Few things in life feel more put-together than freshly done nails. But weekly salon appointments? That can get expensive fast. Luckily, achieving salon-worthy nails at home isn’t as difficult as everyone might make it seem. It just takes the right routine, a few tools, and a little patience.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting your nails looking fresh, healthy, and way more expensive than they actually are—all without ever leaving your couch.
1. Start with a Clean Slate
First things first: remove any old polish. Even if it's just clear topcoat from three weeks ago that you forgot was still there—off it goes. Use a gentle, acetone-free remover if your nails tend to be dry or brittle. Give your hands a quick wash afterward to get rid of any residue.
Now take a moment to admire your naked nails. This is the before. You’re about to level up.
2. Soak and Soften Those Cuticles
You know those little clear bits of skin around the base of your nails? Those are your cuticles, and they love to make their presence known. If you ignore them, they’ll rebel with hangnails and general crustiness. If you overdo it, especially by cutting them, you risk infection and irritation.
The sweet spot? Don’t trim your cuticles; push them back gently.
Start by soaking your hands in warm, soapy water for about 5 minutes. You can add a splash of olive oil for some bonus hydration. Once your cuticles are soft, use a cuticle pusher to nudge them back.
3. Exfoliate and Moisturize
Give your hands a quick scrub with a gentle exfoliant to slough off dead skin. You can even DIY one with sugar and olive oil. Then follow up with a rich hand cream or balm. Hydrated hands are happy hands, and this step helps your whole manicure look cleaner and more polished (pun intended).
Brooklyn Botany Brown Sugar Body Scrub
L'OCCITANE Organic Shea Butter Hand Cream
4. Time to Shape Things Up
Now for the part where you literally shape your future: filing your nails. The key here is to file in one direction to avoid splitting or peeling. Back-and-forth sawing is a no-go.
Pick your shape: round, oval, square, squoval (yes, that’s a thing), or almond. If you use your hands a lot, a rounded or squoval shape is less likely to snag or break.
Clip if you need to shorten, then use a file to finesse the edges.
Bona Fide Beauty Czech Glass Nail File
5. Buffing
If your nails are a little ridgy or dull, a quick buff can give them a nice natural sheen. Use a nail buffer (not a file!) and lightly glide it over the surface of each nail. Don’t overdo it. Once every couple of weeks is plenty. Over-buffing can thin your nails, which we’re trying to avoid here.
6. Give Your Nails a Strengthening Boost
This is where you start layering in the good stuff. If your nails are prone to peeling, bending, or breaking at the worst possible moment, a nail strengthener or base coat can help.
Look for formulas with keratin, calcium, or biotin. Some are clear and glossy, others have a slight tint. These not only add strength but also create a smooth base for polish. They also look great on their own if you’re going for that minimalist, clean-girl manicure.
Manucurist Active Shine
7. Polish Like a Pro
If you're feeling colorful, go for it! Start with a base coat to protect your nails and make your polish last longer. Then apply two thin coats of your chosen polish. Thin is key—go heavy and you’re asking for nails that will never dry and a bounty of smudges.
Let each coat dry for at least a couple of minutes before adding the next. Finish with a high-quality top coat to seal everything in and give that salon-gloss shine.
Pro tip: cap the free edge (that’s nail-speak for running the brush along the tip of your nail) to prevent chipping.
OPI Nail Lacquer Top Coat
8. Cuticle Oil = Magic Potion
Here’s a step most people skip and shouldn’t. Cuticle oil is your nails' best friend. It hydrates your cuticles, keeps them soft, and gives your manicure that fresh-from-the-salon glow.
Use it daily, especially after washing your hands or before bed. Just a drop per nail is plenty. Massage it in, admire your handiwork, and bask in the glow of being a person who uses cuticle oil. It’s a lifestyle.
Cuccio Naturale Revitalizing Oil
9. Keep Up the Good Work
Maintenance is the name of the game. Reapply top coat every few days to keep polish from chipping. File any rough edges that pop up before they turn into full-blown breaks. And don’t forget your cuticle oil. (Yes, again. It’s that important.)
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