The decision to forego salon manicures in favor of DIY nail care can be a great way to save money. To save as much as possible, it’s tempting to get the cheapest nail tools you can possibly find. You can easily spend twenty dollars or less on files, clippers, and nippers…but you’ll be spending that twenty dollars over and over and over, because those cheap nail kits that come from China aren’t made to last. As my grandpa always said: “Cheap people pay twice…if they’re lucky.” More often than not, cheap tools will need to be replaced more than once, and you’ll wish you’d gone with the higher quality option from the start—it really does save money in the long run.
The good news is that you can easily put together a great nail and cuticle care kit for under $100, and if you take proper care of it will last you a lifetime.
What is the best DIY nail kit?
The answer to this question depends on your individual needs. The best manicure kit might be the one you put together yourself, based on how you plan to use it. But no matter what your unique circumstances are, there are likely to be a few tools that belong in everyone’s natural nail care kit, based on a few basic, universal nail care needs:
- Cutting nails: For this, you’ll want to make sure that the kit you choose includes a nail clipper or scissor. A high-quality pair of high carbon stainless steel clippers can give you a clean cut without crushing or damaging the tip of your nail.
- Filing nails: If you’re not already using a glass nail file, you should be. Emery boards shred your nails, creating rough, snaggy edges and nails that split and peel. Glass nail files, on the other hand, seal the edges of your nails, keeping them healthy and strong. And the best part: they never need to be replaced! You definitely want to make sure your kit includes at least one glass nail file.
- Cuticle care: With small, consistent efforts toward cuticle maintenance using a glass cuticle stick, you can get away without cuticle nippers. Believe it or not, you won’t need to worry about cuticle removal if you train your cuticles by pushing them back with a cuticle stick—this tool will become an indispensable part of your cuticle care kit.
- Nail cleaning: Once again, cuticle stick to the rescue! A glass cuticle stick can do many jobs, including cleaning under your nails and around the nail bed. You can add a lot of value to your manicure kit by including tools that can be used for more than one purpose, and a glass cuticle stick is definitely one of those items.
- Bonus: plucking. Tweezers aren’t a nail tool per se, but they’re worth mentioning because many of the best at home manicure kits include them. Whether you’re (or someone in your family is) prone to splinters, or you have a couple of unruly eyebrow hairs (just me?), a good pair of high-quality tweezers is a more-than-worthwhile investment that will save you a huge amount of frustration in the long run.
With these considerations in mind, let’s look at some of the best home manicure kits you can buy.
Top Manicure Kits Under $100: Quality Meets Affordability
- Five-piece manicure set
First, there’s this five-piece manicure set that includes two sizes of clippers (one for fingers and one for toes), a crystal glass nail file, a glass cuticle stick, and a slanted tweezer. Purchasing each of these items individually would cost you over $100, but this convenient, travel-friendly set is a fantastic deal. Made in Solingen, Germany, the stainless steel nail clippers are a far cry from the ones you’ll find in cheap manicure sets. They’re rustproof, they’ll stay sharp for years, and they’ll last for a lifetime, guaranteed.
The crystal glass manicure stick and nail file are both etched with a texture that will never wear off. The glass nail file will serve you well for years to come, and the glass cuticle stick, in addition to its several other uses, can be dipped in nail polish remover and used to clean up polish mistakes for the best do it yourself nails you can get.
Lastly, the tweezers are some of the best you can find anywhere—while cheaper models will slide off or break the hair at the root, GERmanikure’s are hand calibrated to grip and pluck even the finest hairs, so your skin will stay smooth for as long as possible.
Not to mention, the high-quality leather roll-up case will keep your new favorite nail and cuticle care kit safe. It’s also perfect for tossing in your suitcase so that you can have perfect nails no matter where your travels take you.
2. 4 Piece Manicure Set
Another great option is this four-piece set, also from GERmanikure. If you know you want a cuticle scissor, this kit is a perfect choice. Unlike cheap Chinese nail scissors, the screws on these high carbon stainless steel scissors are hand-tightened for the perfect tension. The curved tip comes to a fine point, making them perfect for cuticle removal. And the zippered leather case is practically worth the price of admission by itself—it’s a stylish addition to any coffee table, office desk, bathroom shelf, or wherever you like to sneak in a little self-care.
3. 3 Piece Set
And the most affordable, yet still high-quality option is this three-piece set. With the same fingernail clipper, crystal glass nail file, and manicure stick found in the sets described above, this simple nail set is a great option if you’re on a tighter budget, but still want high-quality essentials (and, of course, a leather case that’s just as elegant as the others).
4. Tall 8 Piece Leather Roll
And if none of these quite fit the bill, you can always buy an empty roll from GERmanikure and put together your own set, a la carte! With GERmanikure’s precision-engineered, modern designs and top-quality materials, you can’t go wrong with anything you choose.
