Nail Care Essentials – Home and Garden DIY Manicures and Pedicures: 15 Essentials for Nail Care at Home There’s never been a better time to master the art of doing your own nails. Check out these basics to help you get started at home.
Listen up, ladies! We know indulging in manicures and pedicures isn’t exactly a top priority at the moment. But that doesn’t mean your nails don’t deserve some love during quarantine.
Nail Care Essentials
While most of us can’t get out to the nail salon anytime soon, there are still ways we can get salon-quality nails at home. We’ve rounded up some nail care essentials to help you get started.
Essential Nail Kit
Whether you need to safely remove polish or you’re hoping to treat your nails to a mani and pedi, check out these items to help you achieve healthy, glowing nails at home.
All prices and savings listed in this post are as of publication and subject to change. may earn a commission on purchased products.
OPI Nail At Home Manicure Kit Essentials and Treatments, $16.50 — Take your nails from dull to gorgeous with this handy set of nail essentials. The set includes a gentle nail polish remover, a super effective nail file and cuticle pusher, and a shine buffer to give your nails a shiny finish – even without polish.
Cuccio Revitalize Cuticle Oil, Milk and Honey, $8.99 – If your cuticles need saving, this cuticle oil – made with natural ingredients like milk and honey – will be your saving grace. The oil nourishes, moisturizes and protects the cuticles and nails, and gives a soft touch to your manicure.
Nail And Hand Care Essentials
Tweezerman Nail Rescue Kit, $19.06 — Complete with a mini cuticle pusher, nail trimmers and clippers, and a nail file, this kit is a must-have for a DIY manicure. The stainless steel portable set is small, travel-friendly and perfect for a quick fix.
Zoya Naked Manicure Hydrate & Heal Kit, $25 — This hydrating and healing nail kit is packed with luxury items, including a base coat, a color and a top coat to help your nails look gorgeous instantly. It also includes two new treatments: a moisturizing hand serum and healing hand cream. Your nails and skin will be the healthiest they’ve ever been when you use the combination of these best-selling products.
Nicole Miller Mini Nail Polish Set, $18.59 — Can’t pick just one color? Well, you don’t have to when it comes to your mani or pedi. This set of 15 mini nail polishes will suit any occasion. Get creative with bold, neutral and sparkly shades that take your nails to the next level.
Toe Separator Kit, $5.99 — Get a professional pedicure in the comfort of your own home with these toe separators. All you have to do is put them on and then apply your coats of paint. They are soft and delicate, and will protect your freshly painted toenails.
Nail Care Essentials
Keiby Citom Nail Clipper Travel & Grooming Kit, $18.99 — This grooming kit has everything you need, from hand care to foot care — and even facial care. Small and lightweight, the set contains reliable stainless steel beauty tools including nail clippers, scissors, tweezers and more. In addition, it is all packed in a stylish and durable rose gold case.
Amope Splashproof Electronic Foot File, $21.86— Get spa results at home with this electric foot file, which effectively removes dead skin from your feet for the perfect pedicure. You will have visible and touchable smooth feet in no time.
Nail Files and Buffer, $9.99 — You can never have too many nail files and buffers. They will help you shape your own nails, remove gel polish or acrylic nails and prevent broken nails. These tools are suitable for fingernails, toenails, natural nails, acrylic nails and false nails.
Cutex Nail Polish Remover Twist & Scrub Sponge, $8.54 — Removing nail polish has never been easier when you have this scrub sponge. All you have to do is dip your finger into the plastic jar, which contains a sponge, and twist your finger. Your nail polish will come off in no time, while the supplied sponge will also strengthen, nourish and care for your nails.
Japanese Manicure Kit
Sally Hansen Salon Pro Gel Starter Kit, $43.21 — If you’re used to getting gel manicures at the salon, you’ll be happy to know that you can now save money and get the total salon experience at home. This gel starter kit includes cleansing pads, a base coat, three different colors, a top coat, a remover, an LED light and more. With this set, you get a long-lasting gel manicure with no drying time in just three simple steps.
