DIY Manicure with Red Aspen Nail Dashes

Boost your self-care with an easy DIY manicure that will save time, money and make you feel amazing.

As busy moms and women we are all trying to maintain sanity while doing all the things. Sometimes a little self-care can help boost morale while helping us to feel good about ourselves too. Taking care of my nails is a small thing that helps me to remember my needs matter.

Although I love the look of a gel manicure and dip nails, a nail salon is often out of the question. Who has the time to spend on gel nails? Learn all about Red Aspen Nails, my favorite go-to nail products for their convenience, price and longevity.

Table of Contents

Why Red Aspen Nails are Awesome

A fraction of the salon cost
No need for paint to dry
Adorable patterns and colors
Reusable up to a few times
Less mess than regular polish
Less time for application
Easy to apply on the go and at home - during soccer practice, in the car, on airplanes, in my bathroom or at dinner time in the kitchen, and anywhere else I have 15 minutes to spare

What Comes in a Nail Dashes Kit

24 nails - 12 different sizes, 2 nails in each size
Cuticle stick
Glue
File

This is the perfect grab and go kit.

Additional Supplies to Help Your Nails Stay On

Alcohol and cotton pads - I like to use alcohol to clean my nails before adding the nail dashes. This helps to remove oil from your nail beds. It also helps to kill any bacteria so you don't get a fungus growing under the nail.
Nail dehydrator - Using a nail dehydrator will help keep your nails on longer as well. I have used this one from Amazon and it works great.
Brush on nail glue - I have found it is way easier to use Red Aspen's brush on nail glue. It is less messy and it allows you to get the glue everywhere.

How to Apply Your First Set of Red Aspen Nail Dashes

Instructions are listed below, but I also have some video demonstrations on my social media account if you would like more of a visual tutorial.

Use the Cuticle Stick

Begin by using the cuticle stick to press your cuticles back. Pushing cuticles allows you to put the nail further back on your fingernail. This makes it so the nails won't look grown out as soon.

File Your Nail

Next, file down your natural nail. This is a simple rough up of your nail. It gives the glue something to grip on to, allowing your nails to stay on longer. After you have filed them, wash your hands with soap and hot water to remove all debris.

Use Alcohol to Clean

Add alcohol to a cotton pad and remove the dust from filing. This will also clean your own nails.

Apply Dehydrator

After you have cleaned them with alcohol apply a dehydrator. Let the dehydrator dry all the way.

Use Nail Dash Glue

Apply nail dash glue. How you apply your glue will determine how long the nails will stay on. To get them to stay on as long as possible, apply glue to the nail dash and your natural nail. This will create a stronger bond between the glue and fingernail.

If you have the nail brush glue, brush it all over the nail especially on the edges. If you are using the glue in the kit, add a dot of glue to the center of the fake nail and your nail.

Hold Nail for 30 Seconds

Apply the nail and hold in place for 30 seconds. Use your finger to run it on all sides of the nail to make sure it is good and tight. If a little bit of glue squishes out, use the cuticle stick for the excess glue.

Remove All Excess Glue

Remove excess glue from your Red Aspen Nails. If you get glue on the top of your nails during application, no stress. You can use nail polish remover to take off the excess glue. However, don't use nail polish remover on matte nails as it can ruin the finish. Vinegar is another option for matte nails.

Finished Product

Here is how they look all done. You can't even tell they are glue-on nails! These Red Aspen Nails look very authentic and compare closely to real fingernails. People comment on them all the time.

Red Aspen is always coming out with new designs making it easy to have a customizable mani. Who doesn't love an adorable pattern for the season?

How Long Does Your DIY Manicure Last?

The last set I had on for 2 weeks. The main determining factor is how much you pick at them. For someone who is always using their hands on projects, these nails stay on me an average of at least a week or longer. My absolute favorite part about Red Aspen Nails is if one of them falls off I can simply glue it back on.

And you can reuse these sets at least a few times before throwing away. My nails can stretch much farther that way.

How to Remove Red Aspen Nail Dashes

Option 1: Soak in Warm Soapy Water

Get a bowl full of warm soapy water and soak your nails for 10 minutes. Slowly pull them up from the side. Don't force them off. If they are not coming off easily then soak a little longer.

Option 2: Use a Flosser

Get a dental flosser. Work the floss slowly in-between your nail and the fake nail. Continue to pull the flosser down your nail. The floss will cut through the glue.

However, I have found that if I leave my nails on as long as possible they pop off pretty easily. You can remove any excess glue with nail polish remover.

I love my DIY manicure with Red Aspen Nails. Red Aspen also carries some of my favorite beauty products. I love their tanners, especially the face tanner. It has been so great on my sensitive skin and it doesn't stink like the others I have tried. Some of my own purchases also include their eye liner, brow gel, brow pencil and lip gloss.