DIY Manicures Are A Cinch Thanks To This Amazing Nail Hack

Ciaté London Cheat Sheets

DIY nail art isn't so different from an Olympic sport—it doesn't look that hard until you actually try it yourself. Whether your go-to nail salon is still shut down because of coronavirus or you’re simply in a DIY mood, getting amazing nail art at home is actually possible. How, you’re wondering? It's simple: nail stickers. From full-on wraps to decals to stickers, this beauty hack allows you to give yourself a mani that looks like you just stepped out of the salon.

Another perk of nail wraps is that they can be healthier for your nails than a traditional gel manicure, since they don't require UV light to seal them, and often last just as long. Some are even made of real polish. "Color Street nail polish strips are made of 100% real nail polish, so it's really the perfect alternative to a manicure," says Hannah Park, Color Street Nail Expert. "Our product includes a base, color and topcoat, so you get the ease of an all-in-one application with salon quality results. Plus, in addition to solid colors, we offer a variety of nail-art designs and glitters that are difficult to achieve alone with wet polish. Color Street only uses FDA approved cosmetic ingredients—it's what makes us different from stickers."

Of course, if you’re a self-mani master, you can also challenge yourself to create your own DIY nail art from scratch. In that case, you’ll want to snap up a copy of het just-released Nail Art Design Book by celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec, the former creative director at Paintbox and founder of Masterclass Nail Academy. Half workbook and half guide, the book has lessons on the likes of color theory and color combination ideas, as well as blank nails to sketch or paint in to create your own designs. Best of all, 10% from every book sale throughout June will be donated to the Trade-Works Foundation, a nonprofit that brings beauty professionals to teach their skills to under-resourced youth in Jamaica.

Nail Art Design Book by celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec

If a steady handy or loads of patience isn't your thing, that's where nail stickers come in. However, you don't want to just stick them on any old way. Of course, there's a technique to applying them so that they last. Park gives step-by-step instructions on the best way to apply nail stickers:

Step 1: Clean and prep your nails before opening the strips. Buff and file nails, push cuticles back and use the prep pad [or nail polish remover] to remove any excess oils or lotions. A clean nail bed will ensure proper application and long-lasting results.

Step 2: Open the nail strips and use immediately as they will dry out. Select the right size for your nail. Start with your pinky and do thumbs last. Remove the clear film and peel the strip from the backing paper by the silver tab. You can remove the tabbed end for additional sizing options.

Step 3: Align the rounded end against your cuticle, taking care not to lay the strip on top of your cuticle or your skin, and smooth the strip onto your nails working toward the edge of your nail. You can also stretch the strips gently for the perfect fit.

Step 4: Crease the excess strip over the nail edge and remove with your nail (thumb is easiest) or by gently filing in a downward motion.

There are a few things to keep in mind to extend the wear of nail stickers. "The nail strips are dry, but they'll continue to harden on your nails after application," Park says. "Try to avoid doing things like washing the dishes for the first hour after application for longer wear. A mistake some people make is applying them over the cuticles or onto lotioned hands. Clean your nail beds by washing your hands or using the prep pad, and then apply the strip against the cuticle, ensuring the strip adheres to your nail only. Another tip is to start with warm hands and product at room temperature as the strips will stick better."

While it's tempting to peel them off once you’re mani is starting to wear, don't! "Color Street can be removed with nail polish remover the same way you would remove traditional polish," Park says. "We always recommend that you remove with remover, instead of peeling or picking off the polish to prevent any damage."

There's a design out there for everyone, from florals to geometric patterns to animal prints to tie dye to glitter, to name a few. Picking your style is a lot harder than applying it. ManiMe is bringing amazing nail art for a good cause to the masses with their limited edition CARE collection, a collaboration with 11 celebrity manicurists who each created a set of stick-on gel manicures. Each participating nail artist receives a portion of sales and 100% of ManiMe's net proceeds will be split between COVID relief efforts for beauty professionals nationwide and the Movement for Black Lives to support the fight against violence and oppression of BIPOC.