OPI Nail Polish and Nail Lacquer Drying Drops, $13.50 — The hardest part of doing your own nails is making sure you don’t smudge when it’s all said and done. But luckily, these polish drying drops will ensure dry nails just one minute after application.
AQUEENLY Manicure Bowl, Nail Soaking Tray Bowl, $8.99 — Perfect for manicures, soaking your hands or removing nail polish, these bowls make the process much easier. They are made of high-quality plastic and are skin-friendly.
Essie Nail Polish, $7.39 — Available in more than a dozen different shades, this nail polish with a glossy finish is essential if you’re hoping to achieve a salon-quality manicure. The polish provides flawless coverage along with exceptional durability, so you’ll have a long-lasting, shiny set of nails for days and even weeks.
Nail Care Solution Nail Repair Essential Oil Health Care Nail Care Nail Polish
Gel Nail Polish Remover Wrap Clips, $5.99 — Hoping to remove that gel manicure without going to the salon? Look no further than these nail polish remover clips. All you need is a cotton ball, some nail polish remover and these clips to remove your manicure yourself in 10-15 minutes.
Don’t miss out on savings! Subscribe to DealTown and get all the latest deals delivered straight to your inbox. By popular demand, I have an updated hand and nail care roundup! My last one was a few years ago (time flies!), and while many of the items have remained the same, I have stopped using a few things. I’ve been doing my own nails on my own for several years now – mostly since we moved to Florida. I still haven’t tried gel nails, dip powder, acrylic or press ons. I tend to keep things simple and use regular nail polish formulas.
I feel like many of the Deborah Lippmann formulas changed! I bought several replacements of Cuticle Remover and Nail Polish Remover and they didn’t work the same way. Recent reviews still seem positive, but the bottles I bought had chunks of white product floating in the bottle. I decided to look for an alternative. My tools remain the same tried and true go-tos! I changed my cuticle trimmer recently, over time the tools become dull with a lot of use and just need to be replaced.
For nail polish removers and tools, my all-round favorites are from Olive and June. You can purchase their items from their website and they have also expanded their line at Target! I love their nail files, nail buffer, cleansing brush, and nail polish remover! I recommend shopping their website for the best selection and customizable manicure systems and box sets. (I use their boxes to store a lot of essentials to keep them all in one place!)
Revlon Manicure Essentials Kit With Travel Case, Manicure Set For Nail Care With Dual Ended Cuticle Trimmer, Curved Blade Nail Clipper, Compact Emeryl File And Nail Buffer, 1 Count
My next favorite polish remover is Zoya. It’s one that doesn’t make my nails peel or my fingers dry out. It is effective for regular polishing and does not feel harsh on the skin.
My favorite clippers and on-the-go tools are also from Tweezerman. I love this Mini Nail Rescue Kit for everyday use and love that it’s travel friendly too.
For base and top coat, I stopped using Essies Quick Dry Speed Setter. It worked so well to dry the nails quickly and create a long lasting manicure, but the formula was harsh on my nails and hands. If any product came into contact with my skin (even if I removed it with remover), it caused cracking and hardening wherever it touched.
That concludes my favorites for hand and nail care routine! I hope you found this helpful! Several of you have also asked for my favorites for foot care. I still haven’t found my favorites for recreating a salon pedicure, although I really like the Spongables Pedi-Scrub and the Tweezerman Sole Smoother Stone. I have always struggled with keeping my nails nice and strong. The food you eat definitely has an impact on your nails just like it does the rest of your body, as your nails rely on vitamins and minerals like vitamin E and calcium to keep them from chipping and cracking, so it’s definitely a good area to explore if you also suffer from thin, brittle nails. Topical care, no matter how less “crucial,” can also help prevent your nails from giving you attitude. Over the years, I’ve tested out quite a few products, and I’ve managed to narrow them down