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I am obsessed with having my nails done! Having them done helps me feel put together, pretty, and creative. Also, I am an avid acrylic nail wearer but in my senior year of college, I needed to take a break from them, especially for the health of my natural nails. But, I still wanted my nails to look pretty and not spend too much money, so I went back to my roots and started doing my nails right in my dorm.
There are different DIY methods that save money when it comes to doing one’s nails. For example, there are Gel X nails, which are still artificial nails just without the use of acrylic powder. Also, press-on nails are an option that has recently become popular again and is much easier to apply than any other method. However, I do have a bit of a crafty side and I love to indulge in art, so of course, I decided to actually paint my own nail designs. Here’s what I do that has saved me so much money through not going to the nail salon.
First, I like to do gel nails, along with a base/top coat, since it lasts longer than regular polish. Gel nails do require a UV light to cure them and thankfully I was lucky to have been gifted one. But they’re not too expensive on everyone’s go-to site, Amazon! Next, gel nail polish is not super inexpensive but it is a worthy purchase in the long run. But not to worry, places like Target have some available to buy! Then, along with nail polish, it is essential to do the basic care of my nails, so I use a nail care kit and cuticle oil, which is optional. Additionally, I use brushes and tools in order to attempt to achieve my desired nail design. Nail designs are a lot harder to do than they look so I am definitely still practicing. But, my go-to recently has been a simple French tip and I may add hearts or flowers depending on my patience at the moment, haha.
Doing my own nails has been super rewarding! Along with the basic tools to do your nails, you can purchase other items to help such as a nail art palette, stickers, and so on. Another helpful tip I have is watching nail videos online, mainly for doing designs that you may need extra help with or a step-by-step visual on how to do your nails. Nail art creators I like include katesnails on YouTube and @heygreatnails on Instagram.
Lastly, doing my own nails has saved me so much money and makes me feel great for not having spent so much on a nail set. I also include it as self-care for taking the time to do so. But, don’t get me wrong, I will still be a frequent customer at my favorite nail salons from time to time.