How to Perfect Your Fall Manicure: Recipe Edition
Written by Karina Parra & Megan Bonsall, Photography by Hannah Trousdale, Graphic Design by Jess McCarty, Social Media by Mary Trantham
Fall 2020 is still among us (even though holiday music at Starbucks says otherwise) and we’re absolutely adoring autumnal shades and styles in every avenue, from clothes and beauty to food and decor. We could all use an extra dose of selfcare as we head into the second half of this fall semester, so here’s a recipe that’ll get you on your way to a cozy fall manicure to keep your keyboard company.
To start you’ll need to gather a few simple “ingredients.”
Ingredients:
Nail Clippers
Nail File
Cuticle cream or trimmer
Hand lotion
Nail Polish (Feel free to substitute with glue-ons/stick-ons)
Clear top coat (matte or glossy)
Nail polish remover (because nobody’s perfect)
Optional DIY Sugar Scrub: Mix 1tbsp baby oil with ¼ tbsp sugar and gently scrub your hands and wrists for about 30 seconds. Feel free to add a drop of your favorite essential oil to make it smell extra nice. (P.S. This mixture works great on your legs too—trust us. Give it a try before shaving!)
Directions:
Gather your ingredients and prepare your space: Jump into cozy sweats or PJs, light that fall scented candle, and turn up your favorite relaxing tunes.
Start with a clean base: Wash and dry your hands, and wipe away any existing nail polish with remover if needed. Trim off any cuticles as well; this will make for a perfect base to your mani.
Moisturize: We all live for this step at the salon! Pick out your favorite moisturizing hand lotion and massage it into your hands until absorbed. (Bonus: For an extra luxurious mani, treat yourself to a sugar scrub to make your hands extra soft before applying lotion. For a quick DIY, see the instructions above.)
Get trimming: Whether you’re all about a rounded look or feeling a square shape, file your nail until you’ve achieved your desired shape. (If you’re using glue ons, use this step to trim and clean them up so they’ll lay nicely on your nail bed, before gluing on)
Polish it up: Apply the polish or stick-ons. Warm nudes and earth tones are super trendy this fall.
Top it off: You’re almost done. Don’t forget a top coat! This step will make your mani pop by adding a sleek shine and helping it last longer.
Relax: You deserve it. Rest while you give your nails the time to dry, watch an episode of your favorite show, meditate, or listen to some fall tunes.
This recipe is best enjoyed with pumpkin-flavored treats and cozy sweatshirts. Wishing you a splendid spa night—you deserve this.