Celebrity Manicurist Dawn Sterling Shares How To Perfect Your DIY Manicure

14 Jun Celebrity Manicurist Dawn Sterling Shares How To Perfect Your DIY Manicure

Recently, I had the chance interview celebrity manicurist Dawn Sterling and you know I just about died! I’m so serious about my manicures, I couldn’t want to get a few tips for a pro.

Dawn definitely has paid her dues– though in the most unconventional way.

Growing up in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, all the super fly girls went to Nubian Nails to get this nails did. Then one day, Dawn couldn’t get in with her favorite guy. He told her she could help by getting to the back and doing some pedicures to move the people out quicker.

So Dawn did, and she came back every day making a name for herself.

Because Dawn started doing nails so young, it was 5 years before she went to school, but when she did, she knew so much that she actually used to teach the class for the teacher!

So it doesn’t come as a surprise that Dawn has such amazing credits under her belt. She has worked on shoots for Essence, VS, Christian Dior,  Vogue Korea,Sunday Telegraph, Glamour, W Korea and Italia Glamour working with stars like Naomi Campbell, Chanel Iman, Rihanna, Ciara, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lala Vasquez-Anthony, Chanel Iman and even beautified the hands of Lebron James.

I mentioned to Dawn that I am weary of going to ahem, certain, salons and she laughed and said I should be! “Most rush and don’t do a really good job,” she said. So she gave me some tips so I don’t need to go to the salon:

1. Moisturize your cuticles! “It’s all about the moisturize. The
less cuticle damage, the less work and clean up you have
to do.” Dawn recommends Carol’s Daughter Jojoba and
Lemon Cuticle Oil or the Sally Hansen one that can be
found at the drugstore.

2. File your nails lightly.

3. Use alcohol to dehydrate your nails.

4. Basecoat, apply color of your choice and then a topcoat.

Dawn’s favorite brands for nail goodies are Dior, Nars, Illamasqua, Duri Rejuvicote basecoat and Seche Vite topcoat (though she uses Out The Door on sets).

I don’t know about you but I am ready to give myself a mani now! Thanks Dawn!