I don't get manicures

I do my nails at home in less than five minutes

Author

Haley Boyd
June 18, 2024

I like neatly trimmed, refined, natural nails.

This is the quick, effective nail routine I do about once a week.

I’ve always had a nail routine and have been a fan of Bare Hands for a long time. They make nail care products that are natural, effective, and beautifully designed. The founder, Suzanne, and I got to talking recently and decided to team up on my first ever sponsored newsletter. Thanks to her generosity, this is available to everyone who subscribes.

This is what my nails look like when they are in need of TLC.

Hang nails aplenty.

I don’t soak or prep in any way. I just jump in with the trim.

PRECISION TRIM

Before

After: just a sliver of white. Btw you can’t see the sides of my nails here, which is where most of the problems lie.

I trim to a very intentional length with just a sliver of the white of the nail left. To me, this looks elegant and practical, and they stay clean. It’s probably obvious, but all of your nails should be the exact same length (same amount of white). I don’t polish my nails, so these details make more of a difference.

FILE

I use the Bare Hands file to refine the shape. Most of the effort is directed at the sides of my nails. I file the sides going as close to the cuticle as I can get, often filing into some dead skin. Then I gently file around the white of the nail to make it smooth. I spend about a minute filing both hands.

After filing

This glass nail file is the best one. Trust me on this. It’s chic. It will last. And it is much better quality than a disposable one.

NIP

I use my thumb to pull the skin away from the nail to make it easier to get to the hard, dead skin along the sides of my nails

This step is so satisfying. I’m not great at it, but it winds up looking decent. No need to agonize over getting it perfect.

Spend a minute or two doing what you can

I clip the hard bits of skin along the sides of the nails. I push my cuticles back with my thumb nail (I told you this was low maintenance), pressing hard enough to remove any cuticle attached to the nail (add some of the below oil if needed). Then I clip off the most offensive bits of cuticle that were pushed back. I don’t clip all the way around the cuticle of each nail, just in a few places where there’s noticeably more build up.

HYDRATE

The Bare Hands citrine oil is insanely hydrating and smells incredible. I dot it on my cuticles and the top of my hands and then rub it in. I feel like it air brushes my nails. The before and after is pretty dramatic. Bare Hands also makes this chic cuticle oil that brushes on.

The Polisher in the Dry Gloss Manicure kit

In case you’d like to take your mani to the next level, Bare Hands also makes this beautiful polisher that is the feature of their Dry Gloss Manicure kit. It makes your nails shiny and is a subtle, natural replacement for nail polish.

PEDICURE

I am salon manicure-averse, but I do get pedicures and opt for a nude polish like this or this. In between pedis, my main objective is to keep my heels from getting rough. Over the years, I’ve tried every pumice stone and foot file in existence, which tend to be hideous and much larger sized than necessary.

I am obsessed with the design and function of this foot file. It’s sleek and effective. It takes up no room when traveling, and it looks nice in the bathroom. I use it after showering when my skin is softened (though you can use it on wet or dry skin) and then moisturize with the salve (such a nice smell like their oil).

Having beautiful tools elevates the routine into more of a ritual for me. I gathered my nail care products here, so you can purchase them á la carte:

Bare Hands also offers beautiful sets:

Left: Bare Hands gift set (indeed, a very cute, useful gift). Right: the mani pedi pairing.

And here is the lovely Bare Hands Instagram.

So there you have it. My manicure takes less than five minutes all in. It’s low maintenance, and I think makes a big difference. Hands and feet say so much about you. I suppose it’s the Extremely Edited manicure.

Up next is a rundown of cute things I’ve tried on recently. And since it seems many of you would like more letters about dating and my personal life, I will be sharing an update there soon as well. If you’d like to request more or less of a certain topic, you can always chime in on the survey below, which gives you the option to send a note if you’d like. Your feedback is super helpful as I figure out the scope of topics to share about in this new world of newsletters.

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