Nail routine that doesn't cost a fortune?

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I’ve recently started getting my nails done and I really enjoy having nice nails but I’m struggling to justify the cost.

I’m having them done roughly every 2 weeks. It’s costing £35 a go, or more if I fancy anything other than just a basic manicure.

I’ve tried leaving it longer between appointments but I wear contact lenses every day. 2 weeks is about as long as I can go before my nails grow too long for me to easily get my contacts in & out, without feeling like I’m about to poke my eye out!

I'm awful at doing my own nails and there's just something about having a proper manicure from a salon that makes me feel really put together.

So can I please ask how you balance having nice nails without spending a fortune?

Hi OP are we talking gel or ‘normal’ polish. Price suggests gel…

I’ve ditched gel and gone back to regular file and polish manicures which cost around £12 here. I maintain the shape (easy) at home in between - takes just a few minutes.

I should add, the polish only lasts a few days on me and I always have a very pale colour to make chips less obvious. I have to repaint myself, or leave bare.

I usually get gel but normal polish is £27 here anyway! I just find regular polish chips really easily on me - I'm too lazy/incompetent to touch up myself but I should really learn!

I don't ever go for the full manicure anymore, I can do the exfoliation etc myself if I want it. I just have file and polish £15. I go c. once a month and do my own in-between. They are better professionally done but with practice they look OK, provided I use a fairly neutral colour so mistakes don't show so much.

I cut my nails short with scissors- free.

Going once a month for a manicure sounds lovely though.

I do my own. I can't justify the cost of getting them done in the salon.

I find it a quite relaxing thing to do, but do need the professional manicure to get the shape right first.

OP when I say manicure I mean just a file and polish, no massage or hand cream etc.

I do my own and use nail wraps from Lily and Fox (Australian website not the US one).

We don't seem to have the regular file and polish manicures around here any more only gel :-(

I do my own. Gel polish wrecked my nails so I prefer ordinary polish anyway.

Invest in a good quality varnish and it will usually look good, even if you're not the best at putting it on. Pale colours will hide any imperfections better. You'll get better with practice.

I started using holy grail nail wraps, £3 a set, super easy to do, lasts about 10 days (depending on how you treat them) and lots of lovely colour options!

Should have added a photo (although not a great one)

They look great @Houseofboys22 ! I never realised nail wraps were an option.

The place I go to doesn't seem to offer just a file and polish, their cheapest option is a regular manicure. I could, of course, go elsewhere but this salon is so convenient and I didn't like the service at the other one that's nearby.

In terms of decent quality polish I can do at home, does anyone have brand recommendations please? My nail polish is all years old which I'm sure isn't helping when I try to do my own nails.

Love the wraps and just so easy, but my usual go to polish is Barry M unfortunately life just doesn't have enough hours to sit in a salon or wait for normal polish to dry!

OP if you've a Superdrug beauty near you a classic mani is -15 and includes cuticle trim

Can anybody recommend a good cuticle removing cream? I've tried the old "push them back after a shower " thing but all I end up with is very sore and swollen cuticles

I have used some 'Orly' varnishes (a US brand). You can put a top coat of this over your varnish and it is supposed to make it shine and keep it from chipping. It is around 13 quid on the website.

www.orlybeauty.co.uk/collections/orly-topcoat/products/orlu-polishield-3-in-in-1-topcoat-1-topcoat-18ml

Another one I have tried is 'Nailberry' polish. It states it is breathable, contains no nasties etc. This one can be put on top of other varnish for a glossy finish, and is supposed to give protection from from chipping and fading. This is around the 20 quid mark. You will get a fair few uses out of it though.

www.nailberry.co.uk/products/bare-essentials-2-in-1-base-top-coat

I have over 100 nail polishes of all colours of the rainbow built up over 10 years or more.

This cost less than one year of fortnightly manicures.

Doesn't matter if the polish chips, just stick another one over the first one.

You can do a really good job at home if you have the time, which I assume you do if you consider the drive to salon, parking, waiting etc etc.

practice getting the shape you like. use a crystal nail file - Leighton Denny one is amazing. Tweezerman cuticle clippers are great. sally hansen cuticle remover is ok. Or get a box standard manicure every two weeks and keep the shape in check by filing.

use base and top coats. Seche vite gets good reviews but I’m not keen on the ingredients. I use a top coat by poshe on Amazon and it gives a glass like finish. Go for pale colours. Essie and opi polishes are good.

I have a gel polish with builder gel base every 4 weeks
They don’t get long enough to stop being able to use contact lenses!

Opi Nail envy base coat and polishes are brilliant. I also use Sally Hansen miracle top coat and Opi quick dry drops which are incredible. I like a lot of handcreams, Garnier, Dove and Margaret Drabbs are all good. I use various cuticle oils and night and occasionally Sally Hansen cuticle remover. Go easy on your cuticles, be gentle and use a glass nail file.

I do my own, tips & UV gel, I buy builder gel on Amazon & then use Beetles gel on top. Once you have bought the basics I can do my nails whenever I want for nothing. For the price of maybe 3visits to the nail bar I can do my nails all year & then replace used up things like builder gel, base coat & top coat when I need to. Beetle Gel sell sets of multiple bottles of gel polish, base & top coats for £39, usually has up to 20 different gel polishes.

Thanks so much for this recommendation!! It's not even my thread, but I am now an official Beetle's customer, I can't comment on durability yet, but so easily applied and looking great 😍

Dior Nail Glow. A single slick makes nails shine and improves the colour, and dries in 30 secs.

I bit the bullet and bought the gel kit myself. I love having my nails done and have saved HUNDREDS since I bought it. I was paying £35 every 2-3 weeks. The only costs I have now is if I want to buy a new colour. I tend to buy Bluesky's offer of six bottle for price of five, every four months or so. I buy a hard gel, a top coat and four new colours.