If you do manicures at home

[abcdefu]

I'm trying to save money by doing my own manicures and pedicures. If you do your own manicures, what products do you use?  Do you do your own gel manicures? 

[kermit]

I like OPI and Essie polishes, and Sally Hansen is pretty good too. I usually use OPI nail envy as a base coat, then polish, then top coat. Right now I have Sally Hansen Insta-dri.
My cuticles don't really get out of control so I don't do anything else besides file.

I haven't done gel at home because I found from getting it done in the salon that if the polish touches the skin, it will peel off the whole nail and not last like it's supposed to. I've gotten pretty good at painting my nails but if any gets on the skin I just scrub it off in the shower.

[MauMau]

I do my manicures exclusively at home almost every night. The best thing I can recommend is getting a small flat paintbrush and a small bottle of acetone. Despite having good precision I sometimes get a little polish on my skin or cuticles. I dip the paintbrush into the acetone and gently wipe away any mistakes.

[KaraOrNot]

For me, the biggest thing is having a good top coat. It helps the polish dry quickly, so I don't smear it and it doesn't chip as easily.

I have this one right now:

www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=NAILS%20INC.%20Kensington%20Caviar%20Top%20Coat%20P292005&skuId=1354778&productId=P292005&_requestid=100846

[nsl]

I get bored with colors too often to do gel manicures. My collection is mostly Essie, OPI, and Julep. A good topcoat (I use Dior) is the most effective remedy against chips in my experience.

[rosiedozie]

I don't do gel - I like to switch things out pretty frequently.

I currently use the Orly binder base coat and Seche Vite top coat. My favorite color formulas/brands are OPI, Essie, Sally Hansen Complete Manicure and Zoya.

[Deleted]

I use Nailtiques formula 2 for nail strength, then gelous brand base coat (available at Sally's) and HK Girl "Glisten and Glow" top coat available on their website.

I like Sephora Formula X polish best of anything I've used. Zoya I only have one color and like it. OPI, China Glaze, CND all seem about the same. I hate the brushes on Essie, so I don't buy it. Sally's is actually pretty decent and cheaper.

[So_Fetch]

I prefer doing my own nails. I like nail envy for base coat, and seche gite for top coat. I love fingerpaints from sally beauty. Essie has pretty colors but yellows my nails for some reason.

I have the sally hansen gel kit too with the little lamp. It is really easy and totally lasts ten days or more. Unfortunately its still a hugen pain to get it off and it damaged my nails when I did one gel manicure after another. Have to give them a breather.

[ET]

Mani/pedi, yes. I actually think I do a better job that the salons, really. I never like the way they apply the polish bc it fattens the nail as opposed to elongating it.

i don't do gel or shellac... Just normal polish, coat & cuticle oil.

[zacksbride]

i have been doing my own gel manicures at home for about 2 years now. I purchased a 2 hand LED light from ebay and i buy all of my polishes off ebay because they are cheapest. i use gelish - it is what i started with and have been happy so no need to change. i usually use the color bashful because it is pretty neutral so doesn't show the outgrowth as much