How can I have nice nails that don’t involve a salon?

[PoliteSpud]

I do my own nails with polish about every 4/5days. Despite this, my nails look permanently trashed - chipped weak, uneven shapes.

Everywhere I go I see women with lovely nails in fab colours. I hear people talk about ‘getting their nails done’ allllll the time. I don’t know how much those appointments are or how regular (or what the nail bar relationship with slave labour is) but is this something I need to start doing?

I really don’t want another appointment in my calendar. Is there anything I can do at home that achieves that smart even glossy look?

I expect the women with lovely nails are having gel ones done, not just having normal nail polish put on at a salon. As far as I'm aware, it's not good for your nails and needs re-doing really regularly. I know people who do gel ones themselves at home, but they don't look very good. I just put clear polush on mine when I can be bothered, as it's not so obvious when it begins to chip a bit!

Glaize stick on nails! Won't make your nails any longer but easy to apply, look good and mine usually last about 2 weeks

When I have had gel nails done at a salon that is when my nails look the best. This goes on like a nail polish and is cured with a UV lamp. I can’t afford this every 3 weeks (they do last that long). I do them myself at home with nail stickers. I get mine from Holy Grail Nail and they last about 10 days. I have also developed an allergy to normal polish and neither set this off.

Holy grail stick ons.

I wouldn't get gel nails again as they really damaged my natural nails. It sounds like you maybe need to improve your technique when doing your nails at home, though. A few tips:

• file your nails before removing old polish as it can be easier to see the shape with polish on.
• use reading glasses to see your nails very clearly when polishing
• apply in 3 strokes getting close to but not touching the cuticle
• use a quick drying top coat like seche vite
• I really like essie gel couture polish for a nice finish and it's easy to apply
• use cuticle oil or cream twice a day

There are some manicures on You Tube that might help.

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful.

I will look into getting some stick-on nails just to try them. I think the ones I have seen in Boots are a bit limited on colour/shape and maybe a bit outdated.

@Nifty50something This is a great list. Not sure if I can remember to do cuticle oil twice a day, does it really make a big difference?

And I hadn’t thought of YouTube - I will definitely go hunting there.

Holy Grail wraps. They are normal polish (they do gel wraps but they need curing with a lamp - I use the Classics which are made of normal polish).

You peel them off, stick them on your nail and file the excess off the end. I get two weeks out of mine.

Don’t imagine they are ‘false nails’ - they are very thin sheets of polish in plain colour or designs that you literally stick onto your nail!

Cuticle oil makes a big difference for me, yes. I keep some on my bedside table, on my desk, and on my tv table and apply whenever I think of it and always before bed.

Maniko nails, they sometimes do a starter kit offer. I haven’t been to a salon for 2 years! Sooo easy! My current ones have lasted 2 weeks.

Cuticle oil is amazing, I use loads of it and it's transformed my nails.

Great list. I’d add use a base coat - Orly bonder base is great. I use this, two coats of nail varnish and a top coat. My current polish has just starred to chip but has lasted 2 weeks.

IMO almost all home-done nails look a bit shit (nb almost all, not all). Best nails at home are just v healthy nails, shortish and well shaped, sort your cuticles out with almond oil, then buff or a clearish polish.

I'm sat here doing my nails scrolling as they dry. My nails last at least more than a week. even on holiday.

Exactly what Nifty said, including the magnifying glasses except I use a base filler coat, then 2 coats of nail varnish and then a gloss shine topcoat, usually Essie or Sally Hansen.

I don't use cuticle cream per se twice a day but I use hand cream / oil on my hands regularly throughout the day and massage in.

Nails Inc glow type nail polish with the base coat and top coat. A bit like Dior Glow but much cheaper and more variations on shade, although they're all neutral.

Oh yes I just bought glowing my way last week, a pink tinge.

My routine is remove polish and file. Then have a long shower, wash hair, shave legs etc by which time the cuticles are nice and soft. You could just soak in a bowl of warm water instead. Push them back gently with the thumbnail of the other hand, gently scraping away any dead skin - I agree about reading glasses although in my case I am super shortsighted and can see very close up with not glasses on. Rub the cuticles with a dry flannel to remove any more dead skin. Once they are completely dry, usually next day for me, a wipe with polish remover, base coat, 2x colour coat, fast drying top coat (Seche Vite or Sally Hansen instadry). I do this before bed then read for 15 mins and they are set. Stick to nude or clear colours. Add a new coat of topcoat after a fee days if they dull. Handcream/cuticle oil.

I tried Glaize stickons and they were shockingly bad, looked as though a toddler had cut pictures of nails out of a magazine and stuck them on despite me doing the templating as required. However they were very good at refunding me when they saw the pictures so maybe worth a try, they obviously work for some people. I found the range of colours very limited though.

I go to a private nail therapist (she works from her home) rather than a nail bar that use cheap products & often damage nails. The technique and products she uses doesn’t damage nails and mine are much stronger for it.
im only having ‘clean nails’ at the moment so pay £40 but will be about £45 when I start having nail art done. I go every 3-4 weeks

Spend time getting your nails in good shape

Cuticle oil and hand cream are a must. So are rubber gloves when hands are doing dishes/housework and remember, your nails are not tools - I dont even open a can of drink with my nails - use a coin or something handy

Learn how to file them - you get a better more even shape if you file with your fingers bent towards you rather then pointing out

When you have been using cuticle oil a day or three, start on pushing them back - your cuticle is skin that grows over the nail. Gently file off any hard skin from around the side walls

I use various home kits, favourite gel system is Sistaco - love the colours and ease of use. I also use nail wraps - Lily and fox , BIAB and now and then polygel - a lot easier to use then acrylics and Ive just ordered a nail dip system

Doing nails yourself isnt hard, what's hard is the removal , get that wrong and you damage your nail beds

I have recently discovered Essie gel nail polish in a twisty shape bottle instead of a standard shape bottle. It honestly lasts about 10 days without chipping and is the closest I have got at home to a salon quality gel! I push back the cuticle, use a little amazon electric file on them to remove dead skin, wipe with acetone to clean them up, then 2 coats of polish and 1 of top coat.

i am really bad at remembering cuticle oil but it really does make a difference!

Buy a curing lamp and do your own gel nails.

I spent £100 buying the whole kit which worked out to about 3 sessions at the beautician after factoring in travel costs.

Great tips from @Nifty50something My application reading glasses are strong enough to make me feel nauseous!

You need to ensure that all your nails are a uniform shape and length for a professional look, so it may be easier to keep them shorter.

You need to apply the polish from the middle of your nail, push it down downwards the cuticle and then back up to the tips. The Essie brush is great for splaying out so by the time it gets to the cuticle end of your nail, it rounds out into a perfect semi-circle and then you can just pull it back. I also like Morgan Taylor polish brushes.

Nails done at home never look as good as when you have them done professionally.

I see that everyone seems to recommend a cuticle oil, I've never tried one and would welcome any recommendations

Doing your own nails is so much fun. I do mine weekly, of a Sunday evening as they get minor chips on the tips after a week. I'll do a third top coat mid week if they're not wearing the best.

I just use polish. But you can get so many fun things like stamping plates, stickers, glitter, chrome powders, foils etc. I find doing nails to be my weekly creative outlet.

This is my nails this week - polish base with a stamp. Took about an hour to remove old polish, paint, stamp, clean up. I'm fortunate to have strong, fast growing natural nails.