Before the coronavirus pandemic, I went through a phase where I was obsessed with getting my nails done in the salon every few weeks. At the time, I was making minimum wage and still was putting a good portion of my paycheck towards my nails. Every few weeks I would drag another one of my friends to come with me and spend hundreds of dollars on nails that I could do from home.
At first, I would only pay for gel nails. I was convinced it was cheaper and “healthy” for your nails if you took care of them properly. In reality, the UV light not only harms your nails, but your skin too.
One weekend when my mom and I decided to spend yet another weekend in the salon, we decided to get dip nails instead. She had told me she read online that dip nails were healthier for your nails because it didn’t need to be cured with a UV light and they lasted much longer, so we were convinced it was worth it.
Then March 2020 hit, and the nail salons were forced to close. Both my mom and I were stuck with these dip nails that we were forced to take off ourselves. We researched the best ways to remove them from home, but even after “properly” removing them, our nails looked unhealthy and damaged.
From then on, we decided it wasn’t worth it to go to the nail salon every few weeks just to waste our money on expensive nails that, in the end, damage our nails.
Months later when the nail salons started to open back up, I had the urge to get my nails done. My mom convinced me it wasn’t a good idea and we looked into ways we could do our nails from home.
To this day, I’ve only been to the nail salon once (senior prom nails of course!) and I continue to do my nails myself in my dorm room every so often.
At this point I’m sure you’re wondering what type of nails you should get done or attempt to do yourself from home. Let me give you the ultimate nail breakdown!
Besides regular polish, gel nails are the easiest to do yourself and are the cheapest option at the nail salon (typically $30). They have a polish like formula and are very similar to regular polish, except they need to be cured with a UV and they last longer. While the UV light can harm your nails and skin, it’s okay to get them done every so often. If you’re not looking to get gel done in the salon, they are relatively easy to do yourself from home. All you need is a UV light and gel polish. My favorite is found on Amazon.
If you’re looking for something that lasts a little longer and has a stronger feel, then dip nails are for you. Dip nails start out as a powder that then has to be activated with an activator. These nails don’t need to be cured with a UV light and last up to 4 weeks. Dip nails take a little more practice, but it’s possible to do them from home. Dip nail kits are sold by various companies, Amazon included.
I have the least experience with acrylic nails. These nails last a lot longer and fills are needed every few weeks. Acrylic nails consist of a combination of liquid monomer and powder polymer that create a paste when mixed together. The lavish, long nails you see on Instagram are most likely acrylic nails. They are a lot more expensive and take a long time to do. However, they’re worth it if you’re looking to do an intricate design or want long nails.
Whether you’re looking for lavish, intricate nails or simple gel nails, there’s something for everyone!