Last updated on December 28th, 2021 at 12:03 am

Doing DIY nails at home can be so easy, why not do them during a pandemic? And I get it, I’m the queen of “what’s the point”. Having my nails done makes me feel a little more put together, especially during a really weird time.

Manicures are awesome, but I’ve never committed to getting them regularly. I can’t justify the time and money spent going every other week (but no judgement for those who do, you do you girl!). I love getting a gel mani and how long it lasts, but at the end of two weeks my nails are obnoxiously long and I’m sick of the color (but I’ll still keep getting gel manis, who am I kidding).

Here’s how I DIY my nails at home: 

Prep

Start the process by taking off any existing nail polish

Clean up your cuticles using Sally Hansen cuticle remover. Put the gel on your cuticles, wait 10 seconds and then rinse off. Use a cuticle pusher to clean up the area and use cuticle scissors to remove all the extra skin. Cuticles gone! 

Now, cut and file your nails! I’m picky about nail files – they can’t be too smooth (what’s the point) or too rough (that can’t be good for my nails, right?). Since I have a toddler now, I keep my nails relatively short since they would probably end up breaking anyway. I usually do them round-ish, but when I’m having someone else do them I go for a squoval shape (square at the tip, and rounded at the edges). Somehow, I’m terrible at getting this shape myself. 

Once your nails are filed, this is your last chance to put on lotion! 

Use some more nail polish remover to clean off each of your nails again. If your nails are squeaky clean, it’ll help the polish stick better.

Polish 

The next steps depend on what type of polish you’re going to use –

If you’re going the traditional route, you’ll need a base, polish and top coat. If these aren’t quick-drying, you’ll need to wait at least 10 minutes between each coat before going on to the next. This is your best best for preventing bubbles, which I always used to have.

Don’t shake your polish either! Roll the bottle between your hands to mix it up – shaking it makes bubbles that end up on your nails too! 

When I polish my nails, I have a specific order I paint my fingers. 

Left hand (non-dominant) polishes each of my four right-hand fingers first, and I leave my thumb bare.

My left thumb is used for any cleanup around my nail beds for stray polish.

Right hand polishes each of my left-hand fingers and leaves my left thumb bare for cleanup.

Now I switch back to polishing my right thumb, and then my left thumb. My hope (fingers crossed) is because my right hand is dominant, it’ll do a better job on my “last” finger.

Inevitably I will always end up with polish on my skin – if I really care I’ll use a qtip with polish remover to clean it up.

If I don’t care all that much, it usually ends up peeling off on its own after a little while.

After you’ve done the base coat, two coats of polish and top coat, SIT STILL! Don’t touch anything! 

My Secret to Great Nails

Now for my secret – Essie Expressie Polish! This is a GAME CHANGER. This polish dries in less than a minute and doesn’t need a base coat. It’s one of my new holy grail products! 

When I have a spare 10-15 minutes where I don’t need to chase after or pick up my daughter, I love to paint my nails. Essie Expressie has so many pretty colors, so I can rotate through different polishes whenever I want! 

I go through the same routine painting each of my fingers, but instead of waiting 10 minutes between coats, I wait 1, or 2 if I’m busy doing something in-between. 

After my second coat I’ll follow up with the Essie Gel Setter top coat so my nails are nice and shiny. This step isn’t necessary, and you could run out immediately after the painting the second coat of polish if you need to.

I’ve found after 5 minutes or so, the Gel Setter top coat is relatively dry. I’m still a little cautious about bumping into things, but less worried than I would be normally! 

The end result are quality DIY nails at home, that keeps me feeling like a boss even though I’m still working from home. It’s all about attitude!

Do you have a favorite polish brand or color? Share your recommendations below!
And don’t forget to do your nails when taking professional photos!