Home manicure tips

chanel fleur de pecher nail polish late spring 2020

photo: my current favorite polish, see original post here.

Do you normally head to a manicurist to get your nails done? Now that we are sheltering-in-place, are your nails going to pot? Never fear, you can learn how to do your own nails here!

I don’t like people touching my nails, so I have been doing my own nails since high school. I love wearing the current “IT” nail colors, as well as colors which fit my mood. It’s always fun to keep a few colors on hand so you can switch things up every time you do your nails.

If you invest in good nail polish, your home manicure can last for a week; and you’ll find yourself saving tons of money over time. After the lockdown is lifted, you may find you continue doing your own nails at home! It’s a huge money saver; and it gives you the flexibility to change your nail color at will. You’ll get hooked!

Here is my tried and true, home manicure routine. It’s simple, and not invasive. This is also how I keep my nails strong and healthy.

  1. Clean off any old nail polish using a nail polish remover which doesn’t strip your nails. This one is my favorite.
  2. Wash your hands
  3. Clip your nails. This is a great clipper.
  4. File your nails. These are great. Only the edges! Do not file or buff the top of your nails. This weakens them.
  5. Wash your hands
  6. Apply hand cream. Check out my favorites.
  7. Let your hands rest for fifteen minutes
  8. Apply a base coat, wait twenty minutes
  9. Apply first coat of color, wait twenty minutes
  10. Apply second coat of color, wait twenty minutes
  11. Apply top coat.
  12. Allow nails to set for half an hour before doing any type of work

I like to do my nails in the evening when I am relaxing and watching TV. I always make sure I have finished house cleaning for the day. It’s also a good idea to already be in your PJ’s, and have already washed your face, before doing your nails. The only thing I leave for after my nails is brushing my teeth; just in case I want an evening snack, or feel like drinking tea.

It is always a good idea to allow your nails to set and rest, even when they seem dry and hard. This seems to allow the manicure to last longer.

Why use a base coat? A base coat protects your nails from color staining. It can also protect you if you are using nail polish which isn’t five free. What is five free? Five free nail polishes are free from dangerous chemicals which could seep into your body through your nails. I always show, and promote, brands which are five free and healthy for your nails. So no worries!

I recommend using a five free base coat, then you can use any color you want; although I recommend sticking to five free brands for your color and top coat too.

Here are a few fun colors to try out at home, as well as tools you’ll need for your home manicure. You can rock the color of the year, or one of the season’s IT colors by Chanel. There are so many pretty colors out there to try out!

How do I keep my nails healthy? I like to let them breath once a month. It’s a good idea to keep your nails polish-free for twenty four hours, once a month. I try to time it so that my nails are polish-free on a day when I don’t have any plans, and no-one will see my bare nails. Although, if you keep your nails healthy, they will look perfectly fine bare. This is a tip my mom taught me when I started painting my nails in high school. It’s an old school tip, and it works like a charm!

Hopefully this helps you keep your nails looking fabulous while nail salons are closed. Feel free to share any of your own tips in the comment section below!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy

Pajama party time!

cardigan sweater for fall

photo: photo taken in October 2018. This cozy cardigan is great around the house over pajamas and loungewear.

Most of the country is currently having a pajama party. As our shelter-in-place continues, and we social distance by staying home, many of us are spending the day in our pajamas. It’s ok, you can tell the world! Everyone else is doing it too!

Since many of us are working from home, and homeschooling, we are active inside our homes despite our pajamas, or loungewear. While bathrobes are cozy, and great for temporary comfort, it’s easier to throw on a cardigan to keep cozy around the house in our PJ’s or loungewear. Also, a cardigan looks more like outside clothing than a bathrobe. After all, sometimes PJ’s or loungewear look like tee-shirts, so throwing a cardigan over them can look like a casual outfit while in a video conference. Haha, now you know my trick!

Since it is currently springtime, there are tons of cozy cardigans on major sale which are leftover from the winter season. Here are some of my favorites. I have this style in grey.

Shop cozy cardigans you can wear at home:

Another great look to wear from home is athleisure. I love wearing sweats since they are comfortable at home, and can also be worn for a trip to the grocery store, or while out on a walk in the neighborhood.

holiday street style

athleisure look taken in December 2019. I wear this out to the grocery store.

Here are a few of my favorite athleisure pieces around the web.

Shop sweats online:

I am a huge pajama fan! Many of my pajamas are from Soma, but here are a few others on sale which are great to wear right now.

Shop sale pajamas online:

What do you find yourself wearing often while we shelter in place? Are you wearing pajamas a lot, or switching into actual outfits? Spill it in the comments below!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

photo below taken in June 2019 on our trip to Hawaii. I am wearing these PJ’s all the time now!

pajamas

Mask ideas for protection

pictured: black and white scarf (old, similar here) / hair claw (similar here) / white and silver earrings / red puff sleeve sweatshirt /

The CDC has recommended we should wear masks to protect ourselves and others when going out in public. They do not want us wearing surgical masks as our medical professionals need them at this time. This means we need to either make our own masks, or get creative. Since I am not handy with my sewing machine, I am going to get creative!

In the above photos, I took a square scarf, and folded it into an oblong rectangle. This gave the scarf several layers of fabric for protection. In addition, it fit around my head so I could clip it with a hair claw. Remember in the late ’90’s when hair claws were all the rage? I bet you have one somewhere in your accessory drawer! You can fasten it on the scarf the same way we used to fasten our hair with it; twist it, fold it, and clasp it!

In the above photo, I started out by folding the scarf into thirds.

Then, I took each side and brought them into the middle to create layers of fabric, which is added protection from droplets in the air.

As you can see in the above the photos, you take the back of the scarf once it is wrapped around your head, covering your nose, mouth, and chin, then you twist it, fold it, and clasp it!

This is a really easy way to make a scarf into a mask. I know there have been videos circulating the internet which show a scarf and two hair bands, but that version of a scarf mask falls off your face right away. This version stays put, and is easier to tighten in public, if need be, while keeping your nose and mouth covered.

The scarf I used is polyester, I recommend using a more textured fabric such as cotton or wool. This will stay put longer on your head. If you try and use a silk scarf, the claw will ruin it, and it will also be too slippery to stay put. You want something that will not slip off, so try and stick to a cotton or wool scarf.

Here are a few scarves, and a hair claw, for creating your own scarf mask:

In addition to going the scarf route, you can actually find really cute and fashionable masks which are made by artisans, crafters, and designers online. Here are a few of my favorites:

Do you ski? You may already own a neck scarf. Sometimes referred to as a ski mask, or balaclava, the neck versions are great for pulling over your nose and mouth. You can put it on your neck when you leave the house, then, when you arrive at your destination, simply pull it over your nose and mouth. When you get home, remember to carefully pull it off your head and place it in the washing machine. Just like a mask, it could be contaminated and you don’t want anything getting on your face, or shaken off the fabric and becoming airborne.

Here are a few fabulous neck scarves you can use as masks:

The recommendation is to have your nose, mouth, and chin covered. Remember to safely remove your mask without shaking it, and always wash it, or disinfect it, after each use. Never throw your mask away on the ground of a parking lot. Always bring a bag in your car to place the mask into when you are taking it off. If you don’t have a way to clean the mask between uses, keep it in a paper bag for 72 hours between uses, without touching or shaking it. This will help the germs dissipate. Lastly, remember to always wash your hands!

Stay safe and fabulous!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy