Beauty tip

How to: D.I.Y. Manicure and Pedicure
Expert manicurist Jin Soon Choi reveals salon secrets.

Summer’s just around the corner and that means open-toe sandals—and the need for perfectly polished nails.

Yet, everyone’s looking for ways to save these days. Small luxuries like manicures and pedicures can easily cost $35 and higher. Cutting back on grooming doesn’t mean your nails need to be less-than-perfect this summer season.

Jin Soon Choi, owner of three Jin Soon Natural Hand and Foot Spas in New York City and celebrated manicurist (her nail work has appeared in Vogue and in fashion shows like Oscar de la Renta, Derek Lam and Doo.Ri) gives the how-tos to achieve a perfect at-home manicure and pedicure. Trust me, these tips work. I tried her tips at home and actually got compliments on my nails. Just be patient—don't rush the steps.

Here are Jin’s tips for flawless nails:

Clean up: Remove any nail polish and clip and file nails.

Soak: In a large bowl or bathtub, put Epsom salts, milk or essential oils (not all together) into warm water to create a luxurious, at-home spa experience. Put olive oil, baby oil or any oil you have at home onto your cuticles while you’re soaking.

Next: Push back cuticles with a cuticle stick after soaking, but don’t cut cuticles at home. “I recommend only trimming hangnails or ragged cuticles on the side,” she advises. The reason? If you trim your cuticles the wrong way, it can actually cause damage and peeling. Not pretty.

Exfoliate: If you don’t have an exfoliation scrub, make one with sugar or salt and olive oil. You can also add lemon or lime for extra kick. The texture from sugar and salt will scrub your dead skin off. After exfoliating, scrub your calluses on your feet with a pumice stone. Rinse well.

Ahh, relax: Place a moist towel warmed in the microwave just like they do at the nail salon on your hands and feet. Jin says it revs up circulation and, aside from that, it feels really good.

Moisturize and prep: Use a non-greasy lotion to moisturize your hands and feet. Next, remove any oil and lotion residue on your nails with a non-acetone nail polish remover or alcohol. This is an important step: your nail polish will not last if there’s any greasiness on your nails.

Base coat: If you have weak nails, use a nail strengthener in place of a base coat. Otherwise, apply one coat of base coat.

Paint: Carefully apply two layers of nail color and make sure the polish dries in between coats.

Top coat: Then, one coat of top coat will seal your nails—preferably a quick dry top coat.

Nail salon trick: Touch up the edge of your nails with color and top coat because color comes off there first. Plus, it will look finished and professional—like you got them done at a salon.

Lastly: To ensure your nail products retain freshness, “Store top coats, base coats and nail color in the refrigerator.” Even so, their shelf life? About two years, she says.