How to Prep Your Nails

This lesson will guide you through Nail Prep, a vital step to ensure long-lasting Nailboo manicures.

Nail Care

Est. 10-20 mins

Nail Prep

Beginner

Trim Nails to Desired Length

Utilize a nail clipper to trim your nails to the desired length

File Nails to Desired Shape

After trimming, use a nail file to shape and smooth the edges of your nails, moving in one direction to avoid causing damage, and create a neat, uniform appearance.

Push Back Cuticles

Gently push back your cuticles using a cuticle pusher or an orangewood stick.

Scrape Excess Cuticle

Use the other side of the cuticle pusher to gently scrape any excess cuticle.

Cut Excess Cuticle

If necessary, trim any remaining excess cuticle with a cuticle nipper, being cautious to avoid cutting too much and causing discomfort or potential injury.

Lightly Buff Nails

Proceed by lightly buffing your nails to eliminate the natural shine and achieve a matte finish. Remember, gentle buffing is crucial to preserving the beauty of your nails.

Remove Oils

Thoroughly cleanse your nail plate by swiping a Pro Soak Acetone-soaked wipe across your nails. This step eliminates oils, debris, and moisture, preparing your nails for a flawless finish. Ensure you reach every spot around the cuticles for a consistent matte appearance.

Yes! Just make sure to neutralize it with water and thoroughly cleanse the nail to prevent any lifting in the future. Leftover cuticle softener on the nail plate can affect the adhesion of nail products.

For tools such as clippers, nippers, and others, after each use, you should:

Wash them under warm, running water to remove debris (e.g. liquid soap or mild detergent).
Rinse them thoroughly with clean water.
Dry them (e.g. with a paper towel).
Disinfect them (e.g. soak in alcohol or a special disinfectant solution).

Nail files and nail buffers are porous and shouldn't be reused. If you reuse these porous tools at home, be sure to spray them with rubbing alcohol to minimize the growth of bacteria.

You can try using a nail dehydrator if you had issues with lifting in the past. You can also use an alcohol wipe or a Pro Soak Acetone Remover to clean and dehydrate a nail plate.

Cuticle is a thin layer of clear dead tissue on the nail plate. The cuticle can be easily removed by gently pushing it back and scraping with both sides of the cuticle pusher.

Remove any remaining cuticle and hangnails using our Cuticle Nipper. Ensure the nipper is sharp and clean. The cutting edge of the nipper should be facing down toward the nail. Never cut the raised ridge around your nails (called a proximal nail fold). Be very gentle and cautious when working on this area.

You can use an alcohol wipe or a Pro Soak Acetone Remover to clean and dehydrate a nail plate.

Nail prep is a key to avoiding the lifting of dip powder or gel polish. There are 3 reasons you might have experienced lifting near the cuticle.

Product applied on the cuticles or skin surrounding the nail. When this happens there is a pocket between the nail plate that can cause lifting as nails grow out.
Leftover cuticle attached to the nail plate. If the cuticle is not fully removed from the nail with the product applied on top, it will create a small gap into which water and other debris can get into over time.
Not fully dehydrating the nail. Make sure to thoroughly wipe the nails with an alcohol wipe or pure acetone to clean the nail plate of any debris, moisture and natural oils. Fold the wipe in half and go around the cuticle area to get to every spot.

Complete & Continue