DIY manicure

We all paint our nails, but how many times do we just lazily slap some polish on then pick it off a couple days later? I'm definitely guilty.

Now that I've started working I realize I can't sport my classic chipped, blue nails anymore since it's not professional-looking. While going polish-less is the easiest and most realistic option, sometimes you just gotta put in a little time and effort to groom your nails. Even if you don't want paint color on your nails, it's still a good idea to regularly trim your cuticles and file your nails down so they look clean. Not only will it save you time and money by not going to a nail salon, it can be something you look forward to!

the only supplies you need

First, take off any existing nail polish with nail polish remover and wash your hands with soap after to ensure nail polish will really adhere to your nails. Then clip nails if needed, but definitely file your nails regardless so whichever shape you choose (oval or squared) all nails look uniform in shape.

Next, clean up cuticles with a cuticle trimmer. This is one of the most underrated nail products ever! You can get one for super cheap from the nail section of the drugstore - mine is Revlon. You use the pointed end to push your cuticles down, then the metal end to get the dead skin off (I realize these are horrible instructions but I can't really explain it - I promise it's intuitive!).

Here's the time-consuming part. Take the time to paint your nails with a clear base coat, two coats of color (allowing plenty of time to dry in between), then finally a clear top coat. If you're the type of person who hastily paints a couple coats of color on your nails and that's it, you're better off having bare nails because the polish is going to look bad and chip in no time. It can be frustrating to sit and wait for your nails to dry, but try to pass the time by reading or Pinteresting and if you're really rushed just run your hands underneath cold water and they'll dry faster.

Make sure you're keeping your hands and cuticles hydrated by using hand cream daily, and keep up a manicure by reapplying top coat every other day to prevent chipping and dullness.

If you turn grooming your nails into a mini spa night with a face mask and a magazine, it'll be something you actually look forward to every week, and who doesn't feel prettier with manicured nails?

DIY gel nails

Nail polish and my nails don't get along. Actually, they repel each other. I can spend an hour doing my nails carefully (cleansing, priming, base coat, two color coats AND a top coat) and the polish always chips at least 15 hours later. Expensive manicure? Forget it. It chips in about a day and peels off shortly after that.

Even through all the chipping, peeling and short-lived nail polish, I still love painting my nails. It's silly but I always feel prettier when they are painted and make a bad day a little better. There are few things worse than looking down and seeing nails that aren't maintained, or worse, having someone else (like an interviewer) notice a lack of maintenance. This may make me seem overly 'girly', but I strongly believe in taking care of yourself, and something as simple as keeping your nails moderately groomed shows you care about your body.

Due to the inability of my nails to keep nail polish on, I was ecstatic when gel nails became a "thing" a couple of years ago. Even better: at-home gel nail kits became a thing shortly after which allows me to save money on expensive manicures and fuel my polish addiction - wahoo!

UV light hardens the gel polish in literally one minute

My sister got me the SensatioNail Starter Kit for Christmas last year and I have been buying individual SensatioNail polishes ever since. There are so many color options, and even though they are slightly more expensive than regular nail polishes it's so worth it because it lasts longer and looks better.

Four days and still going strong with the perfect pink.

At-home gel polish doesn't last quite as long as a salon gel manicure (about 1 week versus 2 weeks), but it's still a better option than regular nail polish. It also takes patience and a little chunk of time to do gel nails correctly but it's about the same as painting with regular nail polish if you factor in drying time.

If you love having your nails painted but hate the constant attention it requires to maintain, definitely give gel polish a try - there are endless brand and color options to choose from! I'll take one in every color, please.