Try An At-Home Manicure With Some Help From London Grace

You will find London Grace nail bars across London, giving on-point mani and pedis. They also have their own range of nail polishes too, which are cruelty-free and come in a range of colors from summery shades and light pastels, to the classic rouge noir.

Developed by London Grace founder, Kirsten Hazell, all their nailcare products are used by their professional technicians in the salons and are designed for easy use at-home. So, while we’re in lockdown take one of their nail lacquers and follow their top tips for achieving your at-home manicure.

Tip 1 – Get in shape: Every professional nail technician will tell you that the key to a long-lasting manicure is all in the preparation. Firstly, you need to make sure your nails are an even shape and length. Using a professional quality file, lightly sweep back and forth following your cuticle line as a guide for your natural shape. To ensure the nail surface is smooth and oil-free, use a buff in a shoe shine motion across each nail.

Tip 2 – Cuticle care: You need a clear canvas for painting, so ideally you want to remove any dead skin around the nails. If you don’t have any cuticle softener (we recommend CND Cuticle Away) then the next best thing is to do them just after a shower, as the skin will have been softened from the steam. Gently push back the skin with a pusher and if you have you have excess cuticles then carefully cut with a cuticle nipper. 

Tip 3 – All about the base: Before the painting begins, use a small amount of nail polish remover to cleanse each nail (and remove excess oil). You can then apply a thin, even layer of base coat suited to your nail condition, at the moment our go-to is the London Grace Strengthening Base Coat. 

Tip 4 – Put on your best coat: If you’re not confident with a nail polish brush then you might want to start with a more forgiving neutral colour. Always be mindful of the ingredients in your nail polish, if possible buy a nail polish which is cruetly-free and doesn’t contain harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and toluene (you can shop our London Grace vegan and no-nasties nail polishes online at Amazon). Apply two thin coats of your chosen polish colour, starting with a sweep of polish down the centre of the nail and then working your way around each side.

Tip 5 – Prolong the polish staying power: To ensure your nail polish stays shiny and pigmented for as long as possible finish up with a well-applied layer of Top Coat (taking care to cover the whole nail). We love the London Grace Glossy Top Coat for it’s high shine and anti chip benefits. You can even apply another layer of Top Coat a few days after your manicure for a second boost of gloss and protection!

Shop the London Grace nail polishes online at Amazon.