PSA: Your DIY Manicure Kit is Begging for These Essentials
PSA: Your DIY Manicure Kit is Begging for These Essentials
We all love a trip to the nail salon. But when the going gets tough, we have to break out the polishes and files and create a salon-worthy manicure at home. And PSA: for a precise and professional-grade manicure, you're going to need a bit more than just your favorite nail polish and a nail file.
We reached out to the experts to get their picks for what you need to perfect an at-home manicure.
Tweezerman Mini Nail Rescue Kit
TWEEZERMAN
ulta.com
$22.00
Do your nails look like they're in need of some serious reshaping? Then this nail tool kit has got you covered: It has a travel-sized clipper, a tool for pesky hangnails, and more to keep your nails and cuticles tamed in a jiffy.
OPI Gel Removal & Manicure Prep Kit
OPI
opi.com
$16.50
According to Nails.INC Ambassador and Celebrity Nail Artist Lisa Logan, a cuticle pusher, buffer, and nail file are always necessities for any manicure.
Luckily, this mini kit has all of that, plus nail polish remover to keep your nails fully prepped and ready for painting. The best part? It's less than $10!
Tropical Shine Steel Chrome Cuticle Pusher
Tropical Shine
sallybeauty.com
$2.69
One of the first steps to every at-home mani is pushing — not clipping — your cuticles back."Gently pushing back your cuticles is great when first getting out of the shower," says Jaclyn Duguay-Gordon, manicurist at Green Tangerine Spa and Salon.
Though wooden cuticle pushers do the trick, try this reusable steel cuticle pusher instead. It has one end for pushing back your cuticles, and a pointed end for cleaning under your nails and pushing back tricky corners.
More: PSA: These Nontoxic Nail Polish Brands are Better for Your Nails
Le Mini Macaron 1-Step Gel Manicure Kit
Le Mini Macaron
urbanoutfitters.com
$35.00
Want to step up your at-home mani to something a little more professional? Then try a DIY gel manicure! This may sound intimidating, but trust us: With this kit from Le Mini Macaron, you'll have all of the tools you'll need to create a salon-approved look.
It comes with a full-sized UV lamp, gel nail polish, a nail file, and a cuticle pusher to create the ultimate nail designs.
butter LONDON Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator
butter LONDON
kohls.com
$18.00
This exfoliator is basically a shortcut to better, healthier cuticles in seconds. It instantly melts (that's right, melts) away unwanted overgrown cuticles, leaving you with perfectly cleaned up cuticle beds once it's wiped away.
Red Carpet Manicure Nail Art Tool Kit
Red Carpet Manicure
redcarpetmanicure.com
$12.00
Want to create some Insta-worthy designs on your freshly painted talons? Then you're going to need some more brushes. These ultra slim options are perfect for creating even the most intricate of designs. They're perfect for mani first-timers and professionals alike!
Elon Essential Cuticle Oil with Almond Extract
Elon
dermstore.com
$11.99
To give your nails some much-needed nourishment, Michelle Saunders, founder of Saunders & James, recommends incorporating a nail oil into your manicure routine after trimming and filing all of the brittle and dry parts of your nails.
"Soak your nails in a 'warmed up' organic oil, like avocado, almond or olive oil," she says. "We use a special device to warm our oil, but you can heat the oil on the stovetop or microwave on low heat and put the oil in a small bowl and soak nails and cuticles for 10 minutes. When finished, massage all the oil into your hands, concentrating on the nails.”
You can use any organic oil of your choosing for this, but we love this almond extract oil from Elon, which has vitamins B-5 and E to give your nail beds and cuticles an extra conditioning and hydrating treatment.
Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover
Cutex
target.com
$3.99
One of the biggest necessities for a manicure kit is nail polish remover. But, not all nail polish removers are made equally: Duguay-Gordon recommends using a polish that will wipe the nail clean of all polish, oils, and lotions for a clean base.
This award-winning remover from Cutex is perfect for cleaning up your nails pre-polishing, without making them feel dry and brittle.
NAILS INC. NAILPURE Base Coat
NAILS INC.
sephora.com
$15.00
A base coat is the foundation of your manicure, which is why all of our experts agree on making sure to invest in a top-quality base.
This one from NAILS INC. not only serves as a great base for your polishes, but it also allows water and oxygen to reach your nail bed and boosts the production of keratin to support harder, stronger, and healthier-looking nails.
Seche Vive Gel Effect Top Coat
Seche Vive
ulta.com
$11.90
"An awesome topcoat is also key, and Seche Vive Gel Effect Top Coat is always my go-to," says Duguay-Gordon. "It has the high-gloss finish and the durability of a gel top coat without the hassle of soaking off like a traditional gel/UV topcoat, and can be removed with regular polish remover."
OPI Drip Dry Lacquer Drying Drops
OPI
ulta.com
$13.50
Logan also notes that quick-dry drops are great for making your regular polishes dry and harden in mere minutes. This one is our favorite for its ultra fast drying formula that doesn't leave a greasy feel on our nails. A fully dried manicure in just 5 minutes? We'll sign up for that!
Salon-quality nails, without the salon price!