Essie

There’s nothing quite like that salon-fresh manicure feeling — baby-soft hands and your digits all done up to perfection — but if you’re looking to save some money, an at-home manicure is definitely the way to go. After all, with just a few key tools and a steady hand, you can achieve nails on par with what you’d get at a salon. (But seriously, though.)

To find out exactly what goes into scoring a salon-worthy manicure at home, we tapped two pros — manicurist Gina Edwards and board-certified dermatologist and nail expert Dr. Dana Stern — for a step-by-step breakdown. And guess what? It’s actually pretty simple and easy to execute so long as you have the right products on hand, plus some patience.

Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to getting a gorgeous at-home manicure, including must-know tips on nail care and product recommendations that will have you feeling like a pro in no time.

Take off any polish

Yes, this first step is just as straightforward as it sounds. “If you have polish on, remove any remaining polish prior to your manicure,” Stern says.

Tend to your cuticles

It’s important to give your cuticles some TLC to ensure your nails look clean and polished. “Gently push the cuticle back after a shower in prep for an at-home manicure,” Stern says. “This can be done with a washcloth after showering or bathing.” What you don’t want to do, she adds, is cut a healthy cuticle, as this could potentially damage it. Edwards agrees. “I don’t recommend using cuticle clippers unless you are trained or feel really comfortable,” she says. “A light buff around the cuticles can take off the dead skin.”

Alternatively, you can use a cuticle remover serum or cream to help soften any dead skin, in turn making it easier to remove. The key is to be gentle and not rush it.

Apply lotion to your hands

A step that should never be skipped is moisturizing your hands and nails. It not only feels incredible but also leaves your skin looking great. “Apply the lotion of your choice to both your hands and cuticles, then cleanse the nail plate so it’s free of oil,” Edwards says.

File your nails

Next up, if your nails are long enough, use nail clippers to give them a trim and then a nail file and/or buffer to achieve your desired shape, whether it be oval, almond or a classic square. If your nails are super short, simply use a buffing tool along the edges to ensure they all look even, smooth and polished.

Apply a base coat

Now it’s finally time to paint your nails. You can opt for either regular polish or gel. If gel is what you prefer, try an at-home nail gel kit, as there are so many highly rated, easy-to-use ones to choose from. Either way, you’ll want to start with a base coat.

“Use a base coat always,” Edwards says. Base coats make it so that your polish adheres firmly to your nails, and also helps prevent peeling and chipping.

Paint your nails

Once you start painting, Edwards recommends working slowly and starting with light, thin coats. Additionally, allowing each layer to dry a little before you apply another one will help the polish last longer. “I like Essie, OPI and Chanel,” says Stern of her favorite polish brands. “All of these brands have similar formulations from a health perspective and manufacture quality nail products, though ultimately my choice will depend on color.”

Pro tip: Keep a precision Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover nearby to quickly clean the edges of your nails should some polish bleed onto them.

Add nail art (if you want)

This step is completely optional, but if you want to level up your manicure and really impress people, give an easy nail art look a shot. “A pro tip for creating simple nail art at home is using a thin liner brush,” Edwards says. “You can always tailor the brush to thin out the hairs, which makes it easy to do straight lines, but if a brush is too thick it can lead to flooding with too much polish preventing clean crisp lines.”

Some easy looks for nail art neophytes include polka dots, stripes and the ever-iconic French manicure.

Apply a top coat

No manicure is complete without a top coat, so once you’ve allowed your color polish to properly dry, apply this final layer to lock in your work and further prevent chipping and peeling.