Nail Care Kit

This week VDM does nails. Five posts detailing my top mani tips to colour picks serving up at lunchtime each day. Today I’m opening up the drawers that house my nail kit…  

I’ve always been in to nails. My Aunty was a do-it-all Beautician and when I was younger, like real young, she’d offload odds and sods from her collection into my possession and whenever it happened it was literally the best day ever. I remember proudly warming my cuticles in a little finger pool she’d leant me, pushing my cuticles back for the first time and being very into buffing due to this leather tool she’d bestowed on me. I kept it all neatly in (an again second-hand) cosmetics bag that I hid under my bed because my Mum wouldn’t let me have nail polish till I was 12. She said I’d spill it up the walls. The black splashes of polish that are still on my old bedroom walls from my ‘Rock Chick’ phase say she was right. These days my collection is a little less borrowed and a little more broader. So I thought I’d open up my drawers and present the nail care kit edit. Here’s what you really need:

NAIL POLISH REMOVER: Probably the most integral part of any nail lovers kit. Picking chipped colour off your nails is so not chic. I use the Zoya 3-in-1 Remover; good formula, great pump. It’s a good’un, but I have to say I’m a fan of the cheap as chips Boots-own brand. They all do what they say on the tin – the Zoya one just makes swiping off polish that little more entertaining.

NAIL FILE: Up until I gave my current filer of choice ago I was all for the polka-dot, colourful creations found in the aisles of the drugstore file-wise. I was slightly addicted to them and had reams and reams of them filling up my beauty drawers. These days it’s all about the glass-nail file. Easier on the tips, making them less prone to breakage and less likely to blunt making them a worthwhile investment - Leighton Denny’s Crystal Nail File is my favourite.

CUTICLE REMOVER GEL: It’s such a simple step, but tidying up and ridding messy cuticles is what takes a mani from bodge-job to professional. A quick slick of a remover gel around the beds, left for a minute or two then pushed back leaves a clean base for you to get to work on. My recommendation? Nothing works quite like Sally Hansen’s Instant Cuticle Remover for me. Amazebwalls.

CUTICLE TOOLS: Speaking of cuticles, once you’ve softened ’em up they’re ready to be pushed back which is where some kind of tool comes into play. I’m a big proponent of the Kiss Cuticle Tool Set; mine’s been in use for years. Easy to clean and easy to use, I scrape off any unwanted bits *shudders* rinse off and put it back to bed.

BASE COAT: A good base coat helps polish to adhere to the nail and keeps them protected from staining and strong colours. Here’s a little list of base coats past and present that I love: CND’s Stickey Base Coat, OPI’s Nail Envy, Sally Hansen’s Double Duty and currently top of the rotation is Butter LONDON’s Horse Fertiliser.

TOP COAT: I couldn’t write a mini blurb on top coats without mentioning Seche Vite now could I? Though it’s recently been knocked off the number one spot by the equally quick-drying Mavala Mavadry Top Coat. For me, nail polish without a finishing layer just looks lacklustre; a top coat spruces everything up , leaves a glass-looking finish to your tips and should ensure your paint work remains chip-free for longer.

DRYING SPRAY: Not a hugely necessary member of the nail bevy, but after my recent discovery of the Mavala Mavadry Spray I’ve deemed it a worthy addition. Sprays help to set things and make drying time even more speedy. Bet ya’ didn’t think that was even possible? 

CUTICLE OIL: My cuticles drink up a good oil. I try to remember to apply one before bed every night to keep my beds happy and hydrated. Butter LONDON’s Handbag Holiday is my current top choice – it smells incredible, like holidays and Lilt – though Essie’s offerings are fab, as are OPI’s, though a dab of whatever oil you have laying around massaged into the base will do the trick.

What’s in your nail care kit? Are you the proud owner of a slicked-back edit or is a bit Pandora’s box-esque like mine?