How2: Start Your At Home Beauty Regime - Nails.
Lockdown saw the end of eyebrow threading, Brazilian waxes, lashes, and my most important one - nails done at the nail shop!
So we all had to resort to home beauty - buying wax pots off of Amazon, investing in the strip lashes that our lash tech was selling and tweezers to sort them eyebrows out, my Lord. I remember during the first lockdown I spent about an hour on the phone to Sof whilst trying to sort out the caterpillars that were growing on my forehead, making sure I didn’t over-pluck and end up with brows from the 00s - that Portuguese and Indian gene blessed me in the WRONG way (thanks parents).
I have to give Sof all the props here, not only was she my skincare guru, giving me all the tips and tricks, and my eyebrow advisor, she also put me on and made me buy a shellac/gel nail lamp.
I’m that girl that is in the nail shop every week and a half. Luckily for me, my nails grow super quick and have a pretty decent shape (maybe I should thank the parents for something). So as you can imagine, the fact that I couldn’t get in the nail shop until October was the worst. By this point, Sof had done my nails a couple of times using her new lamp and all her others bits - I had the cutest gold foil nails in the summer. So I had no other choice but to invest and ask what I needed, if I wanted to maintain the cute nails that I had going on.
What did I buy?
So firstly a good lamp is a MUST otherwise your nails will not cure and you’ll have them peeling, waste of your time and money. Ideally you want a dual LED/UV lamp, this will allow for quicker curing time and will mean you have more variety when choosing gels.
I bought the SUN 80W UV Lamp - LED Nail Lamp Kit 10 PCS Kit Gel Nail Dryer Starter Kit 80W UV Led Lamps Smart Sensor https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PHZ1GHM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_T6A0B1T2BZASZFC36TXN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1.
It came with the lamp, nail clips and the cotton pads to soak the gel off, nail tools - file, cutters, cuticle pusher, cuticle trimmer, nail buffer block, nail separators and a nail soft brush. Literally EVERYTHING you need to get started.
Some more nails fails, because you can never have too many.
Nail File Set 12 Pack Nail Files and Buffers 4 Shapes Professional Nail Files Block 100/180 Grit Double Sided Emery Board Manicure Set for Nail Trimming Grinding Polishing Shining Manicure Tools https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083SJ1XXL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_TDRAZ7HW99QWBAVP8AJP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Love this entire set - comes with everything you need. 4 half-moon double sided nail files, 4 straight double sided nail files, 2 nail buffer block and 2 nail polishing block. Perfect for your starter kit.
A good top & base coat.
Lavender Violets Base Coat and No Wipe Top Coat Set Soak Off UV LED Gel Nail Polish 2 x 8ml F801 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F7YF93L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_04S2YBK0YENGMW1YYQYX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I really like both of these. They cure VERY well and don’t leave my nails feel tacky at all.
Next most important thing, some cute coloured polish.
Beetles Gel Nail Polishes- Pink Confetti Gel Nail Polish Set, 6 Colors Nude Pink Series Gel Polish Glitter Set, Soak Off Nail Lamp Gel Polish Summer Spring Manicure Varnish Nail Salon DIY Beauty Gifts https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S3WL4WK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_7BS00S8AMSJRDYNF4A07?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I am definitely a baby pink kind of girl. Any time I paint my nails any other colour I hate it after about 3 days, so this set was absolutely perfect for me. Every kind of baby pink and a cute glitter to go alongside it, because you know, sometimes be different.
Lastly, some acetone to soak to get the polish off.
Mylee 100% Pure Acetone High Quality Nail Polish Remover for UV/LED Gel Soak Off (300ml) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0182QCU7E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_81EQBG86TBJ4YCWAJ353?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This was my top hit when I done my Amazon order so I ordered this one simply because of that reason. I have no complaints and it gets the job done. However, I cannot lie, the removal process is the absolute worst. Miss the days of a nail drill and a quick soak, not a 20 minute soak and scrape. Definitely need to invest in a home nail drill. I’ve also heard about a relatively new product on the market, a nail steamer! You put a cap of acetone in the steamer, stick your fingers in and within a few minutes the polish starts coming off. A friend of ours has invested and she loves it! Definitely one to look out for.
If you’re someone who has a shaky hand, you may benefit from buying a nail lacquer. It comes in a bottle that looks like nail polish and is a game changer for anyone who isn’t used to painting nails. The glue like substance is painted around the nail bed, avoiding the actual nail. It acts as a barrier and if done properly will mean no polish will get on your skin. The lacquer will dry and at the end of your manicure you peel it off like pva glue.
If you want to get really extra with your nails then there are so many cute things you can buy on amazon! My favourite has to be nail foils. They come in so many nice colours and patterns. They can be quite fiddly to get the hang of, but even when they don’t transfer 100% perfectly, the effect it gives on the nail is great.
So far I have saved £60 a month since investing in the nail kit, that’ll be £720 saved by the end of the year - maybe I can finally treat myself to them Sacais. So if you’re still struggling before we’re allowed to get our hair, nails and brows done in April then my first at home beauty recommendation is definitely a nail kit! The money I am going to save is going to have my pockets feeling healthy and definitely fund the Hot Girl Summer 2021 that we’re about to have - I cannot wait. Hope this quick little How2 do your nails helps you out. I am going to re-do my nails as soon as this post is saved because they are looking shambolic at the moment!