Try This Quick DIY Mani If You Forgot to Book Your New Year's Eve Nail Appointment

As we approach the final days of the decade, it's understandable if you've had so much on your plate that you forgot to book an appointment for your New Year's Eve manicure. Thankfully, we caught up with manicurist extraordinaire Candice Idehen to bring you an easy DIY look that's still ultra-festive for the season: glitter nails.

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Shimmery manicures have never gone out of style, but they definitely become more popular around the holiday season — making New Year's Eve the perfect time to add a little glitter to your nails. "The beauty of glitter is you don't have to be super precise when applying," the manicurist explains. "There's no actual color, so it's easy to stay in between the lines with minimal clean up."

To create this look, Idehen says to start off by cleaning your nails with a polish remover or acetone to clear off any oil or debris. Then, apply one layer of base coat to each nail. "This is important because nail polish can stain your nail and you don't want that," she explains. Not to mention, without a base, removing glitter varnish can be a pain.

Next, apply one coat of a shimmery polish of your choice, wait for it to dry, then add another to make sure all areas of your nails are covered. Finally, finish off with a top coat — then you're good to go.

If you want to take your nails up a notch, Idehen says you can also add Swarovski stones to make your manicure extra glitzy. "You can pick them out according to your outfit or glitter colors or use the classic clear crystal look," she shares. But be mindful that you'll have to be a bit more careful with your nails while flaunting the added gems.

"Just be sure not to jam your hands into anything, like your pockets or your bag," the nail expert explains. "Also, if you have any cleaning to do, do it before you do your nails — same goes for your hair. Wash it before you do your nails to avoid early chipping."

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Another great tip for making sure your manicure lasts is to avoid painting them too early in advance. Idehen recommends doing your nails one day before to give them adequate time to dry, while also ensuring that they're fresh. This way, you can be sure they'll last all night long, and likely even well into the new year.