How to do your own nails
Interactive by Tareni Moorty
Photos by Caroline Ortuzar
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
How to do your own nails
Interactive by Tareni Moorty
Photos by Caroline Ortuzar
Step
Step
Step
Step
Look for inspiration
Use apps like Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok to research some reference photos for you to replicate. You don't have to use a reference photo, but it is best to know what design you are going for.
Gather materials
You can either borrow from a friend, or purchase your own. The easiest way to find affordable materials is on Amazon. Double check ingredients for any allergies. You may need a LED nail lamp, gel polish, acetone, cotton balls, foil, cuticle nail pusher and clippers, nail files and buffers, top coat, base coat and cuticle oil.
Take photos of your nails
Relax your hands and hold them still. Play with the lighting until you find some that you like. It also helps to use a ring light. Ttry different hand poses. You can also look up inspiration for these on apps such as Pinterest.
Curing your nail and using a nail lamp
1. Take your base coat and apply a thin layer to each nail. Prior to curing, use acetone and a nail brush to remove any gel polish that goes beyond the nail and into the cuticles. 2. Cure under the nail lamp for 60-90 seconds. Make sure you tap your finger lightly to the nail after you finish curing. It should be sticky, but not wet. 3. If your nail transfers a significant amount of base coat onto your finger when you tap it, cure for another 30 seconds.
You will need bare nails before starting on a fresh nail set. You need acetone, foil, cotton balls, cuticle pusher and a nail drill or file. 1. If removing gel polish, use your nail drill or nail file to file off the top portion of the existing polish. Stop filing when there is a thin layer of color left. 2. Put some acetone in a cotton ball and place on the nail. Use foil to secure it and set a timer for 10-15 minutes. 3. Once the timer expires, remove the foil and cotton pads. The polish should be lifting. If it is
not, put the cotton pads back on for another five minutes. 4. Use a cuticle pusher to remove the polish. 5. Use a nail buffer to lightly smooth the nail.
Applying the top coat
For this step, you will need a top coat, LED nail lamp, acetone, nail brush, cotton balls and cuticle oil. 1. Apply a thin layer of top coat to the nail. Use acetone and a brush to prevent flooding of the cuticles. 2. Cure for 90-120 seconds. Check if it is completely cured. 3. Apply a second coat if desired. Repeat curing steps. 4. Take a cotton ball and acetone to wipe the finished nails to remove any lasting stickiness. 5. Apply cuticle oil and lotion to the hands for the finishing touches.
Create nail art
For this step, you will need nail art brushes and your gel polish. 1. Using your inspiration photo, use your nail art brushes and colors to replicate the designs as best as possible. If you mess up, use acetone and a brush to wipe it partially or completely off and restart. 2. Cure the polish for 30-60 seconds. 3. Do a second layer over the design if it is streaky, then cure for another 30-60 seconds.
Applying color
For this step, you will need a LED nail lamp, acetone, nail brush and gel polish. 1. Paint a thin layer of polish. Prior to curing, use acetone and a nail brush to remove any gel polish that goes beyond the nail and into the cuticles. 2. Cure for 120 seconds. Tap to ensure it is fully cured. If not, cure for another 30 seconds. 3. Paint another layer that is thicker and repeat curing steps.
Prep your nails
You will need a cuticle pusher, cuticle clippers, nail file, nail buffer and a dehydrator. 1. Push back the cuticles with the cuticle pusher. 2. Take your cuticle clippers and carefully clip the excess cuticles you pushed back. Be careful not to cut yourself. 3. File nails to the desired shape. 4. Buff the nail lightly. 5. Apply a thin layer of dehydrator.
How to do your own nails
Coppell Student Media
Created on April 20, 2026
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Transcript
How to do your own nails
Interactive by Tareni Moorty
Photos by Caroline Ortuzar
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
How to do your own nails
Interactive by Tareni Moorty
Photos by Caroline Ortuzar
Step
Step
Step
Step
Look for inspiration
Use apps like Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok to research some reference photos for you to replicate. You don't have to use a reference photo, but it is best to know what design you are going for.
Gather materials
You can either borrow from a friend, or purchase your own. The easiest way to find affordable materials is on Amazon. Double check ingredients for any allergies. You may need a LED nail lamp, gel polish, acetone, cotton balls, foil, cuticle nail pusher and clippers, nail files and buffers, top coat, base coat and cuticle oil.
Take photos of your nails
Relax your hands and hold them still. Play with the lighting until you find some that you like. It also helps to use a ring light. Ttry different hand poses. You can also look up inspiration for these on apps such as Pinterest.
Curing your nail and using a nail lamp
1. Take your base coat and apply a thin layer to each nail. Prior to curing, use acetone and a nail brush to remove any gel polish that goes beyond the nail and into the cuticles. 2. Cure under the nail lamp for 60-90 seconds. Make sure you tap your finger lightly to the nail after you finish curing. It should be sticky, but not wet. 3. If your nail transfers a significant amount of base coat onto your finger when you tap it, cure for another 30 seconds.
You will need bare nails before starting on a fresh nail set. You need acetone, foil, cotton balls, cuticle pusher and a nail drill or file. 1. If removing gel polish, use your nail drill or nail file to file off the top portion of the existing polish. Stop filing when there is a thin layer of color left. 2. Put some acetone in a cotton ball and place on the nail. Use foil to secure it and set a timer for 10-15 minutes. 3. Once the timer expires, remove the foil and cotton pads. The polish should be lifting. If it is
not, put the cotton pads back on for another five minutes. 4. Use a cuticle pusher to remove the polish. 5. Use a nail buffer to lightly smooth the nail.
Applying the top coat
For this step, you will need a top coat, LED nail lamp, acetone, nail brush, cotton balls and cuticle oil. 1. Apply a thin layer of top coat to the nail. Use acetone and a brush to prevent flooding of the cuticles. 2. Cure for 90-120 seconds. Check if it is completely cured. 3. Apply a second coat if desired. Repeat curing steps. 4. Take a cotton ball and acetone to wipe the finished nails to remove any lasting stickiness. 5. Apply cuticle oil and lotion to the hands for the finishing touches.
Create nail art
For this step, you will need nail art brushes and your gel polish. 1. Using your inspiration photo, use your nail art brushes and colors to replicate the designs as best as possible. If you mess up, use acetone and a brush to wipe it partially or completely off and restart. 2. Cure the polish for 30-60 seconds. 3. Do a second layer over the design if it is streaky, then cure for another 30-60 seconds.
Applying color
For this step, you will need a LED nail lamp, acetone, nail brush and gel polish. 1. Paint a thin layer of polish. Prior to curing, use acetone and a nail brush to remove any gel polish that goes beyond the nail and into the cuticles. 2. Cure for 120 seconds. Tap to ensure it is fully cured. If not, cure for another 30 seconds. 3. Paint another layer that is thicker and repeat curing steps.
Prep your nails
You will need a cuticle pusher, cuticle clippers, nail file, nail buffer and a dehydrator. 1. Push back the cuticles with the cuticle pusher. 2. Take your cuticle clippers and carefully clip the excess cuticles you pushed back. Be careful not to cut yourself. 3. File nails to the desired shape. 4. Buff the nail lightly. 5. Apply a thin layer of dehydrator.