Easy DIY Salon Nails for Beginners
Follow these steps for easy DIY salon nails that will last up to 2 weeks! Stop wasting money on expensive manicures or pedicures and still look like you spent hours at a high-end salon. Above all, no one will ever know that you did your own nails!
Additionally, salon services come with some risks. Many places lack in cleanliness and poor sanitation practices that could jeopardize your health. Horror stories of infections, fungus, and even warts make us all cringe but yet we still take the chance for beautiful manicures and pedicures. Unfortunately, I am a victim of one of these incidents. For me, it was a plantar wart that ended up costing well over $1000 to get rid of! Painful treatments along with ridiculous medical bills sent me in search of an alternative.
Polishing my own nails had never been successful in the past because I just could not sit still long enough to let them dry. I needed something that would allow me to have pretty hands and feet, not pay a fortune and not get any “extras” from a salon.
With this method, drying is almost instant! Perfect manis are no longer out of reach!
Since discovering these products and techniques, I will never go back to a salon. I get so many compliments on my nails and everyone wants to know how I do my own manicures.
My Secret to Easy DIY Salon Nails for Beginners
My daughter is a licensed cosmetologist. During this search for products that would help me get the perfect manicure and pedicure, she took me to the wholesale beauty supply stores that only professionals can shop at. While I did purchase some items there, I found comparable prices elsewhere and I was thrilled to say the least!
Amazon is my saving grace! After much experimentation and shopping, I have narrowed down my list of perfect products. No wasted money on junk! No ordering items and discovering they are not worth the cost. I have already spent my money and thrown lots of polishes away, so you don’t have to! Ultimately, all the work has been done for you so you can jump right in with confidence and know that your manicure will be spectacular on your first try!
Plus, the initial cost is less than the price of ONE visit to a salon! Seriously! What have you got to lose? Trust me, you won’t regret the decision to do your own, easy DIY salon nails!
Using a UV/LED nail lamp will allow your gel manicure to last up to 2 weeks and is super easy to do! In addition, this UV/LED nail light can be used for a pedicure too! Almost impossible to believe but it is TRUE!
Follow each step to achieve the perfect manicure and pedicure! A complete list of all of the products I use is available at the bottom of this article.
** This post contains affiliate links. While I may make a small commission, this will not change the cost of your purchase. Please note: I only recommend products that I love and use myself. If you have any further questions, please read my disclosure statement.
The Steps and Products for Your Easy DIY Salon Nails for Beginners
TIP: Check out my Pinterest Board for lots of ideas on colors and shapes for your nails.
Preparation
- Remove any existing nail polish using remover with acetone and a cotton ball or pad.
- Shape your nails with a nail file. Remember, it is best to file in only one direction to prevent your nails from splitting or cracking.
- Use cuticle remover and gently push back your cuticles. This is one of the most important steps for a manicure to last up to 2 weeks. If the polish lays on top of any cuticles or skin, it will lift and your mani will not last as long.
- Trimmed cuticles are my favorite part of a manicure. I use clippers. If you do not feel comfortable with this tool, try a cuticle trimmer instead. Or you can skip this step if you prefer. As long as your cuticles are pushed back off of your nails, then you are good to go.
- Use a nail file and gently scuff up the surface of your nail bed. This is necessary so that the polish can actually bond to your nails. The nail bed should still be smooth but roughed up. No chunky pieces should be seen.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
- Take a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol and cleanse each nail bed. This removes any oils and leftover debris.
Now comes the fun part! Are you ready to have beautiful, easy DIY salon nails?
TIP: The secret to a successful manicure and pedicure is to apply thin, even coats.
TIP: Gel nail polish is way easier to use than regular nail polish! You can literally brush the polish in any direction and take as long as you want on each nail and it won’t affect the outcome!
TIP: Avoid getting any polish on cuticles or skin. If you do, use an orangewood stick or manicure tool to remove. Whether it is colored or clear, if it gets on the skin or cuticles, it will lift the polish and your manicure will not last up to 2 weeks.
TIP: Work on one hand at a time.
TIP: As a beginner, work on 4 fingers at once and leave your thumb untouched until you become more experienced. After your 4 fingers are complete, move to your thumb. Then complete your opposite hand in the same order.
Don’t worry, your first time polishing may take a bit longer but by your third mani, you will be flying through this process!
Application
Plug in your UV/LED Nail Lamp.
- Apply a single, thin coat of Gelish PH BOND and let air dry. PH BOND works similarly like the rubbing alcohol but has adhesive properties to help the polish stick.
- Next comes the Gelish FOUNDATION. Apply a thin coat to the first 4 nails. Avoid getting any polish on the cuticles. If you do get it on your skin, use an orangewood stick to remove the polish around the cuticle.
- Carefully place your polished hand under the nail lamp and set the time for 60 seconds. Once the light goes off, remove your hand.
