How to Get the Perfect Manicure at Home

Longevity

Learning how to give yourself a quality manicure at home can save time and money, but lots of people still turn to salon treatments for chip-free longevity. If you’re worried about chips, “Take a topcoat and run a horizontal swipe of it over the edge of your nail after you do your last coat,” says celebrity nail artist Gina Edwards. “Let it dry, and repeat one more time.”

Nail Effects

Trendy nail effects, like chrome finishes, can be applied just as easily at home as they are at the salon. To get Hailey Bieber’s signature glazed-donut look at home, “Apply a long-lasting topcoat and let it dry for four minutes,” Edwards says. “Then, while it’s still tacky, apply a chrome or holographic nail powder using a foam eye shadow applicator.” Finish with another layer of topcoat.

Nail Health

One major perk of the DIY mani: It’s much easier to preserve your nails’ integrity without the harsh removal processes, chemicals, and UV exposure that comes with most salon services. “While gel manicures themselves aren’t inherently dangerous, misuse, overuse, or lack of proper protection can cause real problems,” says Mona Foad, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Mona Dermatology. If your nails feel weak or brittle from professional treatments, switching off to DIY manis periodically can help them rebuild strength while still looking polished.