I never had a regular salon manicure habit—but I almost did! Gel manicures always tempted me. The glossy finish, the lasting power, the convenience. But when I did the math, the cost and upkeep just didn’t make sense for me.
Instead, I took a different route and started doing them at home. What started as a curiosity became a consistent routine that fits into my intentional lifestyle—and saves me hundreds each year.
Intentional living for me often looks like simple, affordable routines that support how I want to feel: calm, confident, and low-maintenance. Having my nails done is such a small thing, but it genuinely makes me feel good.
What Salon Gel Nails Would Have Cost Me
Let’s say I had gone the traditional route:
$50+ per gel manicure (including tip)
12 visits a year (once a month)
That’s $600 annually!
Instead, I’ve spent less than $150 total on quality at-home tools and products—and I’m still going strong with the supplies I originally bought.
Home Set-Up
After researching and reading reviews, I landed on a few core products that made the process surprisingly easy—even as a total beginner:
- Olive & June The Gel Mani System — A beginner-friendly kit that includes a UV lamp, base & top coat polish, and tools. It’s sleek, easy to store, and ideal if you want everything in one box.
- Olive & June Gel Polish — I love this neutral pink color.
- Cuticle Oil – The best cuticle oil to finish off the mani!
If you want to go an alternate route, here are some of my other recommendations:
- Beetles Gel Base & Top Coat Set — Affordable option that pairs well with many gel polish brands and helps your manicure last longer!
- Modelones Gel Polish Colors — Budget-friendly and gorgeous neutral colors.
- Acetone — For full removal if you’re not using the Olive & June peel-off base coat.
- Affordable UV/LED Lamp — A great UV/LED Nail Lamp option.
Why It Works for Me
This isn’t a 10-step self-care fantasy. It’s just a practical part of my week—usually while watching a show or winding down. But it’s also one of the rare routines that checks several boxes:
- It makes me feel more polished (pun intended)
- It saves me time from having to be in public
- And it genuinely saves money
Best of all, I don’t have to think about it. I have the products on hand, I know the process, and it fits into my life without fuss.
Process
Step 1: Prep nails; cut, file, buff, trim cuticles.
Step 2: Wash hands then wipe with acetone to dry out nail and remove excess product/oils.
Step 3: Paint Olive & June’s peel off base coat (they have a great tutorial on their website) being careful not to paint the entire thing and leave a border around the nail. This polish is not cured under the lamp but instead air dry for 2-4 minutes.
Step 4: Base Coat, Cure
Step 5: Paint Nails, Cure x2
Step 6: Paint Top Coat, Cure
Step 7: Finish off with Cuticle Oil
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a fancy setup or a drawer full of colors to make this work. Start with a good base coat, a few gel colors you love, a top coat, and a lamp.
Whether you’re trying to spend less or just want more control over your time and routine, this is one of the simplest swaps I’ve made that continues to pay off. Let me know if you want help picking a starter combo or have any questions about the process. I’m happy to share what’s worked for me and would love to hear from you if you’ve found great products or techniques too!
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