Nail salons are marketed as a relaxing experience, but personally, I find them stressful. The abundance of color variety, potential for long waits and lack of knowledge surrounding salon etiquette are a few potential anxieties that surround going to get a manicure.
The process is also an expensive habit to upkeep, but it’s almost necessary considering how much time the modern woman spends staring at her hands. Having polished fingernails keeps me feeling put together, while the benefits of clean nails increase physical health and reduce acne flare-ups.
In order to save time and money while also keeping my nails from being an eyesore, I decided to bring the salon experience to my home.
The Bare Minimum
The first step in executing a perfect manicure is making sure your nails are healthy.
In order to grow long and strong nails, it’s necessary to keep your hands moisturized. This means utilizing hand lotion regularly and also avoiding dehydrating products like hand sanitizer and polish remover that contains acetone.
Fuel Your Body Right
What you put in your body also has a large impact on your nails’ condition. This means staying hydrated and eating foods proven to promote nail health. This menu includes dark leafy greens, eggs, orange and yellow vegetables, berries and meats and fish. Biotin vitamins can also help supplement missing nutrients in your diet.
If you’re looking for a way to strengthen your nails on the beds themselves, try out a nail strengthener. Keeping your nails short and neatly filed is another way to avoid breakage. Nails tend to break on the edge rather than at the center, so creating a rounded shape can help build strength at the start of your nail health journey.
Stock Your Spa
Here is a list of products to buy for the perfect at home manicure:
The Salon’s Secret Step-by-Step
- File your nail to your desired length and shape. If you’re doing acrylic nails, keep your actual nail as short as possible.
- Use your electric drill machine to smooth out your nail bed and push your cuticle back to its base.
- Fit a fake nail to the width of each of your fingers. (If you’re only doing a gel manicure, skip to step six.)
- Apply a dot of glue to the base of the fake nail and press onto your nail bed.
- Cut and shape the fake nail to your desired length.
- Apply a base coat to your nail. For acrylic nails, dip your finger into the acrylic powder.
- Cure your nail under the UV lamp for 30 seconds (one click). (For acrylics: apply a second base coat on top of the powder layer.)
- Apply polish to your desired opaqueness, curing for 30 seconds in between each coat.
- Apply a topcoat, and cure for 2 minutes (hold down the button). Repeat until your nails are not tacky.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
Getting Crafty
At first this may seem like a tedious process, but with practice it gets easier. Once you get the hang of it, try out some easy nail designs.
My friend Jenna Schreiber introduced me to this process, and to her I will be forever grateful. Now my nails are consistently stunning, while still remaining strong and healthy.
Share your beautiful manicures to VALLEY’s Instagram @VALLEYmag!
