc etc... the possibilities are endless.

All you have to do is start with (and let's just go with a typical French for simplicity's sake) a sheer pink base on each nail, then get an opaque white and make sure you dip and swipe the brush so there's only a tiny bit of polish on it. Instead of holding your hand straight out in front of you as you'd do for a bed-to-tip swipe of polish, turn your hand towards you a little (with your fingers at a 90-degree angle to your body, sideways) and then use the natural white tip of your nail as a guide to paint the edge white. Go as far as you can along the nail without touching the skin on the other side, then quickly come back from that side and then one little swipe along the middle should even it out.
Repeat that, wait for it to dry and finish with a top coat.
It might take a while to get the hang of it, so obviously give it a go on a quiet day when the kids aren't bugging you and you have the time to do a bit of practice. You will soon figure out how it works and you'll be off and running.

The shape of your nails shouldn't be an issue, some women prefer rounder (oval) shapes, others prefer square, and it really doesn't matter either way, whatever your preference is, is totally fine for a French.

I'll try and do a video and post a Youtube link so you can see it being done and work out how it goes :)