Courtesy of Olive and June

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In almost 15 years of marriage, I can't remember my husband ever commenting on my nails (maybe except for that time, a scraggly toenail scratched his leg in bed). So, I was caught off guard one morning while braiding my youngest daughter's hair for school when he asked, "When did you get a mani?"

I glanced down at my bright fingers mid-plait and immediately understood his confusion. The bold purple shade was way more dramatic than my usually bare or neutral nails, and the execution itself looked pretty darn flawless if I do say so myself. Since our family's schedule had been especially insane between work and school, homework, doctor appointments, and holiday prep, his real question was, where did I find the two-hour window required to get to the salon, sit for a mani, wait for it to dry, and then get back home?

"I did it myself," I replied proudly. "Wow! Looks professional," he said and then, like the Super Dad he is, got back to stuffing lunches into the kids' backpacks.

As I wiggled my flawless fingertips in the air to admire them one more time, I realized I'd come a long way in my DIY nail skills in the past few months. All the credit there goes to celebrity manicurist Steph Stone, who I spoke with last spring during a panel for our BH&G Stylemaker event. Her tips on prep, polish, and clean-up are simple and truly game-changing for my DIY mani. "Prepping your nails properly is going to give you that pro-finish and what makes your nail polish last the longest," Stone says. If I'm in a rush and skip a step prep, then my mani inevitably will typically chip after a few days. So if you're going to take the time to paint your nails, here's how to make it count.

Remove any polish and clean your nails with nail polish remover. Next, clip and file your nails. "For nail shape, file from side to center on each side of the nail. I don't go back and forth because I don't want to create any jagged edges," Stone says. Cuticle care is next. "I always use a cuticle softener, but if you don't have that at home, you can use cuticle oil and gently push back the cuticle. You never want to clip because your cuticles are there to protect you from bacteria and infection," Stone says. Now lightly buff your nails. "Having a smooth nail surface is going to make such a difference in how long your mani lasts," Stone says. Last, don't forget to clean your nails one last time after prepping them. You can use a nail brush or a cotton round saturated in alcohol to wipe off any nail dust or cuticle residue.

"A beautiful paint job is about being in control of your polish," Stone says. Before you pull the brush out of the nail polish bottle, swirl the tip inside the top of the bottle to remove any excess polish. Then wipe one side of the brush against the rim, leaving polish only on the side you will use, says Stone. Are you feeling a bit shaky? Support your painting hand with your pinkie finger. "In nail school, they call this the pinkie bridge. It stabilizes your hand in place, so if your non-dominant hand is wobbly, you can use your pinky to hold your hand in place and keep it from shaking," Stone says.

As you paint, be careful not to let the brush touch the cuticle, or your mani will look messy. Paint slightly above the cuticle to keep the polish from bleeding onto your skin. After each coat, swipe polish over the tip of the nail and also do it after the top coat step. Stone calls this trick to prevent chipping the free edge seal.

A tiny brush dipped in nail polish remover is going to be your best friend, says Stone. "Painting with your non-dominant hand is hard, so if it looks like a child painted your nails, that's ok! Using a tiny brush dipped in nail polish remover can help you clean up any polish that you painted outside the lines to help give you that pro-painted look," she says.

I've also discovered a few of my favorite formulas that deliver a gel-like mani look home. They dry quickly and last at least a week or long before chipping. I'll be rotating between these polishes along with my must-have tools all holiday season!

This two-step system turns out as glossy and smooth top coat a pro gel mani, without the fuss of needing a UV and complicated removal process. Mine actually lasts two weeks when I follow the prep steps mentioned above (and touch up, with top coat on day three or four). And if you were wondering, do I really need that specific top coat? The answer is yes! "The top coat makes your polish shiny, gives the gel effect, and seals in polish to prevent chipping," Stone says. Bonus points go to Essie for always having so many gorgeous on-trend shades to choose from at a great price point.

Initially, I thought this system seemed a bit complicated, but after discovering the speedy drying time and the long-lasting results, I'm hooked! My mani survived a full two weeks without cracking, thanks to the hero product, a rubbery-like base coat that gives your mani enough flexibility to survive handwashing, bath time, and other daily water sports. My biggest tip is to follow the directions exactly and only use the base coat in its clear state. Otherwise, it won't work its flexible magic. If the bottle is cloudy, let it sit in an inch of hot water for a few minutes to warm up. The mini kit includes a strengthening nail prep, lacquer color, and top coat. It also comes with a solution to thin out the top coat or lacquer if the consistency gets too thick.

I feel like a real pro when I use a brush to clean up my cuticles. I like this this one because it's the perfect size and well-priced. Though if you have a similar small eye makeup brush that's just collecting dust in your makeup bag, why not claim it for your permanent nail kit?

I'm a huge fan of Olive & June nail products, especially the Poppy, their universal polish bottle handle that makes DIY so much easier. This gentle remover is another favorite for mother-daughter mani night at our house. It's simple and effective, and you don't have to go through tons of cotton balls.

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