Everything is expensive right now.

Food. Gas. Rent. Literally existing.

And when money gets tighter, one of the first things I usually sacrifice is getting my nails done. It’s always been one of those “okay, I can live without this” expenses.

Except…I’m tired of always being the thing I cut.

I like having my nails done. I feel more put together when they’re done. It’s a small thing, but it makes me feel good.

And my daughter likes having her nails done, too. She’s a teenager. Of course she wants to feel cute and fresh.

So instead of deciding that neither one of us could have nice nails, I started asking myself a different question:

How can I do this differently?

The Dope Math

Before I started doing my own nails, I was spending at least $120 every three weeks on mine.

That’s roughly $2,080 a year.

My daughter’s nails were another $50–$60 a month, which comes out to around $600–$720 a year.

Combined?

About $2,680–$2,800 a year…

On nails.

Almost $3,000!!!

And that doesn’t include the random repairs, extra designs, tips, or the occasional “I deserve it” upgrade.

Once I actually did the math, I was like…

Pause.

Please Understand: I Am NOT a Nail Tech

Let me make this very clear.

I am not a nail tech.

I did not go to nail school.

I am not pretending I have mastered acrylic application, shaping, structure, chemistry, or whatever else the professionals know that I absolutely do not.

I am simply a woman who got tired of spending a small car payment on nails every year.

My first DIY set was stressful.

I did them in bed, which probably tells you everything you need to know about how seriously I was taking proper nail-tech ergonomics.

Doing my right hand with my left hand was especially humbling because I am very much right-handed.

There were moments when I questioned every decision that led me there.

But when I finished?

They were cute.

Not “celebrity nail artist” cute.

But definitely “I did these myself and saved money” cute.

And honestly? I was proud of them.

Then, Jade Let Me Practice on Her

My daughter already had acrylics, so instead of starting a completely new set, I attempted my first-ever fill-in on someone else.

That someone was my child.

No pressure.

She chose purple with a pink accent nail, and thankfully, she loved them.

Even better?

None had fallen off.

At that point, I started thinking I might actually be able to keep doing this.

What I’m Using So Far

I didn’t start from scratch because I already owned a few nail supplies, so I spent around $60 getting the additional things I needed.

And after two sets, there are already a few products I really like.

COSLUS C50 Portable Cordless Nail Drill

This might be my favorite purchase so far.

It’s cordless, has multiple speeds, and makes removing and shaping product so much easier than trying to do everything manually.

Especially as a beginner, having a decent drill made me feel much more capable.

UNA GELLA Medium Square Nail Tips

Apparently, you don’t need to add anything but gel polish on top of these bad boys. I’m quite impressed with these.

I used pre-etched medium square nail tips because I knew I wanted a clean square shape without spending forever trying to perfect it myself.

They came in multiple sizes, which made it easy to find a decent fit for each nail.

So far, I like them.

GELLAKTIK Builder Gel

I used the GELLAKTIK Builder Gel Kit in pink and clear.

Builder gel was one of the products I was most nervous about using because I knew structure mattered, and I didn’t want paper-thin nails that snapped immediately.

So far, I’m impressed.

The nails feel stronger than some salon sets I’ve had recently, which was honestly part of the reason I wanted to start doing them myself.

I’ve paid too much money before just to leave with product that was too thin, polish that wasn’t clean, or nails that started breaking way too soon.

I remember playing volleyball with longer nails that held up better than some of the sets I’ve paid for lately.

Make it make sense.

GELAMBER Dehydrator, Primer, Base and Top Coat Set

This set came with nail dehydrator, primer, base coat, top coat, cuticle oil, and a file.

For someone learning, I liked having several prep products bundled together instead of trying to figure out every individual thing I needed.

So far, it’s been easy to use and has worked well for both sets.

JODSONE Gel Polish Set

I also picked up a JODSONE gel polish kit that came with multiple colors, base coat, glossy top coat, and matte top coat.

I’ve only completed two sets, so I’m not ready to give this some dramatic five-star life-changing review.

But so far?

Not bad.

And I appreciate having enough colors around that I don’t immediately have to buy another polish every time somebody gets a new idea.

I will add that the bottles are tiny, but good for a starter like moi.

My very, first set with many imperfections.
Hey, you gotta start somewhere lol.

Saving Money Doesn’t Always Have to Mean Going Without

This whole thing became bigger than nails for me.

Women—especially moms—get really good at cutting ourselves first.

Something gets expensive?

Okay, I won’t get my nails done.

The budget gets tight?

I’ll stop buying this for myself.

Something unexpected comes up?

I’ll just go without for a while.

And yes, sometimes sacrifice is necessary.

But I’m trying to stop automatically assuming that saving money means I have to remove every little thing that makes me feel good.

Sometimes the question isn’t:

“What do I need to give up?”

Sometimes it’s:

“How can I do this differently?”

I don’t necessarily need professionally done nails to feel put together.

I need my nails done.

That distinction just saved me potentially thousands of dollars.

My second set. I’d call it a creative mishap. I was going for ombré and ended up with a marble creation.

Am I Going Back to the Nail Salon?

Probably sometimes.

If I want something extremely detailed or way beyond my current abilities, I’m not above paying somebody who actually knows what they’re doing.

And there are always press-ons.

But for regular maintenance?

I’m sticking with DIY for now.

The real dream is that one day when I have money money, I’ll have a bomb nail tech come to my house.

Hands and feet.

In my own space.

Glass of wine nearby.

No salon chair.

No waiting.

And absolutely no wondering whether somebody is discussing my dry feet in another language.

That is the level of success I’m working toward.

Until then?

I’ve got my little nail drill, UV lamp from 2020 that’s still kickin’, and an eager mindset.

And to be honest, learning how to keep one little luxury without wrecking my budget feels pretty dope to me.

Affiliate Disclosure

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through one of my links at no additional cost to you. I only share products I’ve actually used, genuinely liked, or am currently testing and will always be clear about my experience.