Who doesn’t love a good manicure? Neat, tidy hands sporting well applied nail paint hits the sweet spot for us and is often the way we choose to pamper ourselves at the end of an exhausting work week. But you don’t always get time to make your way to a salon for your weekly paint job and honesty, the new manicure addiction isn’t wallet friendly either. So if you’re struggling to make time or just don’t feel like dishing out the moolah, here’s an easy guide to achieving the perfect salon like  manicure at home.

Clean canvas

Remove old lacquer using nail-polish remover and a paper towel or a cotton pad (both offer more friction than a tissue and won’t shred the way cotton balls can). Always use a non-acetone polish remover, which is less drying than regular formulas.

In ship shape

For better shape control, file your nails while they’re dry. Overly abrasive files, including metal ones, will promote peeling, so always choose a fine-grade emery board. The best technique: Choose a direction and stick with it using smooth strokes. Don’t saw back and forth -- a sure way to break the nail.

Laying a good foundation

Apply a basecoat. Many women skip it, but shouldn’t. Basecoat holds polish in place so it lasts longer. It also prevents dark lacquers from tinting your nails.

Centre, side, side

Sweep on polish the way they do at salons, in three strokes, from base to tip: Go up the centre, then hit each side. In order to apply the thinnest coats possible, use one dip per nail and wipe the brush once per dunk before applying. Wait two minutes between each coat of colour (base and topcoats included) to speed overall drying time.

To speed the drying process and ensure that your manicure lasts without smudging, you could dip your nails in an ice bath. Contrary to popular belief cold air or a cold bath works better when attempting to dry lacquer as opposed to hot air. If you blast your nails with a hair dryer on hot, stop!

Shine on

Finish with a topcoat. Wearing a topcoat can keep your nails healthy by preventing water loss, so nails break less. The best topcoats offer a harder, longer-lasting protective shell than the fast-drying ones can provide.

But if you’re in a rush, don’t risk ruining your nails; go speedy instead. Apply a quick-dry topcoat every other day to prolong the life of your polish. To help prevent nicks, try a silicone-based spray or drying oil.