Manicure tools and products for lounging around
September 18, 2015 7:07 AM Subscribe
I would like to put together a 'manicure kit' for my wife to use while lounging on the couch.
Things I think I might need:
Nail Clippers - that really, truly catch every, single clipping (no nail bits all over the couch)
Cuticle Pusher
Hang-Nail Trimmer
Nail File
Cuticle Balm/Moisturizer
Clear-coat/Protecting polish
What brands do I want to look at?
What items/products do I not know about? She does not paint her nails but a couple times a year, so the nail polish part is not as important as the shaping-tools.
If there are pre-made kits that would suffice for a not-bathroom/not-in-depth but more relaxed, lounging-in-front-of-the-t.v. usage, I am open to those suggestions.
I have read through this recent question, but am more interested in products and tools, than processes.
Things I think I might need:
Nail Clippers - that really, truly catch every, single clipping (no nail bits all over the couch)
Cuticle Pusher
Hang-Nail Trimmer
Nail File
Cuticle Balm/Moisturizer
Clear-coat/Protecting polish
What brands do I want to look at?
What items/products do I not know about? She does not paint her nails but a couple times a year, so the nail polish part is not as important as the shaping-tools.
If there are pre-made kits that would suffice for a not-bathroom/not-in-depth but more relaxed, lounging-in-front-of-the-t.v. usage, I am open to those suggestions.
I have read through this recent question, but am more interested in products and tools, than processes.
These are my favorite nail clippers.
I have been very happy with this set of files.
I love this balm for my cuticles and that one little tin is still going strong after nearly two years of use.
imo, getting individual pieces a la carte and a cute/nice carrying caddy for them is going to be a lot better than a full manicure set. When something inevitably wears out/breaks/gets used up, there's no need to worry about if the replacement will fit into the set.
posted by phunniemee at 7:27 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I have been very happy with this set of files.
I love this balm for my cuticles and that one little tin is still going strong after nearly two years of use.
imo, getting individual pieces a la carte and a cute/nice carrying caddy for them is going to be a lot better than a full manicure set. When something inevitably wears out/breaks/gets used up, there's no need to worry about if the replacement will fit into the set.
posted by phunniemee at 7:27 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Some kind of nail polish correcting pen would be handy if your wife is unpracticed with applying polish. I don't do my nails very often either and I usually get some polish on a cuticle or two.
posted by cabingirl at 7:29 AM on September 18, 2015
posted by cabingirl at 7:29 AM on September 18, 2015
Tweezerman makes great tools. I can't live without this cuticle nipper. For the nail file, I recommend getting a real glass file; I buy Herôme files, but I'm not sure they're available outside of the Netherlands.
Sally Hansen is a classic go-to brand for various nail products. One product missing from your list is a cuticle remover, which she can use before using a cuticle pusher.
You can get a metal cuticle pusher or orange sticks; I think this mostly comes down to personal preference.
My favorite cuticle softener is The Body Shop Almond Oil. The pen is easy to work with. Lush Lemony Flutter is nice, too, but you have to warm it up a bit in your hands first.
posted by neushoorn at 7:42 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sally Hansen is a classic go-to brand for various nail products. One product missing from your list is a cuticle remover, which she can use before using a cuticle pusher.
You can get a metal cuticle pusher or orange sticks; I think this mostly comes down to personal preference.
My favorite cuticle softener is The Body Shop Almond Oil. The pen is easy to work with. Lush Lemony Flutter is nice, too, but you have to warm it up a bit in your hands first.
posted by neushoorn at 7:42 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
In my nail kit I have both glass and emery board files - the glass is good for finishing and buffing, the grit boards are good for shaping.
I also regularly use a cuticle remover gel, I like the Sally Hansen gel.
The most used tool I have other than the files is a cuticle nipper/trimmer, get a good one of those.
posted by Ness at 7:44 AM on September 18, 2015
I also regularly use a cuticle remover gel, I like the Sally Hansen gel.
The most used tool I have other than the files is a cuticle nipper/trimmer, get a good one of those.
posted by Ness at 7:44 AM on September 18, 2015
You should probably add a small bottle of nail polish remover, ideally acetone free, a few disks of cotton and a few cotton buds.
posted by koahiatamadl at 7:45 AM on September 18, 2015
posted by koahiatamadl at 7:45 AM on September 18, 2015
I am in love with the Ruby Crystal nail file set that we got at HSN.
posted by getawaysticks at 7:49 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by getawaysticks at 7:49 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh and because my nail kit is a wash bag that is kept within arms reach of my lounging spot on the sofa, it also contains lip balm, tweezers, toothpicks, a mirror and floss. What can I say, when I'm lounging, I'm loooooounging.
posted by Ness at 7:52 AM on September 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Ness at 7:52 AM on September 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Diamancel file #2 is a truly-worth-it cult product that costs more upfront but lasts a lifetime and makes the kind of difference that you have to experience to believe. It's a flexible nail file covered in diamond dust instead of the more typical sandpaper which means that it practically files your nails for you. I hesitated spending $30 for a lowly nail file but I've had mine for over a decade now and it's as good as new - because, duh, diamonds!
posted by rada at 7:55 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rada at 7:55 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
- A glass nail file
- Really decadent hand cream. I personally love the Clarins one.