Polishing Super Easy DIY Nails
TIP: During the following steps, take a moment to apply a thin coat of polish to the tip of your nails to give you that professionally applied look.
4. Apply a thin, even coat of nail color to your first 4 nails. Again, avoid cuticles and correct if a mistake was made. Continue working the polish until you are happy with the look. Then it is time to cure under the light for another 60 seconds. Pull them out when the light goes off.
5. The second coat of nail color is now added in the same manner as step 4. Cure for 60 more seconds.
Finishing Touches
- Use Gelish TOP IT OFF to complete the polishing process. Again, only a thin coat is needed being careful not to get onto your skin so the polish won’t lift. Don’t forget to hit the tips of your nails for a salon-worthy sealing! Cure under the light.
TIP: For the final curing of the top coat, do two rounds of 60 seconds. A total of 2 minutes but using the 60-second timer.
7. Now, use a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol and rub each polished nail. This removes any residue and will result in beautiful, shiny, easy DIY salon nails!
8. Apply cuticle oil to keep your skin and nails healthy and supple.
Complete your thumb and then move on to your other hand. It is as easy as that!
You now have the perfect, easy DIY Salon nails!
It’s been 2 weeks and it’s time for a change. Now what?
Removal
TIP: Important. Nail polish must be soaked off. Do not peel the polish off as it can damage nails.
TIP: You can use either 100% acetone polish remover or Gel Nail Polish Remover. I like the gel remover best as it is quite gentle on my hands.
TIP: You can do both hands at once. However, it is easier if you have someone that can help apply the clips. My 4-year-old grandlittle has put my clips on for me. If not, do one hand at a time or just have patience and determination to set the clips yourself.
Don’t fret. This process only takes about 10 minutes and it is easy-peasy!!
TIP: Put on your favorite tv show or audible book and relax.
- Take two cotton balls and divide into 10 smaller pieces.
- Soak each piece in a small amount of remover.
- Place one piece of cotton and one clip on each nail bed.
- Wait 10 minutes.
- Remove all clips and cotton balls.
- Use nail scraper tool and gently push polish off of nail from cuticle down to the tip of your nail.
TIP: Work over a paper towel so you can wrap all the debris up and throw it away.
Voila! The polish has disappeared! Now you can begin the manicure process all over again. Ultimately, you will have the best, easy DIY salon nails each and every time!
Put Your Best Foot Forward
Follow the same process for your perfect pedi too! Just follow all of the same steps. The UV/Led nail lamp will fit your toes too!
Hello, summer!
Polish Choices
- Choose soak-off gel colors of nail polish to use with the nail lamp. You can use this polish on your fingers and toes.
- For a non-soak-off pedicure, many lines have matching colors, just search the brand and name when you find one you like. OPI and Essie have many choices of coordinating colors. If you like a Gelish color, search for a matching polish in the Morgan Taylor brand. Gelish and Morgan Taylor also have kits with a gel and regular nail polish in them. They are called Two of a Kind.
- Gellen offers kits that have several colors in them in smaller sizes. These work just as well as the salon brands but unfortunately, do not have matching regular nail polish.
- The cost of polishes on Amazon are only slightly higher than the wholesale beauty supply stores. For me, this is completely worth it to have the product delivered directly to my door within a couple days! If you figure in the cost of gas and time, I did not lose any money.
Once you have purchased all of the basics, then you can start building your own nail color wardrobe! Imagine the luxury you will have with your own personal salon in your home!
Perfect manicures and pedicures at your fingertips! Pardon the pun!! Lol
Would you like perfect hair too? Check out this great article for amazing hair salon products that you can buy on Amazon also!
Did I fail to mention that Amazon is my favorite place to shop? I have packages arriving almost daily! Disclaimer: Amazon is not my hubby’s favorite because of my addiction!
Take a moment and send me a pic of your easy DIY salon nails! I can’t wait to see your “Professional” results!
You may already have some of the items suggested below. However, if you are new to doing your own manicures and pedicures,
then here is a complete list of what you need to get started.
Can’t wait to try this out! Thanks for the great article!
Hi Marion – I am sure you are gonna love this! I never thought I would ever want to leave the salon life but now I will never go back!
This looks like an awesome technique. I have never tried doing my nails this way. I can’t wait to try it. Looking forward to having my polish last more then 2-4 days.
Hi Traci – You are gonna love this! You will be able to garden, clean and play with all of the little ones and still have a fantastic manicure!
I love when I get a manicure at the salon but can’t seem to afford it very often. I appreciate your post and can’t wait to try out these tips and tricks at home!
Hello Taylor! The salon is certainly costly. Even more so, I had found that my visits there have left me disappointed. Either the polish was sloppy, my cuticles were neglected or cut aggressively or even pain when they buffed my feet. Be done with all of the downfalls of a salon and love the outcome of manis and pedis when you do them yourself! You will love this process!