How to Give Yourself a Manicure

Hy-Vee Test Kitchen

Give yourself beautiful, well-groomed nails with tools and on-trend polish colors from Hy-Vee. No salon needed.

Step1

Remove any old polish with cotton balls or cotton swabs soaked in nail polish remover.
Step2

With clippers or manicure scissors, clip nails straight across to desired length, then file them in same-direction strokes with an emery board so they’re slightly rounded.
Step3

Mix a few drops of mild soap, almond oil or other moisturizer in a bowl of warm water. Soak fingertips about 5 minutes. Pat dry.
Step4

Massage a small amount of cuticle oil into cuticles. Gently push back cuticles with a cuticle pusher or orange stick. Gently clean under and around nails with a nail brush.
Step5

Buff with a nail buffer to smooth nails and give them a slight sheen. Then brush nails with a clear base coat, which helps adhere colored polish to nails.
Step6

Brush nails with polish. Brush a vertical stripe along center of nail, then another on each side. Let dry. Apply a second coat. When dry, brush on a top coat of clear polish for a shiny finish.