Then every changed. Maybe it was hitting 30. Perhaps it's since I've become more senior in my job. It could even have been getting married. Whatever the reason, in the last couple of years I've grown-up. Into a girl. A proper girl. A few times a week you'll see me in high heels. Or a dress. Sometimes both together *gasp*. Plus I've got increasingly long hair and a surprising, but inexplicably deep, love for Chanel blusher.
I also do a mean home manicure.
Yeah, so you probably know how to paint your nails. You've probably all been doing it since your teens. But it's been a long few months of trial and error for me.
In case there are some other late adopters (or teenagers) reading, this is my guide to getting the same shine and long-lasting finish as you do from a professional mani.
Here's what you need:
Nail polish remover
A towel
Bowl of hot soapy water
Nail clippers/nail scissors
Orange sticks
Nail file
Cuticle trimmers
Hand cream
Base and top coats
Nail colour
Set aside around an hour to do this, so it's a good in-front-of-the TV job, making you feel like you've done something useful as well as watching Glee.
BE PREPARED
This is the stage I always used to skip. As with many things in my life. I'm not one for putting in the groundwork. If I can turn up and just wing it with minimum prep, that's great. However, again, like many things in life, the more you put in, the more you get out.
Start by removing any old chipped nail polish. I find it best to stick to acetone-free removers. I'm using a Sally Hansen one at the moment but I prefer Cutex. Anything stronger and it kills my nails for months.
Then do any clipping or filing before you give hands a good long soak - well, about five minutes - in the warm soapy water.
This is to soften the cuticles so you can push them back and trim them. That doesn't sound very sexy but it makes real difference to the finish, so don't be squeamish.
Once everything is nice and soft, take the orange stick and gently push back your cuticles. Depending on how often you do this, there may be some flappy bits to trim off (sorry), or they may be fine just tidied up. You can run the orange stick under your nails for an extra clean too.
Trim off any excess skin with the cuticle cutters, but be careful not to break the skin. And don't do this too often as it can cause infections.
Slather on some lovely handcream (my current favourite is by Balance Me. It's rich and nourishing, while its lavender, bergamot and patchouli scent satisfies my inner hippy). And you're ready to get painting.
Start with some base coat (I'm currently using Revlon base and top coats, which seem fine). Give it a minute or two to dry then apply a thin first coat of nail colour. I've gone for Barry M mushroom today.
You can't beat a bit of Barry M in my opinion. Over 50 fashion-forward colours and a £2.99 price tag. What's not to like? I can be a bit heavy handed so they tend to go on a bit thick and come out a darker shade than in the bottle, but they have great staying power so I can't complain.
So two coats of your chosen nail colour can be applied in fairly quick succession. Paint carefully and in as few strokes as possible for the best finish. Give that a couple of minutes and then put on a layer of top coat. This is the stage I really can't emphasise enough. Not only will it help your nails dry quickly, it also protects them and gives them that shine that professional manicures have.
All that's left now is to sit back, relax, and make your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/housemates take care of you for the next hour. Your nails will be touch dry rapidly thanks to the top coat, but they don't need to know that....
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