I have been doing my own nails for years now. Back when I was living in Queens I had a nail tech that I loved so so much, and one day she stopped doing nails to focus on facials and skincare treatments and I just never looked back. To be clear I’m super happy for her though, she’s really good at what she does…but I had to adapt. It took some time to figure out the best way to do the home manicure but I have it pretty much down to a science these days. It has also occurred to me that most people who do their own nails do not have a few of the simplest, cheapest and most important nail tools that they need to do the job right.
If you do your own manicure the two nail tools you need ( besides cuticle remover and a bomb base coat and top coat, obviously) are Nail Stick/Orange sticks and a Nail Brush. But Nicole, wtf are they for? Allow me to elaborate for you.
- NAIL CARE STICKS // Nail care stick are wooden sticks with one pointy end and one blunt slanted end, and they do approximately 856 different things for your nails. To narrow it down though I used the blunt end to push back my cuticles after I apply cuticle remover, to clean under the nails (the wood is soft so it’s less damaging than using just any old tool) and I even dip it in acetone and remove any little mess ups around the cuticle line after my nails are painted. If I don’t have one on hand while I do my nails I feel like a lost child at a carnival just wandering around with bad nails looking for help.
- NAIL BRUSH // A nail brush is something that my grandmother taught me about many moons ago. She had great nails so looking back on it she obviously knew what she was talking about. I use a nail brush after I remove my old polish and have done any treatments and/or cuticle removing and pushing. I use it with hand soap to scrub the tops of the nails, the cuticles and even under the nails. It does a few things, first and foremost it gets under the nails super clean. It also removes and remaining cuticle overgrowth that you didn’t get with your nail stick as well as any traces of nail polish that might be clinging to the edges of your nails near the cuticle. You know those stubborn little bits that refuse to leave. Little bastids. Last but certainly not least it ensures that the nails are clean of any substance that might cause your fresh new polish to chip more quickly. Natural oils, nail treatments, this afternoons leftover potato chip grease (not even gonna judge) you name it, it get’s scrubbed away.
If you do your own nails, or maybe want to start doing them yourself hopefully this guides you, inspires you to up your home mani game, teaches you things that touch you deep down into your soul…no? Too much? Ok too much. Try the tools though, they’re cheap and I swear they make a huge difference!
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