This One Step Is Crucial For Painting Your Nails & You're Probably Skipping It

Below, a case for the (not so) humble hand cream. Here's why you shouldn't overlook this important step. 

We repeat: A manicure is so much more than glossing your nails in color. (In fact, in our at-home manicure guide, you don't even pick up a polish until Step 5.) For proper nail maintenance, it's important to clean and treat before you paint. That being said, skipping the whole hand-treatment step is similar to painting your nails without tending to your cuticles: Sure, the nail plate itself might look nice, but the cracks and frays do take away from an elevated finish. 

Just make sure your hand cream isn't too greasy since you do have to wield a tiny paintbrush mere moments later—this is obviously less of an issue when someone else is painting your nails, but it's important criteria to think about during an at-home mani (and a likely reason people skip the massage—it's a recipe for a sticky mess). Rest assured, it is possible to find a dense cream that doesn't leave an oily film on your fingertips. For instance, our postbiotic hand cream calls on aloe vera, which gives the formula a lovely, fast-absorbing slip. 

Look, I'm not going to tell you that skipping the hand cream will absolutely ruin your manicure. You can certainly just paint your nails and be done with it, just like you might opt for a polish change at the salon—but wouldn't it be nice to sport supple hands, too?