Well-manicured nails can boost confidence and serve as a form of self-expression, but regular salon visits can be expensive. So, sophomore Elsa McCrory has learned to do nails herself.
“I got a nail kit in the sixth grade for Christmas,” McCrory said. Since then, she has been putting in time and effort consistently to practice her art. Although it can be challenging at times, she loves doing her own nails and has had a lot of fun with it. But along with being a fun hobby, it is cost efficient as well.
“Yes. 100%,” McCrory said when asked if she has saved money by doing her nails at home. She said buying all necessary supplies can be a bit costly at first, but it works well overall. Though it takes her around three to four hours depending on the difficulty of the design, each set lasts between three to four weeks and she can avoid paying around $70 for a new set each month.
The supplies she uses most are long-lasting because the majority of them are reusable. So, she can reuse them repeatedly instead of paying for new supplies each time. This includes gel polish, a UV lamp, thin brushes, nail tips and the stand to set them on as she paints.
With these paints and thin brushes, she can do many intricate designs. First, McCrory places the nail tip on the stand and preps it with a basecoat. After this step, she can do any design she wants, then cover it with a topcoat to make the design sturdier. Once she is finished painting, the nails can be glued on and taken off whenever she wants. This aspect makes them perfect for the changing seasons. Her favorite set is the one she currently has on, featuring Halloween-inspired designs for the spooky season.
In addition to saving money, McCrory also enjoys sharing her passion with her friends. She’ll often do her friends’ nails for events or just for fun, completely free. Although there are students who turn doing nails into a business, she prefers not to charge.
“I have thought about it, but I feel bad taking people’s money, so I don’t,” McCrory said. She prefers to keep it a casual hobby instead.
Overall, McCrory shows that doing her own nails at home is a fun way to stay artistic and feel put together, all while saving money.
