How to Get the Perfect Manicure at Home
Whether you're trying to save money or you're still iffy on going to the salon, there's never a bad time to master doing your own manicure at home. Not only is there a real satisfaction to painting your own nails (and saving a little cash), but it can also have therapeutic benefits. Plus, the whole not-leaving-the-house thing is very appealing, without factoring in health and safety concerns. But even if you've become devoted to DIY manicures over the past two years, it can be hard to get the same results at home that you're used to at the salon.
Between chipping, warping, glops, bubbles, and smudging, there's a lot that can go wrong with a DIY mani. Zipping up your pants, changing the channel, or answering a text suddenly becomes a life-or-death situation—and don't even get us started on the risk of getting nail polish all over your couch. From prepping your nails to choosing the right shade, there's plenty of room for error. The stakes are even higher if you're attempting something fancy like a gel manicure, experimenting with fun nail art, or learning how to do a French manicure (here's our guide, by the way).
But it's not impossible to get Insta-worthy nails by yourself; in fact it's pretty simple to figure out how to do a manicure at home. A little practice, patience, and the right nail tools will take you far. To help ease your DIY worries, we had celebrity manicurists spill their best self-manicuring nail tips for how to paint your nails like a pro. Turns out, it's easier than we thought. All it takes is 10 simple steps. Follow along for a mani so good you'll have people asking where you got your nails done. Don't worry, your secret is safe with us.
Did you know you can shop right here, right now on Glamour? Hit select Buy Now buttons in this article to start building your cart. Once you’re ready to check out, complete your purchase without ever having to leave the article. Best part? There’s free shipping on all orders. Happy shopping!
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
1/20Step 1: Clean your nails with polish remover.
To get a great manicure at home, do as the pros do by spending as much time on nail care as you do polishing them. That means starting with a good nail polish remover like Sally Hansen's. It quickly takes off all polish (even glitter) and has essential nutrients to help strengthen your nails and moisturize your cuticles. Even if you don't have polish on, you'll still want to run a cotton ball of remover over each nail to get rid of any oils or dirt that could warp your polish. Don't forget to wash your hands with soap and water after.
Jonathan Pozniak for Essie3/20Step 2: Clip, file, and buff.
This is when you're going to want to bust out that manicure set. Clip nails first, if necessary. Then file gently, moving in one direction to get your tips square, round, or somewhere in between. Have thin nails? Try this tip we got from celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann: Hold the file flush to your nail and tilt it so you file from slightly underneath. “This allows you to see exactly what you're doing and helps protect against overfiling,” she says. Finally, buff the tops and sides of your nails lightly with a nail buffer—not your emery board—to create a smooth surface. “If you don't buff, the natural oils in your nails can build up, leaving manicure-ruining residue on them,” says Rita Remark, Essie global lead educator. “Buffing your nails is kind of like brushing your teeth—it's brightening, it makes nails look more youthful, and it gets rid of ridges.”
5/20Step 3: Push back your cuticles.
Prep cuticles with cuticle remover—make sure it's not an oil or a balm—to help dissolve dead skin and soften the area. Contrary to popular belief, cuticle oils and cuticle removers are not one and the same, nor can they be used interchangeably. Oils help moisturize, while removers act like an exfoliating treatment for your nail beds. Then push back gently with a cuticle stick. We love Flowery Birchwood Manicure Sticks' sleek updates on the basic orange stick, which are also the best for cleaning underneath nail tips, and highly recommend adding them to your at-home manicure kit. Your cuticles protect your nails from bacteria and keep them soft, so avoid cutting them.
Leibowitz Pictures7/20Step 4: Exfoliate your hands.
Exfoliate hands, wrists, and forearms with a scrub that eliminates dead skin cells and replenishes moisture (try this one from SheaMoisture). Grab your orange stick again to gently clean any grime from under nails. Wash hands afterward and dry them thoroughly.
9/20Step 5: Moisturize your hands and cuticles.
Moisturize now to avoid smudging almost-dry nail polish later. A luxe, light alternative to hand cream that's also ideal for cuticle hydration: Mario Badescu Rose Hips Nourishing Oil, which manicurist Geraldine Holford used for Gigi Hadid's showstopping Met Gala manicure. Take the opportunity to give yourself a mini hand massage—just because you're not at a spa doesn't mean you can't relax for a minute. To finish, swipe each nail with nail polish remover to get rid of residue.
11/20Step 6: Apply a base coat.
Apply a base coat to hydrate and protect nails and prevent chipping. Then chill for a few. Nail guru Essie Weingarten, founder of Essie, recommends waiting two full minutes between each coat, starting with the base coat. Try Essie Here to Stay to lock color on and keep it from staining your nails.
Leibowitz Pictures13/20Step 7: Apply your first coat of color.
Now for the fun part: Paint your nails with a coat of your color of choice (some faves, here, if you need ideas), being sure to get the brush all the way down to the cuticle and into the corners of your nail. Maximum coverage on the first coat makes the second coat a breeze. Just keep the layer thin. “Many of us overload the brush and do too many strokes,” Nails Inc. founder Thea Green says. “The key is to load just enough polish on the brush to cover the nail in one coat.” She recommends striping your nail three times: once down the middle, once on each side. Another trick that helps? Try a polish handle, like The Poppy from Olive & June, to keep your hand steadier as you paint.
Leibowitz Pictures15/20Step 8: Apply your second coat of color.
After a nice full two minutes (set your iPhone timer if you know you're going to cheat), apply the second coat of nail polish. Sheer or pastel shades may require a third coat for full, seamless coverage. Just remember to keep it nice and thin. Alternatively, try some press-on nails if you know you can't wait around.
17/20Step 9: Finish with a topcoat.
A topcoat protects your manicure from chipping and adds shine to nails—don't skip it, or you'll significantly shorten the lifespan of the paint job you just worked so hard on. It's especially crucial to lock in any cute nail designs you've attempted. A word of warning: Be careful when you put your topcoat on, since a messy application can ruin your entire manicure. “I see this all the time,” says manicurist Madeline Poole. “Women think, It's clear—you can't tell. But really, you can, once it dries.” The reason? Shrinkage. “Topcoats tighten as they dry, which is what can cause those little ridges if you don't put it on properly.” To give nails that truly mirror-like gleam you get at the nail salon, follow that up with a separate shine enhancer like Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat.
Instagram/Oliveandjune19/20Step 10: Clean up rough edges and let your nails dry.
Tidy up any mistakes or wobbly edges by wrapping a piece of cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover around the end of your cuticle stick and carefully trace around your nails. If you have nail polish remover pads, try folding one into a triangle for more precise application. Then let your nails dry an additional five minutes—it'll be worth it when you show off your nails and shock everyone by revealing they're DIY.
