Basic tools and how to get the nails ready

There are some essential tools to do nails.  You don't need all of them, but without them, to do nails on your own will be unpleasantly inconvenient or simply, take a long long time.

The list I have is:

• Nail polish remover (Pure acetone or OPI expert touch lacquer remover) - OPI nail polish is so good that most cheap nail polish remover can not remove it at all.  I have OPI expert touch.  It works perfect, but from time to time it has a smell that can be annoying.
• Nail filer
• Nail buffer block - it doesn't need to have different type of sanding, a generic one will do.
• Cuticle Pusher - Get a stainless steel one. It's used to clean the surface too. The other end is often used to clean under the nail.
• Cuticle Remover (lotion) - It makes removing cuticle a lot less uncomfortable and time consuming.
• Cuticle Nipper
• Spray bottle of alcohol - It's used to disinfect.  

How to get the nails ready:

• Remove old nail polisher using nail remover
• Sometimes if the polish is hard to remove, nail filer can help or a strong nail buffer block.
• Wash nails with soap after - if using something as strong as OPI lacquer remover, it actually corrodes.  You definitely do not want it to stay on your nails!
• Soak the fingers/toes in warm water.  - I usually do nails right after a bath or shower to skip this step.
• Put Cuticle remover lotion around the cuticles and wait a minute.
• Use Cuticle pusher to  - push cuticle up and use cuticle nipper to cut off the edges.
• Wash hand with mild soap to clean out the cuticle remover.  Dry fingers and nails with a towel.
• Use nail filer to shape the nails to your like (round, square round, etc. - any shape you like) and use nail buffer to clean the surface of nails - Don't do it much or it might damage the nail.  Just lightly and run it a few times over.
• Use water to rinse the surface of the nails and dry with a towel.
•  Spray alcohol to disinfect the fingers/nail area.