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I Tried a DIY Dip Manicure so You Don’t Have To

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Belmont chapter.

I absolutely love painting my nails, but I absolutely don’t love how long it takes and how fast my manicure chips. When I paint my nails, I tend to leave the chipped polish on for a long time because I don’t have time to touch it up each time or take it off and re-do it. I discovered that there are kits you can buy where you can give yourself a dip manicure at home, so I decided to try it. 

 

Dip manicures are very similar to gel except there is no need for a UV light. Dip polish lasts just as long and is durable, just like gel. However, it is supposed to be healthier for your nails. So, after doing some research I decided to order a beginner kit from Rossi Nails. 

Day One (image credit: Rachelle Clousing)               

While somewhat expensive at the outset, the kit is definitely worth it. It comes with almost everything you need, except a nail file and a kabuki brush. The kit includes the base coat, the activator liquid, and the top coat, as well as one jar of powder which will last you a long time. You can choose which color you want out of four options; I chose a light pink. The kit also comes with extra brushes for the liquids in case the original ones fray or get ruined. 

 

You start off by putting on the base coat and then dip your finger into the powder. You can repeat this step as many times as you’d like depending on how rich you want the color to be. Once you’re satisfied with that, you put on two coats of activator liquid and then two coats of the top coat. 

Day 15 (image credit: Rachelle Clousing)

Overall, I was really satisfied with the results! The color is understated, which I like, and my manicure looks very neat. It’s not quite professional quality, but since it was my first time using the kit, I’m sure it’ll get better with practice. The kit is very user friendly and easy to use. My nails dried fast and have not chipped since, even when I played my guitar. I am very satisfied and definitely recommend trying it out if it’s something you are interested in! 

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Rachelle is a junior at Belmont University. She is studying music therapy and has a minor in psychology and hopes to work in hospice someday. Along with writing, she enjoys reading, learning new musical instruments, and spending time with friends.