Even if she does not do colored nail polish, I think a slick of clear or really really light nail polish makes a big difference and clear or light polish is a doddle to put on.
- Essie does a lot of very light, natural polishes (I would recommend Ballet Slippers or Mademoiselle). Or get a clear one, from anyone.
- A big bottle of acetone free nail polish remover to decant into the BEST PUMP DISPENSER EVER, this is scientific lab grade stuff and I love using it.
- Enough cotton pads to last her... a long time.
Get a nice bag to hold everything in! It's so annoying when I sit down for a manicure and I realise I forget something and I have to get up for it again. Something roomy and cute, maybe with different compartments.
posted by like_neon at 7:59 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
- Really decadent hand cream. I personally love the Clarins one.
Even if she does not do colored nail polish, I think a slick of clear or really really light nail polish makes a big difference and clear or light polish is a doddle to put on.
- Essie does a lot of very light, natural polishes (I would recommend Ballet Slippers or Mademoiselle). Or get a clear one, from anyone.
- A big bottle of acetone free nail polish remover to decant into the BEST PUMP DISPENSER EVER, this is scientific lab grade stuff and I love using it.
- Enough cotton pads to last her... a long time.
Get a nice bag to hold everything in! It's so annoying when I sit down for a manicure and I realise I forget something and I have to get up for it again. Something roomy and cute, maybe with different compartments.
posted by like_neon at 7:59 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
My favorite nail files are the 3 for $1 mini ones at Ulta. They are pink.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 9:20 AM on September 18, 2015
posted by Ms Vegetable at 9:20 AM on September 18, 2015
Some cheapo eyeliner brushes so she can do edge clean-up at the end. Doing this makes ALL the difference in making doing my own nails feel super polished and professional (especially on my dominant hand!). Also a lap desk with a cup holder is really useful so that the polish can be right on her lap. That hard surface makes everything so much easier.
posted by augustimagination at 9:49 AM on September 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by augustimagination at 9:49 AM on September 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
In general I would say Sally Hansen is one of the most well known nail brand for good reason. You might want to include this Sally Hansen Vitamin E nail/cuticle oil. I use it whenever I'm doing a more luxurious at home manicure.
I know you said that painting her nails isn't the main thing, but in case she changes her mind (or for the sake of anyone else reading this, I want to throw in my favorite nail product:
I cannot recommend these Sally Hansen Quick Dry Drops highly enough. I do my nails at home at least once a week, and these have been life changing. I'm kind of impatient and fidgety, and there's nothing more annoying than making your nails beautiful only to smudge it while it's drying. If you do several coats of polish or use thicker nail polish, you still want to be careful about not applying too much pressure if you haven't let the undercoats dry enough, but these really do make the surface dry in about 1-2 minutes. Seriously, I love these, and the friends I've recommended it to have loved it as well.
posted by litera scripta manet at 9:53 AM on September 18, 2015
I know you said that painting her nails isn't the main thing, but in case she changes her mind (or for the sake of anyone else reading this, I want to throw in my favorite nail product:
I cannot recommend these Sally Hansen Quick Dry Drops highly enough. I do my nails at home at least once a week, and these have been life changing. I'm kind of impatient and fidgety, and there's nothing more annoying than making your nails beautiful only to smudge it while it's drying. If you do several coats of polish or use thicker nail polish, you still want to be careful about not applying too much pressure if you haven't let the undercoats dry enough, but these really do make the surface dry in about 1-2 minutes. Seriously, I love these, and the friends I've recommended it to have loved it as well.
posted by litera scripta manet at 9:53 AM on September 18, 2015
My favorite cuticle balm is the one by Badger Balm. A nice lotion would also be a good idea - the most pampering one I have is the basic shea one by L'Occitane.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 11:52 AM on September 18, 2015
posted by Ms Vegetable at 11:52 AM on September 18, 2015
Others have good products recommended but if you're putting together a spa-ish gift, there are some decent one- use packs of gloves or booties that do deep moisturizing treatments on hands or feel. Or a nice scrub with pumice in it is very nice occasionally to buff the hands or feet. Either or both would round out the set you're putting together nicely.
posted by TenaciousB at 3:01 PM on September 18, 2015
posted by TenaciousB at 3:01 PM on September 18, 2015
Similar to litera scripta, my game-changing manicure item is seche vite dry fast top coat, which literally turns a 45-min and oft-disappointing manicure into a more reliably successful and enjoyable 20-min manicure. It is worth every cent and more.
posted by samthemander at 6:56 PM on September 18, 2015
posted by samthemander at 6:56 PM on September 18, 2015
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posted by Gordafarin at 7:17 AM on September 18, 2015 [4 favorites]