"When COVID-19 first started, we were struck by how hard our nail artist community was hit," says ManiMe CEO and co-founder Jooyeon Song. "The whole industry changed overnight. Originally the collection was focused on supporting beauty industry professionals. However, as we all saw, that was not the only urgent issue. The past few weeks were a wake-up call for me and ManiMe. It prompted a lot of internal conversation about how we could take action and show our support. For us, that means creating nail art and connecting communities with the goal of providing allyship, solidarity and financial support. We believe that through community, collective action and continued conversation, we can do a better job of caring for one another. We all have room to grow. As a business, we have an obligation to leverage our platform for social good and this has never been more urgent than right now."

Get your digits all dressed up with the best nail stickers and wraps:

ManiMe Golden Aura (top) and Ebb + Flow (bottom)

ManiMe Golden Aura (top) and Ebb + Flow (bottom), $25 each, manime.co. Both of these manis are from the brand's limited edition CARE collection, available through June 30. Every at-home gel mani kit comes with one sheet of 15 stick-on gels, a nail file and a prep pad—there's no UV needed or dry time. Every client gets a 3D scan taken of their nails, so they’re custom fit just for you. Plus, they’re toxin- and cruelty-free. Golden Aura features an out of this world combo of blue and gold shimmering stars, moons and celestial icons on a sheer nude backdrop, while Ebb + Flow is a striking abstract design on a transparent background.

Color Street Less Bitter More Glitter

Color Street Less Bitter More Glitter, $13, colorstreet.com . You can never have enough sparkle in your life and that goes for your nails, too. This mani has a fun ombre glitter effect in pastel blue, pink, lavender and silver. You can wear the stickers solo or layered over color.

Olive & June Everyday Bouquet

Olive & June Everyday Bouquet, $7.50, oliveandjune.com . Olive & June pulls inspo for their nail art stickers from the most popular manis at their Los Angeles salons. Every design is hand-screened, then printed with ink that doesn't blur or fade. The stickers can be mixed and matched or used for an accent nail. Our favorite hack is using them to hide any chips to extend a mani. Plus, they’re a cinch to use, since you just peel them off, stick them on and seal with Olive & June The Top Coat. These blooms scream summer and can be arranged to create bouquets at your fingertips.

Dashing Diva Gloss Gel Strips Berry Fine

Dashing Diva Gloss Gel Strips Berry Fine, $8, dashingdiva.com . Major Purple Rain vibes will be yours with this gel mani set. There are four different designs, making it a blast to play with. It comes with 34 nail strips in 11 sizes to ensure you can find the perfect fit, as well as a mini nail file. Even though it has the staying power of a regular gel mani, you won't have to worry about UV dry time or soaking them off to remove them.

Julep Silver Nail Studs

Julep Silver Nail Studs, $4.99, julep.com . If you’re looking for a 3D effect, these nail studs are your best bet. They’ll literally add an edge to any look and the options are endless. You can throw a few on each nail, use just one as an accent, wear them over nude nails or over a pop of polish. They’re easier to use than they look—simply press a stud into wet polish and then seal it evenly with a top coat.

Ciaté London Cheat Sheets

Ciaté London Cheat Sheets, $18, ciatelondon.com . The name says it all—it's so easy to get great nail art that it feels like you’re cheating. This set comes with four sheets that are all on-trend and straight from a Pinterest board. There's pastel leopard spots, evil eyes, neon geometric lines and abstract illustrations in black and white inspired by art. You can apply them to dry painted or bare nails, then seal with a top coat.

Lights Lacquer Sweet As Summer Nail Art Stickers

Lights Lacquer Sweet As Summer Nail Art Stickers, $7, lightslacquer.com . Miami-based beauty influencer Kathleen Fuentes, aka KathleenLights, has her own vegan, cruelty- and seven-free nail lacquer brand, Lights Lacquer. The latest collection, Sweet As Summer, is full of vibrant polishes and nail stickers with fun fruit designs made for the season. They add a fun touch to the collection of polishes and last up to two weeks.

Color Street Plaid About You

Color Street Plaid About You, $11, colorstreet.com . You’ll be mad for plaid with this classic pattern. Just like all of Color Street's offerings, these are made from 100% real nail polish. You can wear them over bare nails or paint on polish in a color of your choice to make them pop even more.

Olive & June Cabana Love

Olive & June Cabana Love, $7.50, oliveandjune.com . Nothing says summer quite like this pack of nail stickers. In addition to these fabulous little flamingos, the variety pack also includes pastel palm trees, watermelon slices, cocktails with little umbrellas, sunglasses, bathing suits, dolphins and coconuts.