This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General. All opinions are 100% mine.
I love a good manicure. I tend to give myself a DIY manicure instead of going to the nail salon. I have a two year old so just having the time to go to the nail salon is hard to come by. Not to mention I save a ton of money by doing my own nails, it’s a great frugal beauty tip.
I have come across a few tips and secrets to getting a perfect DIY manicure. It is just as good as getting one done professionally, just a lot cheaper.
Buff your Nails
The first thing you want to do is to take off any old nail polish with some polish remover and then buff your nails to get rid of any uneven ridges. This will give the nail a smoother look. Only buff your nails once or twice a month because doing it often can cause damage or thinning of the nail.
Use Vinegar
Take some plain white vinegar that you probably already have in your kitchen and put some on a cotton swab and rub it over your nail. This will get rid of any oil or residue left by the nail polish remover and give you a clean surface.
Don’t Spend a Fortune on Supplies
One of the main reasons I give myself a DIY manicure is to save money so I don’t want to spend a lot on nail products. I can get everything I need at my local Dollar General store. I was surprised at how many beauty products they carry.
I was able to get a nail buffer, quality nail polish, and topcoat at an affordable price ( $2 each!). Find these products and more at Dollar General They even had nail art pens and nail stickers if you wanted to get all fancy.
The quality of the polish that I used was great! It lasted just as long as getting it from Target or the drugstore. The Dollar General price is hard to beat, though. Plus, it is conveniently located to my house so it is a win-win for me! Discover beauty products, tips and more in the Dollar General Beauty Zone
Use a Rubberized Basecoat
I like using a rubberized base coat. It really gives the polish something to bind to and it seems to make the manicure last a lot longer than using a regular base coat.
Apply Vaseline
To make less mess, use a q-tip to apply some Vaseline around the edge of your cuticles. Make sure you don’t get any on the nail. Once you are done polishing and your nails have dried, the Vaseline will allow you to just wipe off any access polish for a cleaner look.
Use Thin Coats
Apply the polish in thin layers. This will allow it to dry faster and more evenly and will prevent bubbles from forming.
Quick Drying Top Coat
When you are applying the top coat, use one that is quick drying. They really work. I can’t tell you how many times I got smudges on my nails because the polish took forever to dry!
Drying Tips
Wait a minute or two after you have finished polishing. Then you can submerge your nails in a bowl of ice water. This will help your nails dry super fast. It always works for me. You can also spray some PAM cooking spray on your nails to help them dry quicker as well. Let them fully dry before you rinse off the spray.
French Tip Hack
If you are bad at eyeballing a french tip, like I am, use a rubber band! Just hold it tightly around your nail where you want the line to be and then polish. It will give you a clean straight line every time.
Using these manicure hacks has helped save me money while still getting a professional looking manicure. I can change up my polish whenever I want and never have to leave the house.
If you have any nail hacks please let me know, I would love to learn some more ways to get amazing looking nails.
Julie says
Loved the Vaseline idea! I actually have never heard of that one!