Set the scene
If you're going to do a manicure at home, you have to really set the mood. Find a room where you can be by yourself, put on some nice music, light a candle and relax. It's about giving yourself half an hour to do your nails properly.

File away
Begin by removing any existing nail polish. Then file your nails in one direction only, to prevent them from splitting. Back and forth is for when you're cutting a piece of wood. Use a crystal file as it's effective but not damaging. Fingertip length is probably the easiest to maintain. As a guideline for what shape to file, just mirror the natural curve of your cuticle. It will make your hands look elegant

A good soak
Once your filing is done, put some nice hand lotion into a bowl filled with warm water and soak your fingers for a few minutes. When you take your hands out, push back your cuticles. I am very much against cutting cuticles; just gently massage them back either with cuticle oil or a drop of olive oil. Once this is done, wipe your nails down with a nail-varnish remover containing acetone. This will get all the oil off your nails.

Back to basics
Using polish without base coat is like putting foundation on without using moisturiser. If you have strong nails use something hydrating, and for weak nails you need one that's going to enrich the nail and add some protein. My trick is to use the base coat from the middle of your nail up to the free edge on the first coat. Then, after two minutes, go back and apply the same base coat from the cuticle to the free edge. This gives you a coat and a half, which will prevent chipping.

The shade of choice
After two minutes apply your favourite colour - pick whatever you're immediately drawn to. Apply one thin coat from the cuticle to the tip, and then wait two minutes before applying a second coat. Nowadays the brushes are wider so you can do it in one stroke. After a final two minutes apply a thin layer of fast-drying top coat. You'll be ready to go in about seven minutes.

Troubleshooting
Don't worry if you slightly cover your cuticles when applying varnish, because as soon as you jump into the shower any excess will come straight off. You should treat your nails like jewels because they're almost like jewellery for your hands. If you have to open up a can of drink get a spoon or a knife to lift the metal flap. Whatever you do, don't use your nails.