This post is all about the best nail care routine to help your nails feel healthier and happier. Plus, my absolute favorite products and nail polishes that I know you will love! This post is about regular nail polish.
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I’ve been painting my nails for as long as I can remember, though my casual obsession started in middle school. To this day I have a decent collection of nail polish. I can’t resist when a nail polish color speaks to me in the store and I must have it.
I feel like me when my nails are freshly painted. Does anyone else feel that way when their nails are done?
Nail care is an act of self-care and self-love.
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It has become a self-care routine for me, as well. It’s a mindful experience. I’m taking care of my nails, and doing something for myself. I also have to sit still for at least an hour to let them finish drying. I usually try to watch something I enjoy while doing it, like a good movie or whatever show I’m bingeing at the time.
Nail polish can help express my mood at the time, or the time of year. I love that it can be a way to express myself and wear my favorite colors. I feel like painted nails with a color I love are a piece of my armor. It makes me feel like myself, boosts my mood, and more confident.
Nail care, manicures, and pedicures can be expensive.
I wanted to provide my cost-effective nail care tools and nail polish because we all deserve to treat ourselves and have those luxuries.
Over the years, I have perfected my tried and true nail care routine. There have been some trial-and-error moments, but I’ve worked through them and want to share them with you to make your life that much easier!
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This nail care routine is for both fingernails and toenails, the steps are the same.
Nail care is easier after they’ve been soaked in water, or after a bath, shower, foot spa, etc. It makes the nails softer, and easier to work with. I do recommend it, if possible. However, that is not required to do this nail care routine.
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This is the best foot spa from Amazon! I have it, and I love it! I highly recommend it if that’s something you’re interested in.
This nail care routine would also be great for a self-care night. It’s a great way to pamper yourself, be mindful, and take care of yourself. I will also include a “mindful activity” you can do with the painted nails that I will include in the painting nail step, step 6.
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Also, this is random but learn from me, use the bathroom before you start doing your nails. Or at least before you start painting them. Once the nail polish is on your fingernails, you won’t be able to touch anything. Inevitably you’ll have to go once the nail polish is on. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
1. Clean Nails with Acetone Nail Polish Remover
Over the years, acetone-based nail polish remover has been the most effective when cleaning old nail polish off of my nails. I’ve tried others without acetone in them, and it took so much longer to take it off and I had to push down pretty hard to get it off. It just made this step of nail care harder than it needed to be.
Additionally, it worked best when removing nail polish with glitter, as well. We all know how much of a pain that can be.
Reminder: Wash your hands after using the acetone nail polish remover!
Product(s) Needed for This Step:
- Cutex Gel Nail Polish Remover, Ultra-Powerful
- Cotton Balls
- Cutex Twist & Scrub Remover Jar – Does not require cotton balls
Different Playlists to Listen to While You Paint Your Nails:
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2. Cut Nails with Nail Clippers, if Necessary
I don’t want my nails or toenails to be super long so I usually cut them during my nail care routine. Especially if a nail or two has broken, I hate when they snag on everything, drives me crazy.
If you’d rather only use a nail file on your nails, you can skip to the next step.
I will also include Amazon links to travel manicure kits. They have everything you need for a manicure or pedicure, and they’re travel size so you can fit them in your toiletry bag when traveling. They come in handy when traveling, I highly recommend them!
Product(s) Needed for This Step:
- Nail Clipper Set, 2 Pieces
- Travel Manicure Kit (Color: Rose Gold)
- Travel Manicure Kit (Colors Available: Mint Green, Purple, Gradual Purple, Black, Blue, Red and Black)
3. File Edge of Nails with Nail File/Emory Board
After cutting nails with nail clippers, they can be rough and sharp. This helps file them down to your desired style and smooth them out.
Word to the wise, less is more. It’s easy to be too aggressive or eager with this, and your nail becomes too short or it’s difficult to even out. Try and keep this step as minimal as possible.
Product(s) Needed for This Step:
- Black Emory Boards, 10 Pieces
- Fun and Colorful Emory Boards, 10 Pieces (Everyone needs a little whimsy in their life)
4. File Top of Nail with 4-Sided Nail Buffer Block
Using a 4-sided nail buffer block has helped my nail care immensely. This helps get all the dead stuff, so to speak, off of the nail. It’s inevitable for our nails to chip or break, so the 4-sided Nail Buffer Block helps restore the nail to a smooth and even surface. It helps to have an even surface to apply the nail polish to and keeps your nails healthier.
This step is important even if you aren’t painting your nails with nail polish.
These sincerely helped with my nail care, and they’re not too expensive.
Plus, it says each step number on the block itself, so it’s super easy to use. Just file your nails step-by-step and they will feel amazing.
Product(s) Needed for This Step:
5. Apply Clear Base Coat to Nails
Applying a base coat to your nails, especially before applying nail polish, is an important step. One, it helps keep your nails healthy and acts as a protection barrier. Two, it protects the nail from the polish and helps prevent color distortion of the nail.
I’ve been using the OPI Natural Nail Base Coat for years, and it is my absolute favorite! Highly recommend it! It also dries quickly, so you don’t have to wait too long to apply the nail polish.
