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If you haven’t been personally victimized by a $60+ salon mani that chips two days later… consider yourself one of the lucky ones. I’ve always loved a fresh mani, but my salon visits seemed to be filled with harsh chemicals, constant breakage, and high price tags. Basically, the whole thing felt more high-maintenance than high-impact.
So I did what any rational, almond-shaped-nail-obsessed person would do: I started looking for a better way. Enter Olive & June, the at-home nail brand with a cult following. Spoiler: it’s changed my nail game entirely.
What Is Olive & June?
Olive & June’s mission is to make salon-quality manicures easy, affordable, and damage-free without sacrificing polish, style, or experience. Say less.
Beyond the aesthetics, the brand is redefining what at-home beauty can feel like. They’ve built a full lineup of at-home tools. Their formulas are non-toxic, their systems come with literally everything you need, and they even offer free live tutorials and coaching for beginners. And best of all? The math checks out: you’re looking at about $2 per mani, which is wildly recession-approved (peep our Substack).
What’s in My Nail Kit?
Olive & June sent me some of their bestsellers to try and honestly, I don’t think I could go back to salon visits if I tried. Here's how it went and why you might want to cancel your next nail appointment, too.
The Polish Mani System comes with everything you need for a salon-quality, non-toxic manicure at home: polish, cuticle care tools, a genius polish remover pot, a glossy top coat, and a tool that makes applying polish so much easier (even with your non-dominant hand).
I went with the shade CV ($9) for my toes. Not only does it look amazing, but it applied like a dream. The brush gave me salon-level precision, and the formula itself was thick, smooth, and super easy to work with. The polish stayed put for 10 days, which is about seven days longer than anything I’ve applied myself before.
Bonus points for being 15-free, which means it skips all the questionable ingredients that make your nails peel or yellow.
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Olive & June’s Gel Mani System (valued at $186) is the closest thing I’ve found to an actual salon experience at home. The kit includes everything you need: a pro-quality LED lamp, cuticle tools, polishes, and base and top coats, all designed for a seamless, damage-free gel mani. The box also includes step-by-step directions to make the process even easier.
I tried the shade Field Day ($10), a juicy watermelon red perfect for summer. I followed the step-by-step directions on the box and was genuinely impressed with how well it turned out. The formula is thick (in a good way), which made it easier to control, especially for a DIY newbie like me. For my first go, I have to say... not bad at all. Next time, I’ll focus on making my coats a bit thinner, but overall? Major success.
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At only $10 a set, the Instant Mani Press-Ons might just be hit we’ve been sleeping on. These are the realest-looking fake nails I’ve ever tried… and I’ve dabbled in a few CVS press-on disasters in my day. They come in a wild range of sizes, shapes, designs, and colors.
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The Verdict
Let’s keep it simple: my hands have never looked better, my nails have never felt stronger, and my salon loyalty card is officially collecting dust.
I didn’t expect an at-home mani to feel this luxurious, but Olive & June nails it (literally) on every front. From pro-level tools to non-toxic formulas, it’s thoughtful, easy, and actually fun.
Consider me converted.
TL;DR - Why I’m Obsessed With Olive & June
- Non-toxic formulas, beautiful tools, and press-ons that actually look real
- Easy enough for beginners, chic enough for perfectionists
- Every product is designed for real people, not just pros
- Feels like a mini ritual and costs less than $2 per mani
- Highly recommend if you’re craving a beauty routine that’s both intentional and affordable
Why Should You Trust Us
As a fashion and beauty editor, Mia McManus spends a lot of time testing products so you don’t have to. She’s had her fair share of at-home mani flops, so when she says Olive & June impressed her, she means it.
Beyond her own hands-on experience (literally), she also chatted with the brand’s team to understand what sets them apart, asked the practical questions you’d want answered before clicking “add to cart,” and then put the products through real-life testing. She asked the practical questions you’d want answered before hitting “add to cart,” and then put everything to the test. This review is the real deal. No fluff, no gatekeeping, just honest thoughts from someone who's been around the (nail) block.
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