Quarantine Activities: Nail Art DIY

In this quarantine series, I have a ton of fun at-home self-isolated DIY activities that will hopefully make social distancing a little more productive/rewarding/aesthetic. All craft materials can be found online so no need to scour the store for these items (though I highly doubt they’ll be the top of most people’s quarantine grocery list). If you have one, grab your isolation buddy/roommate and let’s get crafty (:

In the healthcare field, it’s easy to get carried away with gel manicures and nail salons. Thankfully, I had begun to wean myself off of that habit before social distancing became more serious. DIY manicures are an excellent way to save money and have full control over the outcome of your nails!

Tips & Tricks

Instead of paying the extra $10+ for a nail design, consider purchasing this nail art tool kit that I’ve been using to create all of the following designs. Nail art is very in this season, but if you are not ambidextrous or steady, this is a great way to engage your isolation buddy and do manicures on each other.

Another trendy alternative is multi-colored nails! Pick colors from a similar palette or shade range for your nail shades, or use a picture/location as color inspo. To make it easier, you can stick to two colors and paint 2 fingers one shade the remaining 3 fingers another. The possibilities are endless!

To top it off and really create the illusion of a gel-like salon manicure, this is my favorite top coat. The sheen is gel-like and keeps my nails glossy/chip-free for at least a week.

Above all, be patient! Just like many things, everything takes time. Allow each coat to dry thoroughly because you can’t afford to smudge a design. When applying the topcoat, be sure that any dark colors are dry and do not run the brush over multiple times because it will bleed.

pink glare is courtesy of the plant lights (: