Woman Blown Away With Results After Learning Salon-Worthy Nail Hack Online

Trips to the nail salon can feel like a chore for those who would prefer to get salon-quality nails at home, and one popular DIY hack has been hailed a lifesaver by a delighted Tik-Tok user.

It can be easy to assume that a salon-quality manicure requires salon-standard equipment, but that couldn't be further from the truth, as one woman found out after following a TikTok tutorial that has changed her view on in-salon manicure services forever.

Carla Pasceri was blown away and shared her gratitude for the DIY manicure routine first demonstrated by Clara Peirce in a viral TikTok video shared to her account, @carlapasceri.

In the footage, which has gained over 2 million views and 246,000 likes since being shared on March 22, Pasceri thanked Peirce for her 'secret formula for hand care' as she shared with viewers exactly why she loves it so much: "No UV lamps, no SNS, no acrylic, no electronic files."

Pasceri's stunning results, achieved without the potentially harmful ingredients and damage that comes with an in-salon service, gained a huge reaction from viewers just as obsessed with the results as she is. She says she owes her life to Peirce.

In the original video, posted to @clarapeirce, Peirce explained why she cut down on gels in favor of a DIY approach: "I love a gel manicure, but I'm trying to do polish more for everyday things and gel for events, vacations, travel: things where I need my nails to last two weeks.

"I feel like regular polish is just more gentle, easier to remove and to swap out colors if I want to change it up."

So, if you're thinking of cancelling your appointments in favor of moonlighting as a nail tech in your own home, take a look at Peirce's easy-to-follow guide for at-home manicures.

1. Don't Forget Your Cuticles

Nail professionals will tell you how important good prep is, so make sure you don't skip this step at home.

By taking time to prep your nail correctly, the polish will have better retention on the nail, meaning breakage is less likely.

Explaining how to care for your cuticles, Peirce says: "You can't skip your them," adding that you apply some cuticle remover "and then you scrape down your cuticles with a little cuticle pusher."

"If you trust yourself, you can get a cuticle trimmer, but you can do more harm than good with this so I think the cuticle removers are a good place to start... Then you can shape, file and buff your nails."

2. Use Rubbing Alcohol to Clean the Nail

Before rushing into application, take a second to clean your nails using rubbing alcohol. As well as helping to kill any bacteria and keep disinfecting the nail plate, the use of rubbing alcohol helps to dehydrate the nail and remove any excess oils, which is what you need for flawless application.

Peirce said, "Before you start with any polish or product, clean them with rubbing alcohol to get them absolutely free of any oils."

3. Ready to Paint

Now you're ready to start painting, make sure your selected shade is a long-wearing formula to reduce the risk of chipping, flaking, or lifting.

Peirce, who prefers a two-step system of color and topcoat for long-lasting nails, uses two coats of a baby pink shade for what she describes as "the perfect everyday ballerina color."

If you don't want to wait for your polish to dry, try a product like the drying drops Peirce highlights during the video, to cut down on drying time without risking smudging your work.

4. Hand Care to Finish

Don't forget to give your hands a bit of extra love after spending time on your nails.

Peirce uses both a cuticle oil and hand cream to hydrate her nails and hands after her at-home manicure, explaining that, "hand care really seals in the whole deal, kind of like cuticle care."

After using the oil on your cuticles, massage in a hand cream to the fingers, palms, and back of the hands to nourish the skin.

Expert Opinion

Peirce's DIY manicure guide seems comprehensive – but is it good enough to get a stamp of approval from a nail professional? To find out, Newsweek spoke to manicurist and nail content creator Alex Philamond, who said:

"Honestly, I feel like I can't fault her at-home routine, there's no misinformation in there and even the tentative pre-warning about only attempting to trim your cuticles if you feel competent to is really responsible advice."

As for Philamond's own tips for taking care of your nails at home, he shared: "My advice is always to go slow, do your nails of an evening where you know you don't have to be somewhere, and you won't have to rush.

"Always use a base coat, it anchors the polish to the nail and stops really pigmented colours from staining the nail. When you're painting, Use a flat bristled paint brush dipped into polish remover to clean up the edges and achieve a seamless professional quality finish."

Painting your nails isn't as simple as just applying a product, and your technique can make all the difference, as he explained, "Try to apply in two or three even strokes, either left to right, or down the center, then left and right."

And, for those willing to risk the wrath of the cuticle trimmer, he suggested, "If you're confident enough to trim your cuticles, keep a bottle of styptic fluid to hand in case of any nicks or cuts."