Global pandemic or not, I’ve always done my own nails except for a couple of months in 2011. IMHO it’s an awkward experience, it’s expensive, it’s time-consuming and omg you have to go regularly. Not my idea of fun or relaxation.
Since I see so many folks on Instagram scrambling to fix their nails, here’s my routine. In terms of general nail care, I take biotin every day, as well as rub castor oil into the cuticles and nails every night before bed.
If you have gel you need to remove, do that first…there are several great removal kits on Amazon…then gather your supplies. For fingers, I like a nipper, an orange stick, a slanted, stiff brush, and a nail file with soft grit.
Next, you’ll push back your cuticles with an orange stick and, if you have excessive skin or hangnails, gently remove with the nipper.
Before filing…
Then file. Start by going under the nail to make sure it’s flat and the corners aren’t curling around, then start at the top of nail to file down length. It’s really helpful to only file in one direction to avoid breakage! Finally, once you reach your desired length, create the shape you want. I’m a square/oval girl.
If your nails are damaged or splitting, I’d recommend stopping here and just soaking your nails in some warm olive oil for ten minutes. Nail polish is like lipstick - it won’t look good if it goes on a cracked surface. Every winter when the temperature plummets, my nails split mercilessly, so I skip nail polish.
…after filing
However, if you’re ready for polish, I like to wash my hands with just water then dry really well with paper towel to reduce lint. Then paint two coats of polish with a little time in between each so it can get tacky, then finish with a topcoat. My favorite nail polishes are Essie Gel Couture in Fairy Tailor and the Gel Couture Top Coat, or, pictured here, the Olive & June polish in GH with their topcoat.
Here’s a tip: the next day, top with one coat of polish and one layer of topcoat. For some reason, this keeps my mani lasting days longer.
And, if you make a mistake, use that slanted brush dipped in a little nail polish remover it easily clean up.
Now onto the pedicure…arguably this should absolutely be done by professionals, but I didn’t do regular pedicures until age 22 after I finished dancing in college. There was literally no point because pointe shoes and dancing barefoot kills your toes!
Whether or not you choose to polish, though, it’s important to take care of your feet. A couple of times a year I’ll get a professional pedi, but in the meantime, I keep a pumice stone in my shower to buff any rough spots, and I put lotion and socks on my feet when I sleep at night.
Every two weeks, I’ll do more intense upkeep. Starting with clean feet, I’ll remove polish, clip nails if needed, then use a nail file with hard grit to shape them. Then, I use a diamond file to buff the bottom of my feet and apply lotion.
Even if you’re not changing polish, a nice treat is “Yoga Toes” to stretch out your foot muscles…otherwise, they double as awesome toe separators.
When it’s time to polish, start with clean nails and separate them. Add a base coat - an essential step for a little extra staying power - then two coats of polish and one layer of topcoat. Make sure it’s completely dry! I like Orly’s Bonder as a base, Essie Find Me an Oasis, Bikini So Teeny, or Wicked for color, and any top coat seems to work.
And that’s it. My at-home nail spa. You can, of course, make it more fancy by adding candles or soaking your feet in a basin of warm water and epsom salt…but honestly I prefer to put on some Netflix and get to work. Enjoy!
