Impeccably maintained nails are a quick and easy way to create a polished look, but between busy work days and hectic social schedules, it can be nearly impossible to find the time to schedule a manicure.

However, being unable to run to the salon is no longer an excuse for unkempt nails – do-it-yourself manicures may not be as intimidating as you once thought.

According to Tom Bachik, a celebrity manicurist, there are three simple tips to remember when creating gorgeous nails. When filing your nails, use your cuticles as a guide. “The rounder the cuticle are, the rounder the nail,” he told Glamour magazine, reminding ladies to always keep nails short.

Next, apply two thin coats of nail polish, but instead of rushing through the process, wait one minute between layers, as he reports that the extra time will actually help the polish dry more quickly.

Finally, Bachik suggests that daring ladies who want to adorn their nails with decorations use a blunt-end toothpick to create designs like polka dots and flowers. And again, patience may be a virtue. “Wait until the first layer is dry to prevent streaking,” he told the news source.