Beauty-must haves for many college women usually includes manicured nails. Perfectly-polished nails give me a feeling of being put together regardless of how casual or formal my outfit, shoes, or accessories are. Yet the money and time to get them done every two weeks is not feasible for a college student with various deadlines, time commitments, and expenses of daily living. According to wisebread.com, “living large on a small budget”, most U.S. salons charge an average of $19.50 for a manicure and $32.25 for a pedicure. Paying for manis and pedis every two weeks results in an average of $1,345 per year. With a little effort and a small investment, treating yourself can be much more affordable. The following options are alternatives to repeat salon visits that won’t break the bank.
- Learn how to DIY
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Traditional nail polishes and topcoats are extremely affordable and easily accessible via convenience stores and retailers such as CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, and many more. Other companies such as Olive and June are raved about in the nail community for having affordable, long-lasting polishes and stunning colors! To begin your manicure, trim, file, and buff your nails. Next apply your first coat of nail polish, allowing this to dry before deciding whether another coat will enhance the color. After your coat(s) have dried, apply a top coat and enjoy your beautifully manicured nails.
- Invest in a gel manicure kit
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If you like gel manicures, purchase a kit that can be easily found at Sally’s Beauty Supply or even better, Amazon! While gel manicures are more of an investment, they are meant to last longer (approximately two weeks) and be less damaging to your nail beds when compared to acrylic and dip powder. A year and a half ago I invested in a UV Light and gel polish, which can be bought in more affordable mini bottles, and have enjoyed being creative while having longer-lasting polish.
During this time of COVID with masks and other face coverings, doing your nails is a perfect way to embellish your look while allowing you to do something enjoyable in our much more prominent amount of free time. Start saving money and making time for some much-needed self-care!