It is rather simple to get the look of perfect French nails and this is something you can even do yourself with a few easy steps. Before anything else, you should prepare the nails well enough by cleaning it; remove any old nail polish and file the nails into shape. If you do not clean your nails before trying to do a French manicure, you will only waste time doing your nails as results will always be unsatisfactory.

To soften the cuticles, soak them in a warm water bath; this is the second step. It is important to soften the cuticles as making French nails require trimming any excessive skin along the nail. Doing the trimming without softening the cuticle first will only result in possible cuts surfacing later on.

Prepare the cuticle by gently pushing the cuticles back with an orange stick; the first time you try doing this, you might encounter a lot of cuticle; simply use some cuticle remover to manage this. Different people may have different amounts of cuticle per treatment process and you need to take some time in accomplishing this process not only to get better French nails but also to avoid any possible accidents. Work carefully; take your time; and ensure the safety of your fingernails as you handle the cuticle.

Get some hand cream and apply it on the fingernails; leave the cream in for about three minutes then wipe off any excess with a tissue. To protect the cuticles you have just worked on, hand cream is necessary; the hand cream also serves a second purpose of keeping the fingernails moist enough. After doing this step, choose among what kinds of nail polish you will be using.

Polish can now be applied to you French nails; start with a clear basecoat allowing each fingernail to dry very well afterwards. Applying a basecoat is essential in this process because it is responsible for the foundation of the final outcome. A good tip when applying polish is to have some patience and let each coat dry well enough before another one is painted on to avoid clumping afterwards.

As the basecoat is drying, select a pale shaded color of polish that will be applied afterwards; this color is applied in thin layers; the color should match the nail plate for a better look. Reapply thin layers of this neutral colored polish about three times and of course let each coat dry completely before another layer is done; three minutes each will do the trick. The finale to this polishing aspect for French nails is painting a white strip on the tips of the fingernails.

Paint the tips to achieve that French manicured look; apply coats of white, beige, or any other opaque shade polish to the tips of the fingernails in contrast with the pale foundation. Similar to the former applications of polish, let each coat dry completely before applying the second or third layers of polish to achieve a better overall look. Usually, French nails are done by painting a strip of white polish straight across the nail but you can opt to go with the natural curve of the nails when you apply the coats so as to make your nails appear longer.

Complete your French nails by applying a clear coat of polish as the final layer protecting the others underneath it. Clean the edges of the nail by using an orangewood stick and a piece of cotton moistened with some nail polish remover. Let your fingernails dry for a longer time, about an hour will do and you can start doing the things you need to finish; do not rush this drying process or else all of your effort will be worthless.

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