My Journey to Perfect Manicure: Ditching Gel Nails for Natural Ones

Hello everyone!

I want to share my experience with at-home nail care and some life hacks that helped me when I gave up gel polish on my nails and was on the way to a perfect manicure.

The Story Behind It.

I was getting gel polish and manicures at a salon for six years straight. In my natural state, my nails always looked unkempt and rough (Spoiler alert: I was just clueless about doing my own nail care), so I had to visit a nail technician every month to get my nails looking nice.

Since my nails grew out pretty fast, they looked really bad after a while, so I started getting manicures every three weeks. This helped me keep a decent look on my nails, but it was expensive – I was spending 1,900-2,000 rubles for a simple manicure plus 400 rubles for a paraffin treatment because I always chose top-notch technicians at the salon. But even with that, I still had nail lifting, chipping, and dull top coats as my constant companions.

Giving Up Gel Polish

Three to Four Weeks of Nail Polish I've been wanting to ditch gel polish for ages, but somehow I never took the plunge. Either it was a work event or a date. I wanted my hands to look well-groomed (as much as possible). But fate had other plans. In August 2025, I got really sick and had to wear nail polish for almost six weeks. For me, that was a shock and a nightmare (I only managed to capture a three-week coverage)

My nails looked terrible... the cuticles were dry and flaky, the polish had faded, and there were ridges on my fingers, and my nails were growing out. And that was the wake-up call when I said to myself: 'That's it, I've had enough. I don't want to look like a hot mess on my hands. I want my nails to always look well-groomed.'. As soon as I recovered, I went to the salon and told the nail technician 'Take it off, no polish.'. The look on her face and the client next to me was priceless, like I said I was going to chop off my fingers. But it was done. And that's when my journey into at-home nail care and nail polish removal began.The First Month

The first week was amazing, I was in nail heaven, it felt so light and nice on my nails, even my fingers felt relaxed. But then, of course, the expected problems started.

I was shocked to see how quickly my nails started breaking off. They were so thin they couldn't even grow a millimeter. My nail bed had been doing great, thanks to the strengthening top coat and length (usually around 2-3 inches). It had grown out beautifully and was quite long.

Now that the top coat is gone, everyday wear and tear has taken its toll. My beautiful nail bed said goodbye, and onycholysis said hello. It showed up on six of my nails (just one finger, for example. I didn't even want to look at my hands), and it was painful to deal with. I had to file those areas off, which left my nail bed looking more like a torn-up cloth than a smooth, healthy surface.

Home Care.

I'd prepared myself for taking care of my hands at home, and I'm proud of myself for that. I'd bought all the necessary products for home care.

After a bit over two months, my nails stopped hurting, and onycholysis stopped spreading towards the cuticles (my nail bed finally looked healthy).

My big toe nail bed is almost fully recovered

Two months after ditching gel polish That's when I started working on nail recovery and care.

Step 1: Cuticle Removal

I ditched salon manicures and switched to DIY cuticle removal. My trusty cuticle remover, CUTICLE REMOVER with monard oil and vitamin E from Francua, cuticle clippers, orange stick, and cuticle oil have been lifesavers.

Tips for beginners. I highly recommend using cuticle clippers instead of nail scissors, and an orange stick instead of a metal pusher. The metal pusher can be too harsh, especially for newbies, and might cause nail trauma or ridges.

Before using the remover

After using the remover I've always struggled with hangnails on my fingers, they're dry and prone to lifting. But these tools have really helped me tackle that issue, and with a bit of practice, I'm actually pretty good at doing a decent DIY manicure (even if I do make a few mistakes on my right hand).After using the remover (and as needed), I always make sure to moisturize my cuticles with some cuticle oil. I picked up a simple one from the beauty supply store with an orange scent - it's super hydrating.Step 2: NailsI've never cut my free edge with clippers or scissors. I only use nail files to trim them, working in one direction from each side. I've noticed that this method helps prevent nail splitting, reduces the risk of nail bed damage, and keeps the area under the nail free from irritation.

For myself, I've chosen a standard 180/100 nail file and a soft buffer. They work perfectly for my delicate nails, especially during the recovery phase. The buffer also helps prepare my nails for polish application.Step 3: Polish and RepairNow, let's talk about the aftercare. To get my nails to recover quickly and achieve a gorgeous finish, I ordered the EMI's VV cover nail lacquers in PUDDING and PARFAIT to help my nails out.

This is a game-changer for my nails. The fact that my nail bed has recovered to a normal state is thanks in part to these lacquers. They're amazing at strengthening my nails, not just giving them a salon-fresh look, but also providing a beautiful finish. If you want to achieve the 'bare nail' effect and a 'no-manicure manicure', these are a must-buy.

I use a regular acetone-free nail polish remover to take off the lacquer. Right now, I'm really happy with the results. My nails aren't drying out, and it's easy to remove the lacquer.

A tip for beginners. I wouldn't recommend using nail lacquers like 'Smart Polish' during the recovery phase. You won't get the desired effect.

I was really disappointed to find that they've changed the formula and now it doesn't work at all. It's like throwing money down the drain.

Step 4: Skin

I've become obsessed with moisturizers and taking care of my hands.

Moisturizing my cuticles and hands is super important for healthy and strong nails. I always have a cuticle oil on hand for at-home use, a travel-sized moisturizer to toss in my bag, the best hand cream for at-home use, and the Aravia professional cream paraffin. If I'm being honest, I used to slack on using these products, but now I make it a priority. I've been working on my hand care for 5 months and it's really paid off. My hands are always soft and hydrated, and my cuticles look amazing.

Expectations/Reality

I was planning on going for a 'bare nails' look by the end of it, but... it all worked out.

Thanks to all these tools, regular care, and maintenance, my nails have turned out like this. After five months, I think this is a real win. I don't use colored polish (I've never mastered it since I was a teenager), but this natural-looking effect is exactly what I'm after.

I've ditched the gel polish and I'm thrilled! Now I don't have to wait for an appointment, adjust my schedule around a manicure, or shell out a lot of money for a three-week effect. Nope, now I can do my own nail beauty and be happy.

Value for money.

6 one-color salon manicures + 3 paraffin therapies: 12,600 rubles (plus gas money to get there).

The cost of my at-home tools, which I've been using for 5 months:

Remover for nails: 345 rubles

Nail oil: 270 rubles

Nail oil in a pen format: 150 rubles

Orange sticks (30): 150 rubles

Nail clippers: 600 rubles

Remover liquid: 150 rubles

File: 150 rubles

Buffer: 150 rubles

I've got to say, I was blown away by the value for money in this set. For just 896 rubles, I got three nail polishes. That's a steal!

And let's not forget the cream-paraffin, which came in at 793 rubles. It's a great addition to any nail care routine.

I also picked up a hand cream that fits perfectly in my purse for 200 rubles, and a larger container for 376 rubles to keep at home.

When I added it all up, I was shocked to find that the total came out to 4230 rubles. But here's the thing: I'm confident this set will last me a whole year!

The savings are just incredible!

Now, I'm still in the process of testing the nail drill, so I'm not including that in the cost yet.The Verdict.

I'm now fully committed to at-home nail care, and I'm loving every minute of it. Not only is it affordable, but I always look and feel put together. Whether I'm heading out on a date or just running errands, I know my nails and hands will look great.