1) Once you have your tools ready and are relaxed, start by washing your hands and drying them completely.

2) File down your nails with an emery board,
if the nails are just growing avoid shaping and try to use
the soft side of the emery board not the hard side (never use a metal file!)

3) Apply a cuticle softener to the cuticles and then place the hands in warm soapy water.
Soak the hands for up to 5 minutes, depending how hard your cuticles are (soak for 1 minute minimum!)

4) Push the cuticles back using an orangewood stick and then if you have any hangnails, remove them using a cuticle nipper

5) Clean the cuticles using a nail brush and then remove dirt from underneath the nails, again using an orangewood stick!

6) Massage the hands,to find out more bout massaging Click here!

7) Use a nail strengthener as a base coat.If your nails are very weak then you might want to use two coats or Click here to find out more about how to treat weak nails (and other problmes.) If you like, then use a colour, but take a tip from me, if you're in a rush, then use a ligt colour, as mistakes won't show! If you do use a coloured polish as well, then use a clear polish as a top coat, this way the nail polish will last longer!