Visionary Edit | Mastering My Manicure: A $1,200 DIY Glow-Up
Hello Everyone,
I hope you are well!
Today, we will be discussing one of the sneakiest ways our budgets bleed—nails. In your twenties, every dollar matters. Between student loans, side hustles, and self-discovery, small expenses can quietly drain your finances without you even realizing it. One of those sneaky costs? Nail salon visits.
When I added up my receipts, I realized I was spending over $100 a month on gel manicures, fill-ins, and spontaneous self-care splurges. That’s over $1,200 a year. So I made a switch. I invested in a few tools, learned the basics, and started doing my nails at home. The shift wasn’t just economic—it was empowering.
⏳ Time as a Currency
Doing your own nails takes time—but it also teaches patience, consistency, and pride. I learned to carve out an hour a week for myself. That time became ritual, not chore.
Plus, I got better at it. What started as crooked polish and smudged tips turned into neat, durable sets that lasted 10+ days.
🫱🏻🫲🏿 Why It’s About More Than Money
Discipline: Keeping a self-care routine made me more accountable elsewhere.
Skill-building: I'm learning a new skill that allows me to express creativity, focus on detail, and even support others who want to do the same.
Confidence: I stopped needing someone else to validate my appearance.
Skill-building: I now help friends prep for events or job interviews with budget-friendly mani.
Financial awareness: I became more mindful about all my "little luxuries."
Creativity: I got to experiment—designs, colors, shapes. It became a fun way to express myself without splurging.
💅 Nail Tools I Swear By:
If you're looking to start your own nail kit, here's what helped me build mine affordably and effectively:
🔩 Gel Foundations
Think of these as your nail base armor—preventing lifting and making polish last.
🗺️ Gel Colors (and Essentials)
Start with a versatile palette and the right tools to remove polish without damage.
⚒️ Nail Extras for Leveling Up
Once you get the hang of it, these tools help you experiment and extend your skills.
🫙 Gel Storage
🧴Cuticle Care
Healthy nails start at the cuticle. These are musts for long-term nail health.
🎓 Learning the Skill
Tutorials that helped me stop wasting polish and start slaying my sets.
I didn’t become good overnight. These free tutorials were essential to my glow-up—from learning how to prep properly to mastering builder gel and nail art. Take your time and go at your own pace.
Gel Manicure:
Everything you need to know about applying and removing gel the right way.
I like to use the gel polish remover I linked above because with 2 - 3 coats my gel polish is removed!
The Importance of Using a Builder Gel
Gel Pedicure:
Though I am still working on the mastery myself this a great Gel Pedicure Tutorial to help you get started!
👩🏽🎨 Nail Creators Who Inspire Me:
Final Thoughts
Even with all these savings, I still treat myself to a monthly gel pedicure—it’s a non-negotiable luxury that helps me feel refreshed without compromising my budget. Doing my own nails taught me that self-care doesn’t have to cost a lot—it just needs to come from you. Now, it feels like an art form, not just an expense. And while I still treat myself to the occasional salon visit, I no longer depend on it.
If you’re in your twenties trying to save, gain independence, or build self-trust, try starting with your nails. It might save more than just your money.
