How to Create the Perfect Manicure at Home

There’s something about having your nails done that makes your confidence skyrocket. Tapping your freshly manicured nails on a keyboard, door, or just about anything is such a satisfying sound. Cleanly trimmed cuticles and perfectly shaped nails with a shimmer or sparkle are sure to make you smile. A perfect manicure is a small detail that just shouldn’t be overlooked.

However, salon trips get pricey. A full set can run about $50, and that’s without any fun designs or rhinestones (which I know we all love). After that, needing a fill every 2 to 3 weeks will cost about $25. So at the end of the year, you’ll have spent almost $800 to keep your nails looking great -add more if you’re interested in designs or accents on your nails!. That’s a lot of money!

I’m here to tell you that there’s a better and much more affordable way. Check out the rest of this blog to learn how I’ve been doing my own nails at home, for way cheaper than the salon, so you too can look fabulous for less!

There are many different kinds of manicures available, including acrylics, gel, and dip nails. Some may think that these nails can only be achieved through a salon, but you can actually buy all the supplies you need yourself and do your own nails, at home, on your own time, and saving a lot of coin!

Kiss makes it easy to bring the salon home and actually makes kits with everything you need to get started on whatever type of nails you want to create. The best part is, you can be in full control of every aspect of your nails, from size to design. They have multiple options to choose from, so you can do whatever nails you desire!

I have been wearing press-on nails for about four years now, and I will never go back to a salon. I love having the freedom to change my nails whenever I want, and with how affordable press-ons are, its a no-brainer.

Press-on nail brands have really stepped it up in creating strong, durable, and beautifully designed nails at a very affordable cost. Each press-on kit comes with 24-30 nails meaning you can get two or maybe even three manicures from each kit. Kits cost an average of $7 and range anywhere from $5 to $18, depending on how intricate the designs are.

One of the things I love most about wearing press-ons is that I have full control of when I can change my manicure, and I don’t have to visit a salon if I want to remove them. They also keep my nails (which are very weak) protected and safe from breakage. They are easy to use and come in endless designs from plain, matte color, natural french tips, glitter, and blinged out!

I’ve heard some people complain that they don’t last very long, and while they aren’t as long-lasting as acrylics, I usually manage to get my press-ons to last two weeks. I don’t mind changing my nails every couple of weeks for how easy they are to put on. I actually prefer to switch up my nails every other week, so I never get bored of them! You can find my step-by-step guide and bonus tips on getting your press-ons to last later in this post.

While you can buy a UV lamp and gel polishes to create gel manicures at home easily, there are also many polishes and topcoats that give a gel effect without the need for a UV light. This makes it even simpler to do an at-home manicure, and you can do it on your natural nails or glue on some natural acrylic nails if you want an extended length.

Gel nails are a type of polish cured under a UV light, making them more long-lasting and durable than traditional polish. Gel also includes an amazing glossy finish for beautiful-looking nails.

Kiss also makes at-home dip nail kits, which include everything you need to get dipping right at home! Dip nails are a simple, fuss-free solution for those who don’t want a lot of maintenance to their nails.

Dip nails are created by coating the nails with a special base, dipping the nail in powder, and then coating it with an activator and topcoat. The nice part about dip nails is that they can be customized to be as thick and opaque as you want. It’s a very easy at-home manicure and works great for those who want long-lasting natural-length nails, as dip can last up to a month.

Trim and file down nails as short as you can. Push back the cuticles and trim those too for an even cleaner look.

After trimming and filing, make sure to use an alcohol pad or cotton round with acetone to dry off any oils from the nail bed. Ensuring your nails are thoroughly dry will keep your nails on longer.

Most press-on kits come with a variety of sizes, and the nails usually have a tiny number on the inside, towards the tip. The numbers correspond to the size. You want to make sure that each nail fits snugly at the cuticle.

Pick out the correct nail sizes and line them up in order before you start gluing. This will make the process a lot quicker and easier.

Glue down your nails one at a time. Each press-on kit comes with glue which makes it super easy. Just add a drop to the nail bed and a drop to the back of the artificial nail. Then, carefully place the artificial nail on the natural nail and press firmly for 5 seconds to secure it. If you put too much glue and some of it floods out, scrape it away with a manicure stick. Any glue that gets on your skin can be easily removed with a polish remover and a q-tip later.

When gluing down the nails, hold your hand out with your fingers straight instead of curved in towards yourself. This will help make sure you put on the nails straight and not crooked.

File down any rough edges of the nails, and you are good to go! These nails are so quick and easy.

To make these nails really last, you’ll want to avoid getting your hands wet for 2-3 hours after applying the nails.

These nails usually come off really easily, and to facilitate the removal, you can soak your hands in warm water or oil for a few minutes. Kiss also makes a great tool called Glue Off, which I love because it’s a two-in-one tool that adds a nourishing oil to break down the glue, and it also works as an edged tool to help pop the nails off. They come off so easy with this little tool! The most important part is never to force off your nails as this can damage your nail. Please don’t pull the nail off from the tip; rather, try to pop them off by getting another nail or tool underneath the sides near your cuticles. If there’s any glue remaining on the nail bed, you can use acetone to remove it.

Keep the remaining glue in a purse or pocket for quick fixes on the go. These should hold up for at least a week, but the good news is if a nail pops off, it’s a really quick fix!

File the tops of your nails to make them last even longer – lightly buffing the tops of your nails creates a rough surface that glue will adhere to even better. I wouldn’t recommend doing this every time you do press-ons as it can cause damage to the nail, but it’s good for every once in a while when you want to really make that manicure last.

While most manicure kits come with glue, there are other options if you prefer. For example, the Kiss PowerFlex is a new glue with an ultra hold and dries down in 3 seconds. The Big Bondini Glue is also a popular choice if you’re looking for hypoallergenic nail glue.

Use sticky tabs for when you want to have the manicure for just a few days, like a special event. Otherwise, the adhesive tabs are just not as long-lasting as the glue.

Keep the extra nails from each pack to practice designs, and mix and match them for new manicure combinations!