January 16, 2013

DIY Manicure Tips & Products


Confession: I never pay for a manicure. Over years of trial-and-error, I've finally found the products and perfected the steps for creating an at-home manicure. I've gotten lots of comments and questions about manicure tips based on all my nail photos on instagram and also received requests on this post for more beauty how-to posts. You asked, I answered and decided it was time to share the process step-by-step!






Find all the products here:
Chip Skip // Base Coat // Polish // Top Coat

And believe me, I am not a polish snob. Not matter the brand, though, I always use the steps and products above. The OPI Chip Skip will change.your.life. I've also grown fond of using a clear polish as a top coat - I can't tell any difference. The one I featured is NYC's Grand Central Station. This post was more about sharing the products I use to make my manicure last longer than showing you how to paint your nails - I mean, we probably already know how to do that!

I hope this was helpful and that this is what y'all were wanting to see more. Let me know in the comments!

(All images are my own)
 
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11 comments

Lili said...

oooh, i need to try that ship skip product! have not seen that before!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the tips! I never pay for manicures either!

Anonymous said...

Love learning new tips & tricks for at-home manicures! Much cheaper to DIY... thanks for sharing :)

Alyssa said...

I hardly ever pay for manicures either! I figure I've spent so much on nail polish, I should probably paint at home.

Alyssa
The Glossy Life

Anonymous said...

Have you ever tried Seche Vite top coat? It smells TERRIBLE but it leaves your nails so shiny and chip-free!

But I've got such a shaky hand, I usually pay for my manis.. good thing Seche Vite is cheap! ;)

xx, Eleanor

Jacqueline Your said...

Absolutely adore this! I have a ton of OPI and Essie that just sits around my house while I keep paying for a manicure!

PS. I love that you are from VA like me!
have a lovely day!

Xoxo
Jacqueline

madeleine said...

I love the essie color you chose! I just wrote it on the corner of my grocery list so I can go hunt it down in target!

Kristen said...

Wow your nails always look fabulous I can' t believe you do them yourself! I need to jump on this bandwagon! Manis get expensive!

Southern Belle Mama said...

One question, do you let each coat dry before painting the next? I always end up smudging them because I think they are dry but they aren't.

Jenna said...

Thanks for sharing! I love the OPI Ridge Filler and Seche Vite.

Unknown said...

Such a useful manicure guide. Thanks for posting through this blog.

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