I never feel quite like myself if I don’t have my nails done. While I’d love to be a minimalist and embrace the soapy nails trend, I’m all about colour. It’s mood-boosting and makes me feel like I have my life together, even when that’s very much not the case.

Going to get my nails done in a salon is a treat I welcome, but realistically, time and money are often in short supply, which is when I rely on myself to be a manicurist. The results are never quite as sleek or as polished as getting them done professionally, but I try my best.

I used to paint my nails every week with polish, but I gradually fell out of the habit – who has time to wait around for the polish to dry? Then, DIY gel nail kits became all the rage, and I thought they’d answer my problems. Durable nails from the comfort of my sofa? Yes, please.

“At-home gel nail kits used to ruin my nails – until I tried this one”