*1st Friday!!*

I decided to take a break from practicing fishtail and french braids on my doll head, studying the skeletal system and trying to remember the steps of a manicure/pedicure for State Board (SB) purposes versus my own magical mani/pedi techniques *huge side eye*, to make updates to my process! Plus, "We Will Always Love You"- A Grammy Tribute to Whitney Houston is on... I can study when it goes off and I've watched it again on my DVR ;o) 

My class has been jumping around subject wise trying to make due while we wait on our kits full of goodies to get arrive.  This week alone we've discussed braiding, thermal pressing (hot comb), color,  cuts, manicures, pedicures, bone structure, hair texture, endless product information and standard guideline blah blah blah.  Tomorrow we will do facials, waxing, proper massage technique, more procedure information, skin knowledge and...something else. BASIC MANICURE was the highlight for me yesterday.  I couldn't wait to start! The personal way I choose to do my manicure is not SB approved, so for the propose of being correct I will only share the book steps:

Manicure
-Sanitize the hands.  Remove the polish.
-File the nails from the corner to the center on both hands (soak).
-Apply the cuticle softener and remover to both hands.
-Push back cuticles.
-Buff the nails w/a block buffer.
-Nip the cuticles and massage in the cuticle oil.
-Clean under the free edge and the nail surfaces.
-Apply a base coat (follow with 2 coats color and 1 top coat).
-Remove polish from the cuticles.

Here are some of my own helpful techniques that I've learned help make a smooth manicure procedure or simple polish change.

*Clean nails w/ soapy water or alcohol saturated cotton to get rid of lotion, dirt and debris on nail bed before applying polish.   
*Use makeup cotton rounds to remove polish instead of cotton balls (do so in straight down motion starting from cuticle. Slight twist side to side can be done for stubborn polish. NEVER go back and forth when removing polish)
*THIN COATS!
*When applying polish place brush in the middle of the nail away from the cuticle, slightly push back toward the cuticle then complete strokes down the nail bed.  This makes even strokes AND prevents cleaning polish off of fingers.
*Keep a wooden cuticle stick (flat end) near by to clean as you go if needed. 
*Roll polish bottle in hands to mix DO NOT SHAKE.
*Nail enamel spray is your friend!!

We didn't go over nail enhancements, minx, shellac, or gel nails.  That doesn't mean we won't later but I would have liked to know now if I've been doing it correctly. My nails always (for the most part) look pretty so... I think I am! 

Let me know what questions you all have, if any, as I go along. What I don't know I will find out and get back to you!!  I'm still on my "1st day of School" high and I'm loving every second of it!! :oD Back to work I go.

<3lways*

*COMING UP: Facials! & a Pedi Story [its jaw dropping, funny and gross AT THE SAME TIME]