Manicurist Ama Quashie is one of the fashion industry's favourite nail artists. An advocate of natural beauty she explains how to achieve he ultimate at-home manicure...
1. Removal
Lint-free cotton pads are best when removing old varnish as they don’t leave fluff. Hold a nail varnish remover soaked pad on the nail for 5-10 seconds. Then, sweep the pad away from your cuticle towards the tip to avoid getting colour on the skin.
2. Cuticle prep
This is best kept to a minimum at home. Do it in the bath when cuticles are at their softest and can easily be pushed back.
I recommend Tweezerman and Elegant Touch tools. Tweezerman Pushy & Nail Cleaner, £13.50, at beautybay.com
3. Varnish application
A good base coat is essential. It extends the life of your manicure and prevents staining. Dior Base Coat Abricot (£21; dior.com) is a great all-rounder.
After the base coat, apply two to three thin layers of your chosen polish. Thin layers mean you needn’t wait in between coats for drying.
4. Finish
Use a compact concealer brush such as the MAC 195 Concealer Brush £21; at selfridges.com) dipped in polish remover to clean up mistakes.
This is key to making your nails look professional. Once tidied, apply your top coat. I’m always asked for hacks to make polish dry faster. The secret is simple: apply varnish layers thinly and you’ll be amazed by the speedy drying time.
Ama Quashie’s new Brixton salon is open now (amathesalon.com)
