Chipped nails? No time to go to a salon for a manicure? We've all been there. Having your nails perfectly polished and manicured can make any woman feel powerful, confident and beautiful. A manicure is a splurge that a lot of us wish we could do on a weekly basis, but to be honest, those add up.
With new techniques like gel manicures and others, the prices of a simple manicure can throw your budget off. But that doesn't mean that you have to walk out with hands and nails you're not proud of! There are so many ways to take care of your nails right from home without spending too much money.
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All you need are the right tools, nail polishes and other hacks to keep your fingers in tip-top shape. Giving yourself a manicure at home can also be somewhat therapeutic and a form of self-care. Looking our best from head to toe takes time, money, effort and a lot of energy, but there are ways to make sure you're never embarrassed when it's time to shake someone's hand at work or at your child's school.
Scroll through to see which products we've selected from all around the web that will help you build a nail kit to keep your hands looking gorgeous and better than ever, without having to go to a nail salon.
Keep things cute with this emergency nail kit.
This Six Piece Mini Manicure Kit in Case ($5, Target) has all the tools you need for a "mani-mergency" kit, including slant tip tweezers, a nail clipper, a cuticle clipper, scissors and a nail file.
If you thought press on nails were a thing of the past, think again.
If you're in the mood for fun designs and longer nails, try the Ulta Design & Shine Matte Gray Marble Nail Kit ($8, Ulta). No need to spend two hours at the nail salon when you can pop these durable nails on in minutes!
These nail appliqués make manicures so much easier.
Try these Incoco Nail Polish Appliqués ($8, Ulta) for a manicure that will last up to 14 days. All you had to do is simply peel the nail polish strips and apply to clean nails, then file away the excess for an instant manicure.
If drawing isn't your thing, try these nail decals instead.
These China Glaze Nail Decals ($6, Ulta) will make your manicure completely stand out and take it from plain to glamorous in seconds.
Instead of spending more than $50 for a gel manicure, try this at home!
There are products like the LuckyFine 36W UV Light Nail Dryer Machine, Professional Nail Art Gel Polish Curing Light UV + 4 Tube Lamp ($18, Walmart) that you can use with your favorite gel nail polish to give your nails that salon-like finish and a manicure that lasts.
Use that machine with your own gel polish to make your mani last.
The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish ($7, Walmart) comes in a variety of colors and will give you a longer lasting mani, that doesn't chip after your first chore.
If you're a fan of gel manicures, you know it can be a pain to remove it.
These Red Carpet Manicure Foil Remover Wraps ($10, Ulta) instead of trying to manually pull the gel off your nails, which can severely damage them. There are 100 foils in each box and they come with a cotton pad for easy and safe removal of gel polishes.
The nail appliques will become your favorite.
These Dashing Diva Color FX Appliques ($8, Amazon) are simple to use and look so classy and elegant. They're also super easy to remove once you're ready for a new color.
Take your home manicure to a whole new level.
If nail designs are your thing, try these Sally Hansen Salon 3D Designs ($7, Target).
These nail art pens will make your designs come to life.
These Sally Hansen® Nail Art Pens ($6, Target) come in a variety of colors and will come in handy whenever you want to draw a fun design on your nail to complete your manicure. They wipe away easily in case you make a mistake and once you have your design done, simply seal it with a top coat.
Cotton balls and nail polish removers are a thing of the past.
The Daylogic Instant Acetone Nail Polish Remover ($2.50, Rite Aid) will come in handy whenever you're in a hurry. To get rid of your chipped nail polish, just dip one finger into the container and rub your nail against the acetone-drenched sponge inside and your polish will come right off.
Remove your nail polish on-the-go.
There's nothing worse than heading into a meeting and realizing that your nails don't look presentable at all because of your chipped manicure. Keep these nail polish remover pads ($4, Ulta) in your purse at all times in case of any beauty emergency.
There is a safer alternative to getting acrylic nails, which sometimes harm your real nails.
These do-it-yourself press on nails ($16, Marmalade Nails) are so gorgeous. The designs and different colors will definitely have you up to date with the current nail trends, without you having to damage your nails with an acrylic set. The best part? They last quite a while!
If there's one thing you need on this list, it's this nail buffer.
The Daylogic 7 Way Nail Buffer ($3, Rite Aid) will have your nails looking and feeling amazing. This item is a must-have for smooth, perfectly filed nails. Each side is labeled with numbers to follow each step, and the last buffer side will have your nails super shiny.
This four-way block serves the same purpose but might be easier to use.
The Blue Max 4-Way Buffing Block from FLOWERY ($2.50, Ulta) is smaller so it will make it easier to hold in your hand while you go to work on each nail.
A nail filer will always come in handy before you start polishing.
Grab this pack of six Trim Salon Boards ($8, Walmart) so that you can have them with you at all times. Leave some at home and carry one in your purse or makeup bag to smooth your nail's edges and have them in pristine shape.
Keep your cuticles moisturized.
Try the Sally Hansen Nail Treatment Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil ($6, Target) to help nourish dry nails and cuticles. Apply to your nails and fingers throughout the day, especially during cold winter months.
Waiting for nail polish to dry is sometimes so time-consuming and annoying.
Try the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish ($4, Walmart) which is said to dry in 60 seconds, and delivers full-coverage color and shine in just one coat. It comes in a wide range of color choices, so grab your favorite or build your own collection.
This tip will help those who like to color outside of the lines.
Apply a thick moisturizer, like the Burt's Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream ($7, Target), around your nails before applying polish so that it doesn't accidentally paint the skin around your nails and makes any mistakes easy to remove.
While face masks are all the rave, we can't forget about our hands.
We often show our age more on our hands than in any other parts of our bodies because we tend to forget how much our hands are exposed to. Give your hands a break from harsh soaps to cold weather and pamper them using these Aveeno Repairing CICA Hand Mask with Oat and Shea Butter gloves ($3, Target) for softer hands.
Dip your painted nails in a bowl of ice cold water.
Place water and ice in a Manicure Bowl by Beauty Secrets ($2, Sally Beauty) after painting them. This will help your nails dry quicker so that no accidental smudging happens. The dish features contoured palm and finger grooves to make soaking super comfortable.
You need a good nail strengthener.
Keep your nails strong and healthy with the OPI Natural Nail Strengthener ($10, Ulta). It might be a bit expensive but the brand is popular in nail salons for a reason.
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