A gift guide of products to get your favorite nail professional.

Everyone enjoys a good manicure, and I’m no exception. But, seeing as I’m a nail technician by trade, it’s hard for me to get excited about the same old polish shades I see on display at the local beauty supply store. What I’d probably like the most is something that makes my job easier or helps me do it better. If you have a nail technician in your life, consider gifting them with one of these items:

Dehydrator

A dehydrator comes in handy when you are doing acrylic nails that require an acid-free primer. It can also be used to dry tacky top coats on gel nails and to dry acetone quickly when using wraps for removal.

Powder Palette

A powder palette is great for mixing custom colors and glitter effects as well as mixing nail art powders (e.g., Chrome Powder) before applying them over gel or acrylic nails. The palette gives you a smooth surface to mix pigment on and allows you to pick up the product with an applicator or brush without worrying about contamination.

For the nail enthusiast, there is no better gift than a manicure-related one. This holiday season, we’ve put together a list of items that any nail professional would love to receive.

Nail polish is always a great gift, but sometimes it’s hard to know what colors are in style or would look good on your friend. Instead of guessing, get them something they can pick out themselves, like an e-gift card from Olive & June (oliveandjune.com). If you’re looking for something more personal, look to Etsy for handmade nail polish holders and jewelry. One of our favorite shops is Nail Polish Jewelry by Lacey (etsy.com/shop/NailPolishJewelrybyLacey).

The best nail polish removers are acetone-based for fast and easy removal of shellac, gel and glitter polishes. A popular brand among professionals is CND Creative Play Nail Lacquer Remover ($10; cnd.com), which even removes glitter and dark shades with ease.

Cuticle oil should be applied daily to keep the cuticle area hydrated and promote healthy nail growth. The Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil ($9; essie.com) is not

There are three types of people in this world: those who love to do their own nails, those who (like me) are too nervous to paint their own nails and leave it to the professionals, and those who just don’t care.

If you’re one of the latter two and have a nail enthusiast in your life, let us make gift-giving easy for you. There are so many nail accessories on the market that even a seasoned professional can get overwhelmed by all of the choices. Here’s a curated list of products any nail addict would be thrilled to receive.

And it’s not just nail professionals who are having fun with their nails these days. The pandemic has made nail art—in all its guises—a fun hobby for many, and a creative outlet for others. So why not gift the nail enthusiast in your life with something that will make their next mani even better?

From cuticle oil to a portable lamp to a super simple way to remove gel polish, these are our picks for the best gifts for the nail-obsessed.

If your go-to manicure is a French tip, you’re probably used to spending a lot of time waiting for your nails to dry. That’s because this classic look requires two coats of white polish, two coats of color, and two more coats of white on top of your color. But thanks to a new manicure shortcut, you can get the same result in just one step.

The new treatment is called the “no-light gel French manicure,” and it’s available at both Sephora and Ulta . Basically, it’s an easy way to create the perfect French tip without needing UV light for curing.

I tried out both brands’ versions of the no-light gel French manicure and was blown away by how easy they were to apply. The nail treatments come with everything you need: a small brush, sticker guides for creating the perfect tip shape on each nail, plus two bottles that contain your base coat, color polish, and top coat all in one.

First off, you start by applying your base coat as normal on clean nails that have been filed into shape. Then you peel off your stickers and place them on each nail where you want the tip to sit (your cuticles serve as a handy guide). When you’re

The French manicure is a classic. The natural look of pink and white has been around for decades, but the new trend is to make the nail look as if you’re not wearing any polish at all.

If you want to achieve this look, there are a few tricks to remember: Use two different shades of white for the tip and the base of the nail (or you can use one shade of white and just layer it over the entire nail). This will give your nails a more natural appearance. In addition to using two different whites, be sure to use a topcoat that is clear or transparent so your nail doesn’t appear painted on.

Another trick is to use a medium-width brush to paint your nails. Using a larger brush will give you thicker coats and can make it difficult to get a smooth coat on your nails. You’ll also need to be very careful when applying polish, since it’s easy to accidentally get polish on your cuticles or in between your fingers. If you’re doing this at home, I recommend using a small brush to apply each coat until you’re comfortable using the larger brush.

I like having my nails painted all one color, but if you want them to look more natural, I suggest applying two coats of polish in

French manicures are a classic nail look that is perfect for any occasion. You can achieve the look by applying white polish to the tip of your nails and then covering them with a clear top coat. French manicures are a classic nail look that is perfect for any occasion. You can achieve the look by applying white polish to the tip of your nails and then covering them with a clear top coat.

French manicures are a classic nail look that is perfect for any occasion. You can achieve the look by applying white polish to the tip of your nails and then covering them with a clear top coat. French manicures are a classic nail look that is perfect for any occasion. You can achieve the look by applying white polish to the tip of your nails and then covering them with a clear top coat.

French manicures are a classic nail look that is perfect for any occasion. You can achieve the look by applying white polish to the tip of your nails and then covering them with a clear top coat. French manicures are a classic nail look that is perfect for any occasion. You can achieve the look by applying white polish to the tip of your nails and then covering them with a clear top coat.

French manicures are a classic nail look that is perfect for any