Nails can get overlooked in favour of hair and skin when it comes to pamper time

But pretty nails don’t take much work if you know the right secrets. In 7 years of at-home manicures, I’ve learned more than my fair share so I’m going to bestow them upon you! Here are 4 minimally time consuming and easy nail care hacks to improve the appearance and health of your nails without even trying very hard.

Upgrade Your Nail File

Get yourself a crystal nail file and you’ll find that shaping your nails takes half the time it would with the flimsy cardboard one that came inside a manicure kit someone got you for Christmas 2 years ago (I’ve been there, girl). The glass nail files that you pick up in the store should have a fine ‘grit’ which means they’re gentle on natural nails. You can tell if a file has a fine or coarse grit by just running your finger along it. If it feels ‘sandy’, it’s probably too coarse to use on the tips of your nails and can do more harm than good; so steer clear. Lazy Girl’s Protip: You can run a crystal nail file through the dishwasher to clean it
Close-up of a woman in a nail salon receiving a manicure by a beautician with. Beautician file nails to a customer.

Always Use a Base Coat (2 minutes)

Using a good base coat before you apply your colour will make your mani last longer and strengthen your nails while you go about your day. Win win! You only need a very thin coat and they tend to dry very quickly. By the time you’ve finished the 10th nail, the first one is dry and ready for your colour.

Moisturise Your Cuticles at Bedtime

Most of us have some sort of nighttime routine that we can’t sleep without. Here’s how mine goes…
  • Moisturise face
  • Apply lip balm
  • Tie up hair
  • Plug in phone
  • Moisturise cuticles
I keep a few choice products on my nightstand so I can do it when I’m already snuggled in bed. Generously apply your product to the cuticle area and massage it in. Repeat nightly until it becomes ritual!

Crush Those Cuticles!

Most cuticle removers clock in at 1-2 minutes of waiting time. Sally Hansen’s Instant Cuticle Remover only needs 15 seconds to melt away any unwanted cuticle growth. You’ll also need a good tool to push them back and a brush to wash them away. Once you’ve found your flow and practised a few times, you could even get this whole routine down to less than 10 minutes. Credit: @thenailasaurus If you enjoyed reading this blog, you can read our latest blogs here.