This DIY Manicure Is So Easy, You'll Never Spend Money at a Nail Salon Again
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Real talk: doing your own nails at home can sometimes seem like a feat that can never be accomplished. Especially when you start thinking about anything more than just a single color. And trust us, we get it — popping into the salon, turning on the massage chair, and fully turning your brain off while you get your nails done is obviously the best option, but sometimes it isn't the most realistic. Whether you just don't have the time or the activity isn't in your budget, know that there is another way.
A DIY manicure that incorporates nail art and proves long-lasting might seem like a tall order. However, we're here to tell you that it isn't. It just takes the right tools — and tips — to make it a reality.
Luckily for you, we've already done all of the heavy lifting, so all you have to do is keep reading. We've done the research for you and consolidated everything you need to know about an easy at-home manicure into six steps. We have even enlisted the help of a celebrity nail artist and a nail educator to share their best tips to make your looks last. Check out our tutorial ahead.
Experts Featured in This Article
Elle Gerstein is a celebrity nail artist based in New York City.
Yvette Holt is a LeChat Nails educator.
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Prep Your Nails
Prep your nails by removing your nail polish and cutting and filing your nails into your desired shape. If you aren't sure which nail shape you want to go with, check out our handy nail shape guide. For your most long-lasting manicure, Holt suggests wiping your nails with a rubbing alcohol to make sure there is no excess moisture on your nail beds before applying a base coat.
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Lay Down Your Nail Polish
Starting at the cuticle, slowly paint your nail color of choice toward the tip of your nail beds. I used the Olive and June The Poppy ($16) to ensure my hands had a sturdy grip on the applicator. Gerstein suggests sweeping on two coats of polish for maximum wear time, but make sure to let each coat dry before moving on to the next.
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Create Your Nail Art
Nail stickers (like the Olive and June Nail Stickers in Bloom ($8)) make it easy for me to wear cute nail art without having to spend a fortune at the salon, and you don't need a super steady hand to adhere them. Just grab a pair of tweezers and use the tool to place them on your nails — however, make sure your first two coats are completely dry before doing this.
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Apply Your Topcoat
Sweep on your topcoat to seal in everything. Our current favorite option is the Sally Hansen Insta Dri Nail Color ($7) or the OPI Nail Treatment Top Coat ($13).
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Apply Cuticle Oil
"Always apply cuticle oil as the last step," Gerstein says. "It helps maintain flexibility in your nails and to stop them from chipping and breaking." We love the Essie On Aroll Apricot Roll-On Cuticle Oil ($18).
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The Finished Look
Whenever I follow these tips, I'm always left with perfectly shaped nails and a fun look that gets me tons of compliments, especially if I opt for nail art. Plus, these tips also make sure my manicure is long-lasting. (We all know there's nothing worse than a manicure that takes hours to complete but chips after a few days.)
— Additional reporting by Renee Rodriguez
Jesa Marie Calaor was a former assistant editor for PS Beauty.
Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.