Appearances can make all the difference in the world when making an impression on someone, right down to the smallest detail. You can be impeccably groomed, styled, and smartly dressed, with all the latest accessories – but then, when you extend your hand, there they are: dull, ragged, neglected fingers, ending in pitiful nails. Something so small and seemingly insignificant can really make a big difference in your overall appearance. You can tell a lot about a person by the way their hands look, both men and women alike. Manicures have long been considered something that women do, but a man can benefit just as much from taking care of his hands – just skip the polish step! Maintenance of your hands and nails should be done on a regular basis, but can get a little pricey if you opt to go to a salon every time. You can do a great job at home, for a lot less money, and without scheduling hassles. Here’s how to get perfectly manicured hands without forking over all your hard-earned cash.

Great manicures start with great nails.

You can’t have attractive hands if you have unattractive nails, so first things first. Protect them. Don’t use them to pick or pry at things (that means stop opening tabs on soda cans with them!) When you wash dishes or clean with chemical solutions, wear rubber gloves. When you’re rubbing lotion into your hands, rub some into your fingernails and cuticles as well, especially right after washing them. Do you bite your nails? Stop. Do you bite your cuticles? Quit it! In many cases these things are just idle habits that will only take a couple of weeks to effectively break. There are many products on the market designed especially for people who wish to break the habit. You can even use anti thumb-sucking liquid that is geared toward – you guessed it – thumb-sucking children; it’s a bitter tasting substance that will make you want to keep your fingers away from your mouth. If your nails are short for a different reason, such as being weak and easily breakable, start wearing a product designed to harden and strengthen nails. It may take a few weeks or a few months depending on the severity of the abuse you heap upon your fingernails, but eventually you’ll get them to the desired length and strength. After you do, maintenance is crucial! Don’t just kick your bad habits temporarily to get the effect you want, only to return to your old ways later; keep taking great care of your nails.

Just add ambience …

Now you’re ready to begin your at-home manicure. Make sure you have plenty of time on your hands (no pun intended!) so that you don’t smear, smudge, or skimp on an important step. If you want to go all out and get the full spa experience, light a few aromatherapy candles, unplug the phone, and maybe put on some soft music. One of the best things about getting a manicure at a salon or spa is that it can be very relaxing, so don’t leave out that element if you’re doing it at home.

Clean, shape, and prepare.

Remove any old nail polish using an acetone-free polish remover. Acetone is an ingredient that makes nail polish come off quickly, but it is very drying and damaging to the nails. File and/or trim your nails in the shape that you find most attractive; a good rule of thumb is to mimic the natural shape of your cuticles (unless yours are so ragged and unkempt that you can’t tell what their natural shape is; in that case, your best shape is straight across the top, with slightly rounded edges). If you want to, this is a great time to exfoliate your hands. There are many exfoliating scrubs on the market, but you can just as easily make your own exfoliating treatment by using plain white sugar dampened with a bit of water. One of the great things about having two hands is that it makes it easy to do your own massage! While you’re exfoliating, knead and massage your hands, paying special attention to each finger. Rinse off, and then soak your hands for a few minutes in lukewarm water with a squirt of mild soap in order to soften your cuticles. Rinse and dry them well.

No cutting corners – or cuticles!

Using an orange stick, readily available anywhere nail supplies are sold, gently – GENTLY – push back your cuticles. You don’t want them to tear or bleed, so use a light touch! If there are hangnails, you can trim them with cuticle scissors, but be sure not to cut the cuticle itself, because that can cause infection and damage the nail. Apply dots of cuticle cream and rub it in well. Cuticle cream is generally richer than regular hand lotion, but in a pinch, regular lotion or even mineral oil will do.

Polish it off.

If you’re a guy, your “man”-icure is now finished, and you can shake hands with confidence. If you’re a woman, you may want to apply polish, although it is by no means necessary! Actually, polishing your nails more than a couple times a month can dry them out. You should occasionally go bare in order to let your fingernails “breathe” – you’ve probably seen how yellow nails can get when they’re always kept polished and never exposed to light.