Nail polish isn’t for everyone – maybe you just don’t like the maintenance, or maybe you just like the look of unpolished nails; others have a hard time keeping their polish intact due to work or lifestyle. Whatever your reasons for preferring bare nails, know that joining the camp shouldn’t prevent you from shaping, polishing and maintaining the tips of your fingers and toes. Doing so will result in clean, neatly trimmed looks and healthier nails without the need for lacquer. Next, your complete guide to polish-free manicures and pedicures.
Remove the polish
Wipe it off with an essential oil-rich solution like Sundays Pr 01 Soy polish remover ($28, dearsundays.com). It takes a few more times than the acetone formula to complete the job, but the oil will leave Smith & Cult general manager Shelagh Wong says your nails are nourished. Use the hand-washable Base Coat Take Off reusable nail polish remover pads instead of cotton balls ($6 $14, basecoatnailsalon.com).
Molt and shape
Our experts agree: You should skip the soak. “Water depletes the natural fats in nail keratin,” says Suzanne Shade, founder of nail care brand Bare Hands. Smooth foot calluses with a file and massage L’Occitane Shea Butter One-Minute Hand Scrub on dry fingers ($24, loccitane.com). Celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik says to trim your nails, then use a 180-grain emery board to trim them evenly. Or go glassy, he says: OPI Crystal Nail File ($12, ulta.com) is a washable, reusable option.
Taking care of cuticles
Like the gatekeepers around the nails, they keep bacteria out, so cutting them too deep can open the door to infection, Bachik says. It can also be a sign of trauma to the body, triggering thick regrowth. Instead, soften them with 10+ Free Non-Toxic Lemon Cuticle Remover ($18, 10freelife.com), then push them back in with Sally Beauty Stone Eraser Cuticle Remover ($3, sallybeauty.com). Then carefully clip the barbs.