Not everyone has the time or funds to make appointments at the salon and spend half a day getting beautiful. Sure, there are some things you’d prefer someone else do, but there are other things that can just as easily be done at home, and for less expense. Your nails are one thing that you can easily do from the comfort of your own home, cheaply, and the best bit is, you don’t have to do it alone. You can invite your friends around for coffee and an afternoon of getting your nails summer-ready. With a few simple items you can achieve the hottest summer looks!

Nail care products should be the first thing on your list as you prepare for your girly get together. Moisturisers, scrubs and oils will ensure that your nails, cuticles and (if you’re doing feet) heels are well prepared. Soak, sip, gossip, and make sure your time won’t be wasted by preparing your nails well. Your products can also include polish removers for any mishaps, strengtheners, files and cuticle pushers to tame unruly cuticles before painting. If trimming nails, don’t take too much off at once – it’s better to take a bit off at a time rather than end up with nails which are too short.

Next are the polishes – nail polish comes in a huge variety of colours and finishes these days. If you have a favourite summer outfit to match your nails to, or have a special event coming up, bear this in mind when choosing your perfect colour. You’ll need a base coat, a colour, and a top coat. Nail art is a great way to apply patterns to your nails and there are plenty of different ways to achieve unique designs, including nail art pens, stickers and stamps. Always apply top coat, though, to prolong their life. Crackle finishes look great, as do glitter and metallics. Why not combine a metallic coat with a shimmer coat? Remember to choose your crackle colours wisely to make sure they complement each other.

For the timeless look of the French polish (or French manicure), you’ll need a French manicure set to ensure you have all the stages required. This will often include a guide to talk you through the process step by step and teach you how to paint those cute white tips!

As you can see, there’s no need to make an appointment at the salon for the perfect polish or pedi to make sure your nails are ready for the summer season. Grab the goods and do it from home – and save money in the mean time!