7 DIY Nail Manicure Tips That Will Cost You Almost No Money

Visiting a salon for a professional manicure or pedicure is a surreal experience for every woman.

10:57 02 June 2021

Imagine entering a room and coming out a different person; this is exactly what salon visitation does to many women. What is polished is not just the nails but also the self-confidence.

 

As therapeutic as salon visitation can be, it is very difficult or impossible to always keep up with. Time and funds are two limiting factors faced by all. Whatever your reasons for not visiting a salon are, you can do an excellent manicure yourself in your home. This way, you will save time and money. There are few tricks you can use to get results similar to those of a professional, at almost zero extra cost.

 

Before discussing the tricks, it is imperative to highlight the importance of using the right nail polish because until you get this right, the tricks will not matter.

 

Select The Right Nail Polish

 

There are diverse kinds of nail polish on the market distinguished by the ingredients used, among other factors. In a bid to ensure longevity, many nail polishes contain ingredients that have been proven to be harsh. They can dry nails out and different kinds of nail problems.Non-toxic nail polishes are the best. Thankfully, brands now have options that last pretty well without chipping.

 

Therefore, you will have a safe, neat, and lasting manicure. Formaldehyde, Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and toluene are the three most dangerous ingredients present in many nail polish – always check the list of ingredients before purchasing any nail polish.

 

Once you have the right nail polish, use the following 7 DIY nail manicure tips to get better results:

 

Dry Your Nails with Ice Water

 

This is one of the most popular DIY manicure tips. Although some people advise against it, using ice water to dry your nails is very effective. This is an ideal tip for anyone in a haste to make a party or an official appointment. Once you are through polishing your nails, dip them in very cold water for 2 to 3 minutes. This will allow the polish to dry quickly and perfectly, preventing smudge. Wait a few seconds after polishing the nails before dipping them in cold water to make sure bubbles are not formed.

 

Remove Gel Manicures yourself

 

Gel manicures are particularly difficult to remove. If not done carefully, it can cause serious damage to the nail. It should never be scraped neither should nails be too dry. These are reasons many leave it to professionals. However, you can do this at home by following the simple steps below:

 

• Soak ten nail sized cotton pads in an acetone-based nail polish remover
  
  
• Place the soaked cotton pads on your nails and wrap them in tin foil
  
  
• Leave them for 20 minutes or more for a clean remover of the gel
  
  
• Remove the wrap and the gel will come off neatly
  
  
• Wash your hands thoroughly to ensure the acetone-based remover is totally washed off

 

Use Hair Grips for Design

 

Hair grips are readily available tools you can use to get an amazing DIY manicure. You don’t need to spend on arts or patterns to achieve wavy lines, polka dots, or straight edges. Hair grips can be used to achieve all of this right in your home.

 

Use Toothpicks to Create Nail Art

 

Nail arts such as shapes or dots are usually available on the market for easy application but you can achieve different nail art yourself without incurring extra costs. Toothpicks are perfect tools for making dots or basic shapes on the nail. If you do it right, no one will know you used a toothpick except you reveal it. You can also use the tip of a pen to do this. However, if you want something fancy, you can buy nail arts.

 

Use BaseCoat and Topcoat

 

Many people use either a base coat or a top coat when doing a manicure at home. This is a major reason why many DIY manicures don’t look professional or don’t last. To do an excellent and lasting manicure yourself, first, apply a base coat and leave for a few minutes to dry before applying your polish choice. Leave it for a few minutes to dry and then finish it with a topcoat. There are many 2 in 1 polish you can buy.

 

Use Cuticle Oil

 

The condition of the base of a nail determines the condition of the nail. If your cuticle is not properly moisturized and pushed back, your manicure will appear unprofessional as well as chip quickly. Therefore, always use cuticle oil before starting your DIY manicure. Do not make the mistake of cutting your cuticle, simply push it back gently.

 

Use Sharpies

 

Some people keep having one or more problems using nail brushes despite every effort to be better at it. Frustrating indeed but you have an excellent option in sharpie. Follow the same steps as in brush application – apply a base coat before using a sharpie to draw your color of choice and finish it with a topcoat. You can also use a makeup sponge to make ombre nails.

 

Conclusion

 

Doing an excellent manicure yourself is not as difficult as it may seem but you can easily make a mess of it. Often, the little details are what make the difference. The above DIY manicure tips will help you achieve a great manicure yourself.