I have been compensated by Johnson’s® Baby for this DIY Manicure Post; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.
One of the hardest parts of being a mom is finding the time to take care of yourself. Especially when you have little kids hanging off you! But it is crucial that Mom does practice self-care!
Now Mom taking care of herself doesn’t mean lavish spa trips, a day of a shopping spree or having a personal chef so Mom can sit on the couch eating bon bons. Although all that would be amazing right Moms?
One of my struggles is finding that balance of taking care of myself while still being a frugal and pragmatic Mom. I’m a very practical mom. I know darn well what kind of torture my hands go through any given day.
I wash dishes, fold laundry, make beds, do my daughter’s hair, dress kids, pick up toys from the floor for the hundredth time, change diapers, wash hands constantly, make food, etc. The list goes on and on.
I know my hands go through a lot. I also know that means it’s not really logical to go drop $25-40 on a manicure that won’t even last the day before I’ve broken a nail. Or when for the millionth time I put my hands in water that day that the nail polish will begin to peel off!
So, while it would be nice to go to the salon every few days for a manicure, it’s just not practical. So for me as a busy mom with little kids, I opt instead for an easy DIY manicure. Just because it’s not practical to be spendy, doesn’t mean I can’t still take care of myself. See – We’re finding the balance!
I’m going to show you how to pull off a practical and easy DIY manicure that doesn’t cost a fortune!
Easy Practical Mom DIY manicure
Now I hate to spend a lot of money on manicure items. So obviously that means a trip to Walmart. But, I do it the EASY way. Remember…I’m a busy work at home mom with a baby! I like fast and easy!
So I went to Walmart.com to shop same day pickup! It’s awesome. Simply select the items you need from Walmart and add them to your shopping cart. I also add in my groceries I need and then check out. Select a pickup time and complete checkout.
When your checkout time arrives, simply drive to the store and follow the signs to the pickup location parking spots and then follow the directions on the signs.
They bring your order right out to your car and even put it in for you! You don’t have to get out of the car at all! Talk about awesome when you have kids in tow right? This is a Mom’s dream come true!
So use the Walmart pickup option to get the items you need for your DIY manicure. Or you can even get it shipped to your home, or go shop in the store the old fashioned way. Whatever your preference, you can get everything at Walmart.
DIY Manicure items you will need include:
- Johnson’s® Baby Oil Gel
- non-acetone nail polish remover and cotton balls
- Fingernail brush
- nail file
- buffing block
- sugar scrub to exfoliate
- orangewood stick
- nail polish (base coat, color, and top coat)
My secret tool for this easy DIY manicure is the Johnson’s® Baby oil gel. By using that I can cut out 3 other products. Thus less cost and fewer items to try to store!
It helps to create a sugar scrub, softens the cuticles and works great for the moisturizer as well!
So save yourself some pretty pennies and make sure you grab your favorite Johnson’s® Baby oil gel while you are shopping! There are multiple varieties, from original, aloe vera & vitamin E, Shea & Cocoa Butter and even Lavender!
Step 1: Start fresh! Make sure your nails are free of polish by using the nail polish remover. Also, ensure to clean under the nails and cuticles with a nail brush. Cause we all know moms get dirt and grime under their nails just by cleaning up after the kids.
Step 2: Shape. Using a file or clippers Gently shape your nails to your desired length and shape. Then smooth the surface of your nails with a buffing block.
Step 3: Soak & Scrub. Now you may be thinking “I have my hands in water most of the day between dishes and washing after diaper changes why more water?” Well, because soaking your hands soften the skin so it is easier to exfoliate and caring for the cuticles. Soak your hands for two to three minutes in warm water with a little vinegar.
Then Exfoliate with a scrub. Make your own scrub – mix one tablespoon of sugar with one tablespoon of Johnson’s® Baby oil gel and gently scrub. Rinse and pat dry.
Step 4: Cuticle Care. Soften your cuticles by rubbing a little more Johnson’s® Baby oil gel onto your cuticles. It moisturizes and softens and helps keep them healthy and soft. Next push the cuticles back with an orangewood stick to get a nice shape.
Step 5: Massage. Now, the massage is the best part. Take a moisturizer, you can use a favorite lotion or again reach for the Johnson’s® Baby oil gel! I seriously love how I can use it over and over again for an easy and practical manicure! I don’t need a lot of expensive products. Just one bottle! Add Johnson’s® Baby oil gel into your hand and begin to massage your hands.
When finished, use a small amount of nail polish remover and wipe the nail bed again to remove any oil from the nails. This will help your nail polish adhere and last longer.
Step 6: Base Coat. Apply a base coat to your nails. You don’t want to skip this step unless you want to say goodbye to your nail polish within the first hour!
Step 7: Apply Nail Polish. Apply 2 coats of your favorite nail polish. Wait for the first coat to completely dry before beginning the 2nd coat. Make the layers of polish as thin as possible, which will help the polish dry more quickly and make it last longer.
Step 8: Shine. Apply a top coat to the nail polish. this helps to smooth away any flaws in the painting and makes your nails shine. It also helps to protect the color from peeling as quickly.
And just like that, you are done! Simple. Easy and yet still a great way to pamper yourself! And all without costing a fortune! It’s simple enough you can afford and manage to do it every few days!
Now when that nail breaks while wrestling with the kids to get dressed, or the nail polish begins to peel while washing dishes – it’s OK. It’s so simple to fix and it’s not the end of the world because you didn’t spend a lot of money on it!
One day our kids will all be grown and we can be lavish and spend time at the Salon all we want. And lay on the couch afterward eating Bon Bons watching TV and admiring our nails all afternoon so the professional manicure might actually last for more than a day.
But for now, we are practical. We do an easy DIY manicure so we can cherish these moments with the kids because before you know it, they will be grown and gone.
Pick out your favorite Johnson’s® Baby oil Gel here!
Find more Great ideas to use Johnson’s® Baby Oil HERE on Pinterest.
**IMPORTANT: If someone is reporting an adverse event or a product quality complaint, please tell them to call the Johnson’s® Baby (J&J) North America Consumer Care Center at 800-361-8068 during normal business hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. After normal business hours, they can report adverse events or product quality complaints through www.jnj.com Contact Us page.**