Doing My Own Nails
Two years ago, I overhauled my regular nail polish collection and progressively made the swap to an all-gel one.
I've always enjoyed the ritual of doing my own nails and trying out new techniques and trends but found regular nail polish to be limiting. For one, the process of waiting for each polish layer to dry takes forever. Additionally, I always found that I could never get through a whole bottle of polish because the quality would deteriorate before I'd even get halfway through it — and before you ask, yes, I did store my collection in a cool, dry place.
After we got engaged, I found that having my nails done felt like I was accessorizing alongside my newest and most meaningful possession 💍. That discovery sent me down a rabbit hole of trying to find a nail tech who could deliver intricate designs and offer services that I had no personal knowledge of, like gel polish. Though, after two separate experiences, I realized I didn't like feeling dependent on a salon. Enter the collection overhaul.
Swapping to an all-gel system took some research and honestly quite a bit of money, but it allowed me to get the results I wanted on my own time. Plus, using gels helped me grow my nails in a way that regular polish simply wouldn't. Fast forward 2 years and over 25 sets later, doing my own nails has become a hobby and a small form of self-expression.
Product discovery
Curating my own collection of gel polishes and products meant rifling through the internet to find businesses that offered worthwhile, reliable products. While nothing I've tried has disappointed me (yet 🤞🏼), there are definite standouts that have found their way to my usual rotation.
Things that allow my nails to stay healthy, like builder gels and products that are capable of adding that extra zhuzh✨, like chrome or pigment powders and 3D gels, are among my favorite discoveries. Here's a list of some of my favorite finds!
Nail Art MVPs:
• Nailz by Dev Trippy Gel Clay
• Jello Jello Zig Zag 3D Gel
• LUXA Chromes
• LUXA Velveteen Matte Top Coat
• Michaels Recollection Pigment Powder
• Cheap Eyeshadow Palettes like this one I've used for several designs
Favorite Businesses:
• Sweetie Nail Supply for everything (syrup gels, glitter gels, nail decor, etc.)!
• Madam Glam for builder gels, primers, base, and top coat
• LUXA Polish for brushes and nail art supplies
• Beyond Polish for OPI gels
Ten, tiny canvases
Throughout the year, you can likely find me sporting a neutral nail. If we're being honest, it's a covert way for me to be lazy while still feeling put together 🤫. It's the sets between these neutral looks that are my most favorite, though. Exploring themes around seasonality, celebrations, and current trends has led me to find techniques that I love coming back to.
There's always something to celebrate from month to month, so as a fallback, doing nail art that works within the season is a prompt that always feels full of possibility. From summer-y vibes to Halloween-inspired colorways, there is always inspiration I can pull from.
I also take inspiration from the things that I like — like video games and music. Sometimes the sets I did coincided with planned events, too. Going to the Renaissance world tour? There's a set for that. Dressing as Tinky Winky for Halloween? Obviously, there's a set for that, too.
The swap to gel expanded the way I view nail art and the thought of doing my nails in general. The limitations in size and available mediums force you to get creative with what you can do, and there are several techniques I'm still figuring out (chrome application and cat-eye gels?! 😩) and trends I still want to try. I documented so many sets in the past few years, so I figured why not share them in my own corner of the internet and have a place to look back at my progress? Plus, making all these vignettes for my favorite sets so far was a fun way to commemorate that work.
Annyywaays, here's to creating more nail art in the future and to getting better at a craft I've yet to fully crack. And lastly, thanks to Dan for taking some of these photos, otherwise we would only be looking at my left hand at an angle.