Nail Essentials

So before I get to start ranting about everything nails I thought I would cover what I find to be the basics every girls should own to maintain the perfect manicure (for natural nails).

Lets start with the very basics:

Nail File: this does not have to be course.  Natural nails will file just fine with a finer course file.
Nail Clippers: I actually use nail clippers that may be intended for toe nails but I think they can give you the best square nail in one simple cut.  If you prefer oval nails I would stick to the file.
Cuticle Clippers:  Not many women own a pair of their own but if you know how to properly use them they can make a manicure last days longer and also of course make your fingers, nails, and cuticles look beautiful!
Acetone:  I don't mess around with my nail polish remover!  Nothing works faster, and removes even glitter polish better!  I find that even removers that have acetone in them do not work as well as the real thing!

Brand love:

Ok so I am very loyal to my polish brands!  I have a few that I am almost never disappointed with and for top and base coats I am extremely loyal to.  Once you find something that works great why change it up right?!

Base Coat: ESSIE!  ESSIE!  ESSIE!  I am absolutely in love with the Essie Protein Base Coat.  My nails used to extremely flaky and weak.  I swear by this.  I has completely changed my nails, they are so strong now and rarely flake.  I start every manicure with this base coat!
Top Coat (shine): Sally Hansen Mega Shine Top Coat.  This is the one and only Sally Hansen product I use and will probably ever use but it is great!  It gives amazing shine, dries very quickly, and stops chipping.
Top Coat (matte): Orly Matte Top.  This can transform any color into a matte finish.  *this is the only matte top coat I have experimented with yet so there will be some reviews to come on this!*
Color: For brands for polish color Essie is my absolute favorite!  I love their range of shades but they do always require a top and base coat.  Butter London is also an absolute favorite but a splurge.  They have absolutely amazing glitter shades that seriously are so unique but they are pricey.  Essie is typically around 8$ a bottle where as Butter London is 14$ and can only be found online and in department stores.  Essie can be found in any where from a drugstore to a beauty supply store.  OPI and Urban Shades are also so favorites OPI at about 8$ per bottle OPI can be found at the same places as Essie typically.  Urban Outfitter shades can only be found at their store locations and online but are only 5$ per bottle or 2 for 8$.

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