Simple Nails Refresh Tutorial: How to Make Your Manicure Last Longer

Oh My Gel
by Oh My Gel
8 Materials
$15
20 Minutes
Easy

No time for a full manicure, but your nails definitely need some attention?Here is a great way to refresh your nails so your manicure lasts longer.


Follow along with this tutorial to get some tips for touching up your manicure, dealing with stains, and getting a new, fresh nail look in between full manicures.

Tools and materials:

  • Clear gel top coat
  • Cuticle softener
  • Nail buffer
  • Replacement nail jewels (if necessary)
  • Lint-free cloths
  • Nail dotting tool
  • Cuticle pusher and cutter
  • LED lamp
Cleaning up cuticles

1. Clean up your cuticles

Apply cuticle softener at the base of your nails.

Cleaning up cuticles

Use your cuticle pusher to work the softener into your cuticles, and leave it on for a few seconds to do its magic.

Cleaning up cuticles

Now use your cuticle pusher to gently push back your cuticles.

Cleaning up cuticles

Wipe off the excess cuticle softener.

Cleaning up cuticles

Use your cuticle cutter to snip away the pushed back cuticles.

Removing damaged nail jewels

2. Remove damaged nail jewels

If you have some nail jewels that have become tarnished, use your cuticle cutter to gently remove those jewels from your nails.

Removing damaged nail jewels

Clean the area where you removed anything using a bit of rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth around your nail dotting tool.

Buffing nails

3. Buff your nails

Buffing will help remove any stains that have set on your top coat.

Buffing nails

Buff gently so that you are only removing the old top coat, and make sure you buff all around the edges of your nails to help get a good seal on your next top coat.

Buffing nails

Use a lint-free cloth to wipe off any residue from the buffing.

Replacing nail jewels

4. Replace nail jewels

If you removed any nail jewels, make sure the space is cleaned up well, and then use nail adhesive to replace the jewels.

Replacing nail jewels

Place the new jewel onto the adhesive, and cure that nail under your LED light.

Applying top coat

5. Apply top coat

Apply top coat only to the area of your nail that is polished. Don’t go below that area.

Applying top coat

Use a very small nail brush to apply top coat around your nail jewels.

Refreshed nails

Refreshed nails

Here’s my refreshed manicure, three weeks after my original full manicure. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?


The shine is back, I’ve touched up the shaping, and it looks like new.


I hope you try this technique to refresh your nails, and leave a comment to let me know how it worked for you.


DIY cuticle oil

Do your cuticles need some TLC? Check out this tutorial on How to Make Cuticle Oil: Easy Recipe + Useful Tips!

Suggested materials:
  • Clear gel top coat
  • Cuticle softener
  • Nail buffer
See all materials

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Comments
Join the conversation
 1 comment
  • Eve clouthier Eve clouthier on Mar 15, 2023

    What brand of nail adhesive do you use? If it will hold nail jewels it should hold artificial nails. I have a problem keeping them on for more than day.

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