A Guide To At-Home Manicures For Men

Take nail care a step further than clipping your fingernails and toenails. Here’s everything you need to know about getting a quick and easy, at-home manicure for men.

In addition to having well-groomed hands, sufficient nail care is good for overall nail health. Getting a regular manicure can prevent painful hangnails, ingrowns, and nail infections if done correctly. If you are prone to anyone one of these, you may especially benefit from a good ‘ol nail TLC.

But really, neat and clean hands and fingernails are just a good look for anyone. It’s one of those minute details in your overall appearance that is worth considering. Here are some tips of the trade to get your nails well-groomed from the comfort of your home.

Step 1

You always want to start your manicure off with clean hands. The ideal time to do your nails is right after a shower or bath.

Reason being that your nails are more malleable when they’ve been exposed to water, so it will easier to cut and shape them as desired.

Step 2

Trim your nails using a nail clipper. Use the white part at the tips of your nails as a guide to avoid cutting the nail uncomfortably short.

Cut the nail straight across, leaving the edges sharp. If you’re particularly prone to ingrown, cutting too close to the corners of your nail can result in those pesky occurrences.

Step 3

The third step in the process is to file down the edges to give your nails shape and to neaten up those sharp corners so that they don’t catch on your fabrics or scratch things.

Using your file, rub one corner in the same direction till you have a neat edge and then work your way to the other corner till it’s about the same length and shape.

Step 4

Remove the excess skin from around your nails. Resist going in and picking away at the skin with your fingers, as tempting as it may be, use the correct tool for the job.

Grab a pair of cuticle nippers and nip away the excess skin. You may end here if your nails look tidy but if there are still some bits and pieces of white skin, use a metal tool ever so gently to push the cuticle back.

Step 5

Buff the surface of your nails to give them that natural “nails just done” shine. To do this, you simply take the buffer and rub it over the surface of your nail.

Hydrate the skin with a moisturizing cream. You can also use a cuticle oil for extra moisture and protection around the nails, but this step is optional.