Product(s) Needed for This Step:
6. Paint Nails with Nail Polish of Choice
After the base coat has dried, apply the nail polish of your choice. I recommend doing two coats of nail polish on the nails. It helps create an even look to the polish, deepens the pigment, and usually helps the polish last longer.
Do the first coat, wait for a minute or two for it to be mostly dried, and then apply the second coat.
Mindful Nail Care Moment Idea:
Whether you’re doing one color of nail polish, or choosing multiple colors for each nail, you can practice this mindful moment.
I do this as a visual reminder and helps me to set an intention for the next few days/weeks while the nail polish is on my nails.
Choose the colors of nail polish you desire to use, then choose one word or intention to represent that color. Then, as you paint your nails that color repeat the word to yourself and connect that word with that color, so every time you see that color you think of that word.
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For example, I chose five colors, one for each finger on each hand. I will link the nail polish I used, just click on the color.
- Lilac = Fun and Laughter
- Light Pink = Love
- Teal = Compassion
- Light Green = Tranquility
- Magenta = Mindfulness
I am a visual person, so adding this to my nail care routine helped me connect with myself, and set intentions. Every time I looked at my nails I was reminded of them, and helped me be more aligned with my intentions and values amidst the chaos of life.
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List of Intentions or Words to Use:
- Respect
- Fun
- Productivity
- Breathe or Take a Breath
- Laughter or Humor
- Love
- Compassion
- Grace
- Tranquility
- Peace
- Mindfulness
- Gratitude
- Determination
- Drink Water
- Rest
- Humility
- Confidence
- Courage
- Strength
- Vulnerability
- Pride
- Forgiveness
- Kindness
- Bravery
- Gentle
- Playful
- Faithful
- Ambitious
- Calm
- Thankful
- Fierce
- Affection
- Honesty
- Patience
- Creativity
- Caring
- Adventure
- Spontaneity
- Unique
Over the years, I’ve learned that my favorite nail polish brands are Essie and OPI. They always have a beautiful variety of colors, good quality, good pigmentation, and last the longest on my nails.
They can be pricey, I’m not going to lie. Though, they can last for years, and you pay for the quality.
That being said, sometimes Amazon has great deals on those brands of nail polish. I also love finding mine at stores like Marshalls, TJMaxx, etc. They don’t have every single color available, but you can find great ones there at a great price. I will still include some of my favorite colors from Amazon.
Be warned, the colors look different from the picture provided on Amazon than they do in real life. For example, Fuel Your Desire from Essie looks pink online, but is purple in real life.
Some of the ones I included I have in my collection of nail polish collection right now, I will indicate those with an asterisk. The other colors are ones with a color I love, but they did not have the exact match on Amazon, so I chose similar colors. However, I have not seen the pigment in person.
Favorite Colors From OPI:
- Mexico City Move-Mint – Light Blue
- NFTease Me – Light Blue*
- Rich Girls & Po-Boys – Blue*
- Drama at La Scala – Dark Teal
- NOOBerry – Purple
- OPI <3 DTLA – Purple Gray*
- Spare Me a French Quarter? – Magenta
- How Does Your Zen Garden Grow? – Light Green
- You’re Such a BudaPest – Light Purple*
- Polly Want a Lacquer? – Light Purple*
- Olive for Green – Olive Green*
- Cool Opaque & Bright – Pink
Favorite Colors From Essie:
- Ripple Reflect – Light Blue*
- In Plane View – Dark Teal
- In Pursuit of Craftiness – Light Purple*
- Fuel Your Desire – Purple*
- It’s High Time – Light Green
- Off Tropic – Deep Green*
- Lilacism – Lilac*
- Peach Side Babe – Peach
- Play Date – Purple/Pink
- B’aha Moment! – Magenta*
- Mint Candy Apple – Mint Green
- Free to Roam – Light Pink
- All Dolled Up – Pink*
- Don’t Burst My Bubble – Periwinkle
7. Paint Polished Nails with Top Coat
Once the nail polish is mostly dried, apply a top coat over the polish. This helps the polish last longer by protecting the polish from chipping, and protecting your nails. Again, I’ve been using the OPI Top Coat for years, and it is my favorite.
Product(s) Needed for This Step:
8. Let Your Nails Dry
Arguably, this is the most difficult step in the nail care routine. I recommend giving your nails at least 30 minutes to dry, if not an hour. The longer the better. And try to do as little as possible.
Your nails will easily smudge, and create indents or imperfections in the nail polish. Which is irritating, since you just spent all that time prepping and painting your nails.
I recommend watching a movie or show you love, or putting on a great audiobook so you can sit back, relax, and not move or touch anything.
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There you have it, The Best Nail Care Routine
Nail care can be an act of self-care and self-love. You deserve to be pampered, taken care of, and have healthy and beautiful nails.
Plus, manicures and pedicures can be expensive. I wanted to provide my go-to cost-effective nail tools and nail polish for when you don’t have the money or financial freedom to go and get them done.
I hope my nail care routine was helpful and informative! Please let me know if you have any questions.
Do you have a nail care routine? What’s your go-to nail polish color? What words or intentions would you use for the mindful nail care moment?
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