Tools for DIY nails should be simple. And you need just a few of them. Don’t put extra things on your basket -and drawers- if you want to start doing your nails at home easily.
I always do my own nails simply because I don’t agree with the hygiene processes most of the nail salons do and I find the way everyone does nails on me too aggressive for my taste. Plus I love nail polishes & the “home-made” outcome.
I’m sure there are many professionals out there that know exactly how to do the work the correct way but I haven’t found them yet.
This is a post opposite to that. It’s a post perfect for all my minimal lovers out there that love a clean, polished and chic nail look quickly and effectively at home.
Let me show you the only tools you actually need to create the manicure of your dreams at home.
Let’s go!
Tools For DIY Nails
Cleaning & Cuticles
My first step before I start with my manicure process is a good washing of my hands with lukewarm water.
This way I have clean nails to begin with and easily manageable cuticles. As I never cut my cuticles, having them soft is a must before for my next step.
The only thing I use to clean the under-the-nail area as well as push my cuticles back, are the wood sticks. They are effective, don’t damage your skin or nails and they can be used a million times each.
If you prefer a metallic one do you, but for me is always the wooden ones.
They keep my cuticles in great shape and my nails super neat. Don’t buy fancy ones; this isn’t the place to splurge.
Shaping
My next step in my DIY nail routine is shaping my nails.
As I’m loving longer nails for a couple of years now, I find that a nail file along with a good nail clipper do the job perfectly. Forget complicated buffers or any other hard to use nail tool.
I use a regular nail clipper to cut a bit of the length and then polishing up the rough edges with a nail file.
For the nail file, I always choose a glass one. It never gives me the “ick” if you know the feeling and it’s super gentle on my nails. It shapes my nails in the ultimate almond shape in a couple of seconds.
If you have any rough surfaces on your nail just use your glass nail file and you are totally fine.
My nails look smooth and ready for color. What’s better than this?
Perfecting
Although you can have amazing nails with the perfect shape, prepped cuticles and all that jazz, you can still see dry skin or super rough parts all around the nail.
For all these, I always have a a small scissors (brow scissors) and a tweezer on my DIY nail kit.
They are like my little helpers for the best and most “clean” result possible.
I usually have some dry-dead skin parts on the side of my nails or some cuticle “left-overs”. If you have precise scissors and a tweezer you’re good to go.
Just be gentle. There’s no need for aggressive moves here.
Nail Art
And now to the fun part; nail art.
As a minimal nail art lover, I only have a few tools that help me achieve multiple nail art designs simply and effortlessly.
The only tools for DIY nails that you -actually- need for chic *but wow* nails are a dotting tool, some simple nail brushes and a few gem stones for nails. That’s it.
I never need more than these for my nail designs. I use the dotting tool to add colorful dots or use it to apply the gem stones on my nails just by spraying it with water.
And the nail brushes to add a few color strokes or do a more precise colorful line on my nails.
You can do any minimal nail design from chic french manicure, glittery dot goodness, glossy milky nails and so on.
When I finish and my nails are dry, I then add a hydrating oil on my cuticles and hands.
I use whatever doesn’t work on my face. Like the Augustinus Bader Face Oil.
Bad for my oily skin perfect for my nails. You don’t have to use a specific cuticle product or a cream. Just use whatever you want as long as it’s moisturizing.
If you prefer a dedicated product, I’ve added a few products for this as well. Cheers!
