I LOVE having my nails done. It makes me feel so much more put together regardless of my outfit, hair, or makeup.
As much as I wish regular nail polish worked for me so I could just quickly polish my nails at home and be done with it, it chips to all hell on me by day 2. So, my only options are to keep my nails plain and unpolished (which I do periodically) or get something more hardy like dip powder, gel, or glue on tips.
I always thought the latter had to be done at the nail salon, but TikTok showed me otherwise. And thank the lawd, because working 60+ hours per week, motherhood, and COVID restrictions have made me veryyyy flaky about getting my ass to the salon.
Personally, I prefer doing my nails at home even if I have to do them more frequently (about once per week). Doing my nails at home means I have control over the outcome, the ingredients in the products used, I can freshen them up more frequently based on whatever I have going on, and I spend less per year. (For reference, I used to get my nails done every 3 weeks which was ~$800/year, whereas now I will pay ~$250 for the year.)
Scroll the widget below to browse the products I use to get salon style nails at home. Click on any of the images below and it will take you via affiliate link to Amazon where you can purchase. I also put a quick written tutorial at the bottom of this post to show you how to do your own nails at home with the best results!
TUTORIAL FOR HOW I DO MY NAILS AT HOME:
- Remove any existing nail polish, tips, gel, or dip. Regular polish can use regular remover, but anything hardier will need pure acetone. Soak in a ziplock bag for 10-15 minutes and then file or lightly drill off until the nail surface is smooth. This step takes the longest, so I like to watch TV, read my kindle, or listen to an audiobook while I soak.
- Push back or trim your cuticles, clear out any dirt from under the nails, and buff each nail.
- Wash hands to remove any nail dust or remaining nail polish remover.
- Pick out the nail tips that fit your nails. I recommend writing it down so you can quickly pick your nails next time.
- Right before application, swipe some acetone or rubbing alcohol over nails to remove any lingering oils. This will help your glue last.
- Using the purple or pink bottle glue, add a decent amount of glue to your nail bed and to the inside of the clear nail tip.
- Press tightly into your cuticle bed and place clothespin around finger to hold it in place while it dries. You need a lot of pressure to make sure the glue grips and dries correctly or else your nails will pop off quicker, so skipping the clothespin step will lead to sore fingers, trust me!
- Adjust the length or shape if needed and then paint your nails. (You can also paint before gluing down if you like more intricate designs that you need your dominant hand to execute.) I like to use gel because it lasts so long but you could use regular polish too. If you’re using gel, let it cure under the UV lamp for 3 minutes per hand.
- Apply cuticle oil and moisturizer to rehydrate your skin since acetone is drying.
And voila! Enjoy your salon nails at home!
