Macleay, seeking perfection, had a Q & A with nail expert Arelis Parache.
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Manicures: a cosmetic treatment of the hands involving shaping and often painting of the nails, removal of the cuticles and softening of the skin.
In other words – the ultimate way to treat yourself after a long week of work.
Unfortunately it gets a bit pricey when you need to get a manicure every week. Using our newly discovered and much loved products – and professional tips from a nail expert – you can treat yourself to a perfect at-home manicure that will look like you spent hours in a salon!
Arelis Parache runs her own business, NailsbyArelisP in her hometown in Virginia, USA. Arelis is a stay-at-home mum who looks after her boys aged three and eight. She’s blessed with a creative streak, always baking, decorating, and inspiring us with her crazy nail art obsession!
Macleay: How did your nail obsession begin? How old were you?
Arelis: I have always loved to paint my nails, but the obsession began 2 years ago, when I was 32 years old. My husband decided to make me happy, and purchase 20 Essie polishes at once.
What tips can you provide for always having such strong and healthy nails like yours?
My tips are:
- Always use a base coat to protect your nail.
- File. I always file my nails, never cut.
- A good cuticle oil. I use Essie’s Apricot Cuticle Oil.
- Apply a top coat to protect your nail colour.
- And a good hand lotion to hydrate your skin.
How often do your paint your nails? Do you ever leave your nails without polish?
After having my Instagram, I paint my nails sometimes twice a day. I very rarely have bare nails, but sometimes at night, I will remove my polish to let my nails breathe. This is because I do nail art all day.
Here’s a panel you can save or print, to help you achieve manicure perfection.
Interview and panel by Jessica Abdo
About the author
