What You Need in Your Manicure Kit

For some reason, I don’t feel like I look nice unless I have my nails done and my eyebrows tweezed. I can have on the perfect outfit, be wearing beautiful makeup, and having a perfect hair day, but if my nails and eyebrows are a mess, I feel like a mess too.

I know that no one else notices these little things, but it just makes me feel like I have my life together if the little things are perfect. While it may be silly, it has allowed me to get really good at doing my own nails because I can’t afford to get a manicure every few days!

Over the years, I have created a little manicure kit that I can easily take with me anywhere. Here is what’s in my kit…

1. A Glass Nail File: This has been a game changer for me. The glass is healthier for your nails than a typical nail file. It’s also sturdier and will last forever. I am a bit of a clean freak, so I love that I can clean it with soap and water after every few uses. (Pro Tip: Only file your nails in one direction. Filing back and forth makes your nail rough and more susceptible to breaking and pealing).
2. Cuticle Nippers: This is an incredible tool, but you can damage your cuticles (the skin around your nails) if you get too obsessive. When I got my first pair in high school, I clipped every little hang nail and piece of dead skin. What I found was that I got more and more hang nails and they were worse than before I used the cuticle nipper! The trick is to only cut the pieces that are painful or will get caught on something. The rest will go away on their own with lotion or oil.
3. Cuticle Pusher: This is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a metal tool you use to push your cuticles back. You don’t want your skin to look like it’s grown onto your nail. If it does, oil your cuticles and push them back with this tool (using oil is healthier than soaking them in water, but make sure to let it absorb first). If there is a lot of excess cuticle, use the nippers to cut that away. Again, less is more with this!
4. Nail Clippers: This one is pretty self explanatory. I don’t use these often, but if I’ve let my nails get too long, I use these before using my glass nail file.
5. Cuticle Oil: If you have extremely dry cuticles like me, you need some cuticle oil in your life! I usually start with some lotion (Lano Lemon Hand Cream is my current favorite) all over my hands and then apply the oil just on my nails and cuticles. My favorite oil is CND Rescue RXx. It is a bit pricey, but will last you forever.
6. A Buffer: These are nice when you have ridges or bumps on your nails. I have one that has three sides: one that buffs, one that smooths, and one that shines. It’s pretty incredible how shiny they look after using it. It almost looks like I have clear nail polish on. I don’t use this very often because it’s time consuming and you don’t want to over-buff your nails, but it is a great tool when you want to go that extra mile.
7. Base Coat: Nailtiques Formula 2 is incredible. It has protein in it and will make your nails healthier and stronger. It’s especially wonderful if you’ve ever destroyed your nails with acrylics or gels. (Pro Tip: Wipe rubbing alcohol on your nails before you use your base coat to make your polish stay on longer).
8. Nail Polish: I’ve been lucky enough to have a mother with a cosmetology license, which means she gets discounts on nail polish. I’ve tried just about every brand. My favorite is the Essie Gel Couture. The brush is curved which makes it really easy to apply without getting it on your cuticles.
9. Top Coat: I like the Morgan Taylor React Extended Wear Top Coat. I don’t paint my nails very often, but when I do, I’m always pleased with how it looks and how long it lasts.

Making your own kit is a bit of an investment at first, but it’s much cheaper in the long run than getting manicures at a salon. Also, if you live near a TJMaxx, check for these tools there first. They often have these tools for cheaper than you can buy them at Ulta and Sephora. Have fun creating your own manicure kit!