Have you ever wished you could get a salon-quality manicure at home without having to pay for it? Manicures can run anywhere from $11 at Contempo Nails on Robertson all the way to $30 at The Paint Shop on trendy Third Street in West Hollywood.

For an initial investment of $25  — for one bottle of nail polish, one bottle of bottom-and-top coat, cotton balls, acetone, nail file, sugar scrub and cuticle pusher — you will have paid for weeks worths of manicures. Don’t hold me exactly to that estimate, because it all depends on the acetone-to-cotton ball ratio,  and the Essie Nail Polish alone costs $8 — but remember that 0.5 oz will last you for at least two seasons (that’s six months for you non-fashionistas). With a bit of practice and a lot of determination you can learn how to do your own nails and avoid going to salons and their sky high prices.

Here are some easy “how-to’s”.

Step 1: Pick the Color

You should always consider what your week will be like.  For a stress-filled week packed with tests galore you will want to choose a shade that is simultaneously hip and low maintenance.  I suggest Pandemonium Pink by OPI, which like its name is a light shade of lilac pink that will keep you looking hip yet conservative throughout your chaotic week.  Occasionally Shalhevet will offer some respite from the academic craziness. Use this time to add some jolt to your nail beds.  I suggest Essie’s Neon Perky Purple which looks like Barney the Dinosaur channeling Lady Gaga, or OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, moody, chic, and punk.

Step 2: Prep the Paws

I know this part of the manicure can be harrowing to endure.  To take the edge off, you must relax.  Turn off your phone (just accept that for the next hour all portals of communication will be shut) and turn up Kanye West’s latest release.

1.  Strip away your old mani with a cotton ball and non-acetone polish remover.

2.  Use a No. 20 grit nail file because it won’t tear the nail’s edge, and file the nails into a smooth oval shape. The perfect nail length is so just a portion of the white part can still be seen. Don’t file the nail into an unnatural point or an outdated square shape!

3. Soak your hands in a wonderful bowl filled with water that is neither too hot nor cold, and mixed with my “secret” ingredient — Palmolive dish soap.  It really does soften your skin while you soak in it, just like the commercial says, and it bubbles too.

4. Slough away dead skin cells with some exfoliating scrub that’s infused with moisturizer.  I recommend Neutrogena’s Sugar Scrub.

5. Your cuticles are now ready to be pushed back with an orange cuticle stick.  Never cut the cuticles because you can cut your skin and infection can set in.

Step 3: Apply the Color

Remember you’re brushing your nails, not painting a house, so use finesse! Don’t forget to wait at least 10 minutes between coats and don’t flap your hands back and forth; the fanning motion will distort the even-handed application of the polish.  And finally, I urge you to resist the need to poke your nails for at least 20 minutes after you apply the top coat.

1.  Apply the first coat, which should be clear, to protect your nail beds from  discoloration.

2.  Coat number two is the OMG-worthy shade you chose.  Generally you’ll apply two coats, but here’s a revelation: some lighter transparent shades like Essie’s Sold Out Show actually look better with just one coat, while darker more opaque shades need two.

3.  Apply the final clear coat. I recommend Sally Hansen’s Maximum Growth Plus because it’s really inexpensive and when it dries, the nails are glossy and brilliant.

As you can see, the process is much more involved than following a certain number of steps.  But with the right color, the cellphone off and the right music playing, the simple process of cutting, filing and painting can be turned into an art form and a manicure that is nothing less than pure bliss.