A perfect manicure begins with nails and cuticles that have been properly cleaned and prepared. "Manicure" is derived from the Latin "manus" which means "hand" and "cura" which means "care." Giving yourself a manicure is simply caring for your hands. However, even before you begin, make sure you have the necessary tools. While you may think this is expensive initially, you'll save a bit of money in the long run by giving yourself a manicure rather than seeking professional services.

Tool time!

A trip to your local department or drug store is expedient before undertaking a manicure. Make sure you're well-prepared with the following tools:

• nail polish remover
• cotton pads
• emery board
• Vitamin E oil
• orangewood stick
• white block buffer
• base coat nail polish
• colored polish
• top coat

Preparing your nails

Take a look at your nails. If it's been awhile since you cared for them, you'll need to make sure they are in tip-top shape. First and foremost is to remove any nail polish thoroughly. Moisten a cotton pad with nail polish remover and gently wipe nails until all traces of polish are gone.

Be sure to use cotton pads, not cotton balls, as they tend to leave lint on your nails. Once polish is removed, wash your hands thoroughly in warm soapy water to remove any residue of the nail polish remover. Dry your hands completely on a clean towel. If you find that your nails are discolored from the polish, you can soak them in lemon juice for ten minutes to remove the stain.

Filing

Now it's time to file your nails and shape them. You may choose a conservative oval shape or opt for the classical square cut nail. However you shape them, it's best not to leave them too long as the longer they are, the weaker they will be. When filing nails, use your emery board to file in only one direction, not back and forth which can damage your nails. It's best to start at the outer edge and work toward the center of the nail, being careful to shape it evenly on each side.