I am a high maintenance bitch. Or at least, I aspire to be. I see a baddie with long extensions, perfectly done hair, long-ass nails and false lashes and I’m just like. Damn. You’re a babe. Wish that could be me. Prior to this pandemic, I was almost that bitch. I had the fake nails and the false lashes and I woke up every day feeling like a goddamn Bratz doll. At the beginning of this global pandemic I was set with the task of removing my acrylics. It. Took. HOURS. And my nails were FUCKED. Since then I have bought an at-home gel nail lamp and some fun add-ons to become my own nail tech.
As the world opens up slowly I find myself seriously missing my long acrylic nails but in the throes of the pandy I became accustomed to having shorter nails and maintaining them myself. I have really been enjoying taking an hour-ish every other week to treat myself to a fresh mani. I broke down the costs and the more I do this at home, all the supplies purchased end up saving me mad money. Below is my round-up of all the products I recommend to get you started on your at-home Pinterest nail dreams.
Prep
Elim MediHand Hydro-Thermal Exfoliant. Whenever I do my mani, it’s a full self-care moment. I like to start off with this hand exfoliant that has tiny granules that feels so luxe plus when you add water it heats up slightly and it helps remove dull, dead skin cells without dehydrating my hands.
Lush Pumice Power. Keep your feet looking fresh with this Lush bar that contains pumice powder and a blend of skin-softening oils. I love this package-free little scrub that packs a major punch while exfoliating and cleansing all in one step.
Life Exfoliating Foot Mask. This is my secret weapon to a salon quality pedi. It is formulated with AHA and salicylic acid to remove dead skin. When I say remove, I mean mentally prepare yourself for your foot peeling in chunks for about a week after you use this mask. It’s gross and oh-so satisfying.
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. It all starts with nail prep and I have been loving this cuticle remover available at the drugstore for less than $10 and works just as well as what they use in the salon. Just a drop on each nail and you can push back your cuticles and rinse off the excess with warm water. Plus it works on calluses!
QUO Beauty Cuticle Pusher. I don’t have hand model nails and naturally my nails are quite short. Pushing back my cuticles gives my hands a real mannequin hand look. I love this one dual ended one from QUO that has a rounded head for nudging and a contoured edge for tidying nail edges. I also use this tool to aid in polish removal.
Polish
CND Shellac. I’ve tried a few gel nail polishes and so far Shellac has been my absolute fave. They have the best selection of colours, applies pigmented and evenly and the BRUSH. OMG the brush. I love the curved bristles that make it easy to cover your entire nail in one or two swipes.
Gelcare LED Lamp. I would argue that a good lamp is the most important tool you can have to do your own nails at home. This one from Gelcare cures UV and LED gel, is hand-sensored activated, has 4 timer options and no dead zone. This little guy is $110 and it also comes in a cord-free version for $350. There are also tons of options on Amazon that are also 80W, see here for a cute pink one.
Maintain
Soap & Glory Hand Food. Keeping your hands hydrated while smelling sweet with this decadent hand lotion. It’s ultra-hydrating without ever be sticky and I love how it nourishes over time with continuous use. It also smells so delish.
CND Cuticle Pens. The skin around your nail beds is super delicate and caring for this area helps extend the life of any mani or pedi, plus dry cuticles are a dead giveaway for nails that need a bit of TLC. I love the oil-based CND ones and that they are available in pen format. I keep one in my pen cup at my desk and reapply whenever I remember to.
Flexitol Heel Magic. Nothing gives away a poorly maintained pedicure than dried out heels. This balm promises visible results after three days on even the most stubborn cracks and it comes in an easy-to-use twist-up tube.
Removal
Onyx Professional 100% Acetone Nail Polish Remover. I know that acetone is not everyone’s cup of tea because it can be super drying and the smell is terrible, but when it comes to gel it’s super efficient. With pure acetone it takes almost no time at all to remove my nails. I don’t like to scrub or scrap, but using acetone means I just have to let it soak in for a bit and it slides off with ease.
Plastic nail clips. Talk about a game-changer. These nail clips eliminate the need for tin-foil wraps when soaking your gels, plus the ends are slender enough for me to continue to type on my keyboard (because I’m a multi-tasking type of bitch).
