There’s something about a manicure that makes you feel feminine and fabulous that increases your overall confidence. And while going to the salon and having a professional do your nails is no doubt luxurious, it’s not necessarily in everyone’s budget. Not to mention it’s time-consuming.

Doing your own nails at home is an economical and convenient way to have flawless nails. However, if you’ve never gone to beauty school, doing your nails might not be your forte. Here are some of the best tips for achieving a picture-perfect manicure that lasts.

Prep Your Nails

It doesn’t matter how good you are at applying nail polish—if your nails aren’t prepared properly then the nail polish isn’t going to go on smoothly, and you’ll find that it will chip very quickly.

The first step is washing your hands so that you have a clean surface to work on. Next, thoroughly dry your hands and push back the cuticle. Scrape gently along the side walls to remove any overlapping skin, as skin on the nail will affect the overall adherence of the polish.

After you push back your cuticles, feel free to trim them with the cuticle scissors. Remember, this takes practice, so go slowly and gently so as not to injure yourself. Once you’ve pushed back and removed your cuticles, buff the nail so that it’s completely matte. If there’s any shine on the nail at all, then your products won’t stick for very long.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you can file your nails to your desired shape, and wipe any excess dust and debris away with alcohol and a cotton ball.

Apply Base

Whether you’re applying traditional nail polish or shellac, you should always use a base. This serves as a foundation for your polish and will ensure a longer lifespan of your manicure.

Following the base, go on with whatever color you choose. Start from the free edge of the nail and work your way up to the cuticle. Take your time and above all, don’t rush. The secret to a perfect manicure is not spilling into the side walls. If any nail polish does spill into your cuticles side walls, simply take a wooden cuticle stick and scrape away the excess product.

Apply Top Coat

If you thought your manicure was done once you apply the color, then think again. The reason that manicures look so shiny and flawless in a salon is all because of the final step— top coat.

Apply the top coat in a thin layer again starting from the free edge, again, working your way up to the cuticle. Once it’s dry, apply cuticle oil, and voila! You’ve got a fabulous manicure!