A note from Erin: I’m so excited for you guys to meet Kristen. We met while freshman at Bucknell. We were both a part of Bucknell Student Government. Kristen is a sweetheart and I love reading her blog Polished N Pretty for styling tips on nails and fashion, all her great travel recaps and fun adventures living in the South.
For a totally embarrassing throwback picture, here we are dressed as angels for the Lewisburg holiday parade. (Sorry Kristen, I had to share this. ;p) BSG had an initiation for freshman reps that they had to help out the community parade by dressing up in costume. Kristen and I had a blast and were assigned to open the parade with two little angels, who were absolutely adorable. It’s crazy to think that was five years ago. Before I start feeling really old, take it away Kristen!
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Hi! I’m Kristen, the writer behind Polished N Pretty, a lifestyle blog centered around my love of nail polish. I could not be more excited to be guest posting for Erin today! As a fellow 20-something blogger (and a teacher) I’m always looking for ways to save while maintaining a fun and eventful life, so I thought I’d share my favorite trick with you… The At-Home Mani.
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| {Bikini So Teeny, Cute as a Button, Mint Candy Apple, Butler Please} |
If you’re like me and don’t have the funds to splurge on a weekly manicure, this at-home mani guide is just what you need. It’s the easiest way to save money and still feel glamorous, plus it’ll save you $10-15 a week that can be used towards that new pair of shoes you’re eyeing instead! Trust me, if you follow these steps, your nails will look so fabulous your nail technician will think you’re cheating on her with another salon.
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| {Kroger Nail Polish Remover, Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil, Sephora Nail Buffer, CVS Nail Clipper} |
Prep your nails:
1. Remove all left over nail polish with your nail polish remover of choice. I don’t have a preference when it comes to brands/types, so I just grab the cheapest purple-tinted remover I can find. When in doubt, go with your favorite color!
2. Shape your nails using a nail clipper and/or file. I like to shape mine based on the actual curve of my nail (where the white part meets the pink). That way it’s always consistent and I never have to worry about them being mismatched.
3. Buff your nails to create a smooth surface. This is so important. When you remove polish, it often leaves your nail surface uneven and dry. To avoid any imperfections in your polish, even out the surfaces of your nails.
4. Apply the cuticle oil and let it sit for a minute or so before using a cotton ball to wipe off any excess oil that got on your nails. (You want your nails to be oil free, so if you accidentally get a lot on your nail, use a cotton ball with a touch of rubbing alcohol to remove the oil from your nail completely).
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| {Julep “Ta Da!” Quick Dry Drops, Sally Hansen “Hard as Nails”, Seche Vite Top Coat, Trader Joe’s “Kukui Nut Oil” Hand Cream} |
Paint:
1. Apply one coat of base coat. I’ve found base coat to make a huge difference in my at home manis and swear by it. I like Sally Hansen “Hard as Nails” which you can find at any drug store.
2. Apply 2 coats of color. Apply the color with thin, even layers to make sure everything is covered (and isn’t too thick). I don’t use a lot of wait time between coats, I generally work my way from pinky to pinky (across all 10 fingers), wait about 30 seconds to a minute, and then apply my next coat. If you use a quick dry top coat, you can get away with this shorter wait time, otherwise I recommend allowing your nails a little bit more dry time. Also, placing both hands on a hard, sturdy surface while painting will help you keep a steady hand.
3. Apply your top coat. I like to use Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat because it does exactly what it says: it dries really quickly. It has a strong smell, but it goes on nice and thick and leaves your nails feeling and looking like a gel manicure!
4. Apply Quick Drops. I use Julep “Ta Da!” drops which were sent to me in my Monthly Maven Box and I love them. They work so well and leave your nails dry to the
touch within a few minutes. Keep in mind while your nails may feel dry to the touch, they can still be dented and smudged if you knock them against something.
5. Rub on some lotion and you’re good to go! You can skip this last step if lotion isn’t your thing, but I think applying hand cream after a home mani adds a special touch that makes you feel pampered.
So there it is! The perfect steps to create your own at-home mani. It may seem like a lot of steps, but if you take the extra time to do them your manicure will last much longer and it will look a thousand times better! Plus, not only will you feel accomplished, you’ll be saving yourself some moolah as well.
Hope you enjoyed my guest post! If you did, free to stop by the blog and say hi, I’d love to hear from you! And a big thanks again to Erin for having me 🙂
xxo, Kristen
Questions of the Day: What’s your favorite nail polish brand? Do you have a favorite color you like to wear?
essie or opi! i’m terrible at painting my nails though and thoroughly enjoy having them done haha
I used to ALWAYS BE CLEAR.
now? after my daughter? Im PINKY MCGEE.
People often make fun of me for this… but I honeslty love REALLY dark polish colors (black, brown, dark green, navy). Of course, I tend to mostly use those colors during the Fall/Winter months.
I need to bookmark this because I am horrible at painting my nails! I also hate filing them…I hate that feeling. So I just flip them. I’ll have to keep the rest in mind though. I feel like manicures last like a max of 3 days! Which is why I like doing my own as opposed to paying for one.
I’m so glad you liked it! If you use the right top coat, I promise it can last you at least 5 days without a single chip 🙂
All good tips! A good reminder that I need to pay more attention to my nails. 🙂