Lauren Conrad's Tips On How To Master The At-Home Manicure

What girl (or boy) doesn't love a freshly done manicure? However, when we don't have the money or time for a professional mani, we like to stretch back, relax and treat ourselves to an at-home manicure!

And thanks to our friends over at Lauren Conrad, Mstars is able to provide fans with the best tips for getting the most out of your at-home mani.

So check out these tips below & let us know what you think. 

Step 1: Clip your nails.

"Use a nail clipper and trim your nails down to your desired length. We do not recommend cutting your cuticles at home, but if you've had a lot of practice and you are a pro, go for it. Just be aware that your cuticles can get infected if you don't know what you're doing!"

Step 2: File them into shape.

"Using an emery board nail file, shape your nails and even out any jagged edges. You can go for a rounded nail shape or a square shape. I usually like something that's a little bit in the middle-square with rounded edges."

Step 3: Clean your nails.

"It is best to start with nails that are already polish-free, but I recommend getting them extra clean with polish remover and a cotton ball. You don't want to have leftover polish or base coat on your nails because it will make your new manicure appear uneven."

Step 4: Gently exfoliate your hands.

"Using your favorite body scrub, give your hands a gentle rub. This will remove dead skin and give your skin a glow."

Step 5: Moisturize with hand cream.

"Just like the skin on your body and face, the skin on your hands needs moisture after you exfoliate it. Use a rich, luxurious hand cream to keep your skin smooth and hydrated."

Step 6: Prep your nails.

"Next, clean your nails again-this time with rubbing alcohol. It will remove the oils from your hand cream from your nails so that the polish will stay on longer. Plus, I have noticed that using rubbing alcohol instead of acetone for this step keep my polish chip-free for days!"

7. Apply a base coat.

"Evenly apply a thin layer of your trusty base coat to each nail".

Step 8: Choose a color and apply.

"Pick a color, any color...and apply two coats. I chose a color called "Guchi Muchi Puchi" by Essie in the photos above. (It's my newest obsession!) Use quick, light strokes to allow polish to evenly distribute on each nail. And I recommend letting the first coat dry before applying the second. It will eliminate those little polish bubbles that no one likes."

Step 9: Let your nails dry and add a top coat.

"After your nails have dried, apply a quick-dry top coat. If you happen to accidentally smudge a nail, followthese steps for fixing it in a snap."

Step 10: Touch up with acetone and an old makeup brush.

"Salon manicurists always perfect my nails by brushing off any polish that went "outside the lines" with a makeup brush and acetone. Doing this trick at home creates a polished, professional result. Just remember to apply some cuticle oil afterwards to that your nail beds don't look dry."