The birds are chirping. Buds are appearing on the trees. In some places that aren’t the northeast of the United States, there are even leaves and green grass. Spring is well underway, meaning Mother’s Day is right around the corner. When it comes to selecting a gift to celebrate your mom (or your spouse, or your grandma, or anyone you’re celebrating this Mother’s Day), there are a few directions in which you could go. You could get her a small appliance (an air fryer is a must-have, I’ve decided) or gardening sets or jewelry. Or you could go another direction and give the gift of self care. But this year, instead of giving your mom a single trip to the spa or nail salon, consider giving her the gift that keeps on giving: the ability to give yourself a salon-grade manicure on her own watch, in her own home, any time she wants. How can you make that happen? Semi cured gel nails. They’re about to change everything.
The Gift of Self Care
Though it often involves a big brunch and a card and maybe some mimosas, Mother’s Day is often overlooked as a great opportunity to reflect on the things that matter and to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. It’s a day for the mother in your life to take some time for herself. For a busy woman who’s probably carrying the whole family on her shoulders (as moms do), Mother’s Day is all about giving her a day to just relax. Giving the gift of self care is the perfect way to allow your mom to do that this Mother’s Day.
It’s common to get your mom an appointment at a spa for Mother’s Day. A massage, or a facial, or a manicure are all excellent ideas. But my argument for giving the gift of semi cured gel nails this Mother’s day goes further than that. Rather than just a one-time appointment, you’d be giving her a lifetime of perfect nails and hundreds of salon-grade nail design options. Here’s how it works.
What Are Semi Cured Gel Nails?
In short, semi cured gel nails are the simplest DIY manicure you’ll ever give yourself. Semi cured gel nails come as gel nail strips that are already 60% cured, meaning they’re not liquid but rather are already over halfway done with the hardening process that you’d typically undergo when getting gel nails at a salon. So you don’t have to buy nail polish, you don’t have to paint your nails, and you don’t have to repeatedly cure your layers of gel nail polish under a UV lamp every few minutes. Instead, you simply order semi cured gel nail strips and cure them the rest of the way at home with a UV lamp once you’ve placed a strip on each nail. It’s very simple, and I’ll get into the process in just a bit, but we’ll start with the basics that you’ll need to have on hand in order to give your mom this perfect gift.
Semi Cured Gel Nails: The Necessities
It all starts with the one-time purchase of a UV gel lamp (pictured below), which would be the main component of your Mother’s Day gift. These lamps are typically under $30, and they’re small and simple to use. Then, you’ll get your mom some nail strips, or, better yet, a subscription. Nail strips typically come in packs of about 30 (but at very least there will be 20, as you need 10 for each hand). One pack of strips without a subscription is typically between $10 and $20. And to make it easy as you pick out the best ones for mom, you’ll notice that just about any pattern or design or color you can imagine exists as a set of nail strips. Polka dots? Hot dogs and hamburgers on your nails? Gemstones? They have it all. You’ll have no trouble finding a pack that mom will love.
The Gift That Keeps On Giving: How It’s Done
The best part about semi cured gel nails is that the process is much simpler than getting it done at a salon, but the results are just as good. It just takes a few simple steps. First, she’ll want to wash her hands and clean any excess moisture or dirt off her nails. Then she’ll cut her nails to the length and shape she desires. After that, she’ll select her choice color or patterned semi cured gel nail strips, peel them off the sheet they come on, stick them onto each nail, and cut off the excess strip so it’s shaped to her nail. This process is simple and the strips are quite easy to shape to the nail. Then, she’ll finish up by placing her nails under her UV gel lamp for about a minute, depending on her nail strip choice.
If it has gemstones or other unique aspects, it might take slightly longer, but no matter what the whole process can be done in 20 minutes. It’ll save her the time, hassle, and expense of making an appointment at a salon. And once she has the UV lamp, she can continue to order strips as frequently as she needs so her nails can match her mood all year long. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
So if you’re still looking for that perfect Mother’s Day gift this year, look no further. A semi cured gel nail kit will give her the best looking nails around, giving her a great way to practice self care and to take time to relax any day, any time. But beware: once you see the results, you might just have to go buy another for yourself.