Review | Nail Care for Beginners

I've never really been into nail care. Yes, I love my nail polish (a bit too much in fact...) but I was never into treating my nails - it always just took too long in my opinion! Recently, however, my nails were looking quite grotty. They tend to flake at the ends, with ragged cuticles and chips taken out of them hidden under my layers of nail polish. I have recently started using some tools to look after my nails a bit more, and have found that they have made such a difference overall to the state of my nails. Polish looks shiner and less streaky, and I can even go out without painting my nails as they look so healthy!

The first kit I have been using nearly everyday has been this manicure kit. It was a present from a friend from a little boutique in New York, so unfortunately I cannot find it online! However Tweezerman do a similar kit (click to view) and I also found similar ones on Amazon from the brand Hoter (1) (2). 

I absolutely love this kit. It contains a cuticle pusher, tweezers, a nail cleaner, a nail file, cuticle scissors and a nail clipper. This is basically everything I need to groom (if that's the right word?!) my nails. I especially adore the tweezers and nail clippers. They both are really easy to use and very precise, so they allow me to make both of these jobs as pain free as possible! The tweezers are also great for eyebrows as they are so accurate and allow you to pluck individual hairs at a time.

Another kit I've been using a lot is this nail care kit from H&M. It cost a very bank account friendly £1.50 and I have been loving using it. It contains a very effective nail file, nail brush, cuticle pusher and a File/Smooth/Buff/Shine block. I will use the nail brush first, cleaning my nails with hot soapy water. Then I will allow my nails to dry while pushing back my cuticles with the rubber topped pusher. Then once my nails are dry I will file them with the individual nail file. This file is very effective and abrasive, filing my nails in seconds. Then it's time for the block. I use it to smooth off my filed nails, then buff and shine them until they are glossy and healthy. I will buff and shine the entire surface of my nails, allowing my polish to apply a lot more smoothly.

I would really recommend buying a manicure/nail care kit, especially the one from H&M - a steal at £1.50! Let me know about your experiences of nail care and leave your tips in the comments below! xx