GIVE MYSELF A MANI.

Girl, put your polish on. 💅

Although we love a trip to the salon, sometimes an at-home mani is just calling our name. But somehow, we always seem to mess it up. So, we asked mom-daughter duo Carrie and Lauren Dunne, founders of Varnish Lane, to give us a few tips.

Taking the lead in reimagining traditional nail services, their business provides waterless manicures which can lead to fewer chips, less bacteria, and ofc, no water being used. “My mom and I dreamt up the vision of Varnish Lane purely from personal desire to have a place to get our nails done that was clean, safe, and beautiful,” Lauren says. “We set out to elevate the standard of nail care by completely reinventing the service with our waterless treatments and focus on nourishing natural skincare products and less-toxic polishes. Our spaces are warm and welcoming, and we aim to deliver an amazing client experience each and every time.”

Give them a visit if you can! For now, let’s learn how to give ourselves a spa day.

While it’s still winter, what polish color do you love during this season? How about year round?
LAUREN: Brown nail polish is my absolute fav nail shade for winter. There are so many variations—chocolate brown, lighter beige, and some that even have hints of purple. It looks amazing on all skin tones! My go-to versatile shade for all year long, though, is light purplish gray like Kendal by Zoya. It works well in warmer months, but is subtle enough for fall and winter.

Do you have any tips for those who aren’t experienced in painting their own nails?
CARRIE: Here’s my advice:

1. Invest in a clean up brush! Don’t worry about how messy it looks at first. You can use the brush to clean up polish on the skin around your nails.

2. Paint the polish in very thin coats and allow the polish to dry in between coats. The thicker it is, the more likely you are to mess it up.

3. Don’t paint your nails after having caffeine. It makes it a lot more difficult to have a steady hand.

Also, don’t be afraid to test out nail colors and designs that you wouldn’t normally go for. Remember: It’s not permanent, so have fun with it!

Now, how can we give ourselves a simple, yet amazing at-home manicure?
LAUREN AND CARRIE: To achieve maximum results, follow the steps below:

1. Start by removing any old nail polish from your nails. Then, use a nail file to file your nails to your desired shape. (We recommend filing your nails a tiny bit shorter in the winter to help prevent breakage.)

2. Exfoliate and protect your skin with a sugar scrub. Use a small scoop of it and gently rub your hands together to massage the skin. Be sure to rub the cuticles and skin around your nails. Then, use a dry cloth to rub off excess sugar, but leave any oils on your skin!

3. Next, you will amp up the moisture even more with some hand cream. Massage a pea-sized amount into your hands to leave them feeling nourished.

4. Time to give your nails cuticles a little extra TLC with cuticle oil. Apply a small drop of it to each nail. It’s great for your cuticles, but also strengthens your nails, so be sure to rub it in. Allow this to absorb for a few minutes.

5. Use a dry cloth to gently rub the oil off of your nails to prepare them for a nail strengthener.

6. Apply 1 coat of a nail strengthener (we suggest Deborah Lippmann’s Hard Rock) to each nail and allow it to dry completely. If your nails are feeling extra weak, apply a 2nd coat for more protection.