As a mom of 8, I am a firm believer in finding ways to nourish my mind, body and spirit so I’m offering my family, my home and the people I invite into my home; the best of me.
As a first time mother I foolishly did not consider my own self care. I didn’t realize how much of my spiraling mental health had to do with wearing the same sweats for a week without showering or seeing sunlight. Super foolish of me!
I have since learned creative ways to fit in bits of self care where I love the result’s. On top of that, I’ve grown to love keeping a home and raising my kids and thoroughly enjoying a non toxic cozy home life! No need for the salon!
Back in the day, my friends and I would go to school salons for $12 manicures. Single, childless, on the cusp of college and our only commitment being part time day jobs. I loved a cheap afternoon manicure before catching an evening movie.
Today though, I don’t know if $12 manicures still exist ha ha! Even if they did, who’s got time for that? Especially when it’s spring, the garden is calling and town is a solid 40 minute drive away. Not to mention, I can’t step foot in a salon these days due to having intense environmental sensitivities.
This is where a lovely Sunday, at home manicure comes in. It’s simple, non toxic and it makes a thoughtful handmade gift too.
I prefer using my own handmade bodycare products and while I love a pretty nail polish, I prefer just keeping bare, clean short nails. I’m going to share what I do and two of my recipes.
For this manicure I’m using my hand brightening sugar scrub and my tallow lotion bar to moisturize. I recently paired these items together along with some handmade soap to gift to my mother in law for Mother’s Day this year. You can find that post here .
These are the items I use for my manicures. A bowl with warm water and baking soda for soaking. My Lemon Grapefruit Handscrub, nail file, nail buffer, my Tallow Lotion Bar and a cotton towel.
Before I soak my hands I like to file my nails first. If I soak first I find my nails are too pliable for lack of a better word. I file my nails pretty short because I work in the dirt a lot amd it’s just easier to keep my nails clean the shorter they are. I then buff them because I don’t like to paint my nails and buffing gives them a shiny polished look. Even if you’re going to paint your nails buffing is a good idea to smooth the nail and help the paint adhere better.
I love these four stage buffers, ranging from a rough file to a smoothing finished buff. If you’re painting your nails, just do the rough buff sides to help the polish stick. If you prefer bare nails, do all four sides to get the lovely natural polished shine.
Once I’m done buffing and shining I move to soaking. I definitely like soaking before trying to push my cuticles back.
I like to start with dampening my hands in my warm baking soda water then scooping a bit of my hand-scrub out and massaging it into my hands. This just gives a bit more moisture when soaking. After I scrub it in well, and it feels so good on palms and between fingers! I soak for about ten minutes while listening to a podcast or watch something on tv with my girls.
This winter we’ve been watching Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie and Pride and Prejudice (the one with Kiera Knightly). Oh and Little Woman! The 1993 version is our favorite although we did enjoy the most recent one, I cant remember when that came out, a few years ago?
After soaking I push back my cuticles with more sugar scrub. Sometimes I’ll add extra baking soda and push my cuticles back with that too.
Then I rinse and pat my hands dry, leaving them a little damp to help the lotion bar absorb better.
If you’re wanting to paint your nails, use a little isopropyl alcohol to wipe your nails dry from water and moisturizer, that way your polish will stick. Otherwise, just spend a few minutes rubbing the lotion in, working it into your cuticles and nails. And you’re done!
I hope you try these recipes and take a little time for yourself this weekend.
Warmest Blessings,
Ashley
