Pre-coronavirus pandemic, my bi-weekly trips to the nail salon were euphoric.

Even though my appointment would only last about an hour, it was a great excuse to not pay attention to my phone (or anything else for that matter), and instead watch as my nail tech went through the satisfying motions of creating a perfectly polished gel manicure.

However, since COVID-19 hit, nail salons across the country were forced to closed. And while in some states they are slowly re-opening, in California, salons had to shut down for a second time, and are now prepping to provide outdoor services.

Although White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx, M.D. previously told InStyle that getting a manicure is considered low risk, I still feel safer doing my nails at home where there's no risk. So, with the help of Amy Lin, founder of Sundays, and L.A.-based nail artist Brittany Boyce, I learned how to safely apply, and remove, gel polish at home a few months ago.

The only problem? The constant hand washing and handling of disinfectants was making my mid-length nails weak and brittle. I wanted to cut them all down and get a hard gel overlay, but that would mean a trip to the salon, which for the foreseeable future, is straight no for me, dawg.

I knew there had to be an at-home option somewhere, so I started browsing through Orly's website for a solution. That's when I was reminded of the magic that is Builder in a Bottle, and knew I found exactly what I needed to get started.

Usually, I would have consulted with a nail artist to guide me through the process. But this time I actually wanted to see if the product and instructions were easy enough to successfully apply on my own — without the help of a professional.

But I won't spoil the end result for you.

Read on to find out how it all went down in five steps.

Step 1: Gathering My Tools

I received Orly's GelFX Builder In A Bottle Intro Kit as a press sample, which includes Builder In A Bottle, GelFX Nail Primer, GelFX Topcoat, two nail files, and a buffer — most of what I needed to get started.

The only other tools and products to make sure to have on hand is some rubbing alcohol, a nail clip, a cuticle pusher, cuticle oil, cotton balls, an LED/UV light to cure your gel polish, and Orly's Fast Forms, which are the real MVPs (more on that later).

You also want to ensure that you have a cover over whatever hard surface you're working on. I recommend layering a couple sheets of paper towel over a placemat for easy clean up.

Step 2: Prepping My Nails

My nails were more or less bare by the time I was ready to start this new manicure adventure, so I didn't need to do much when it came to polish removal. However, whether you have on traditional lacquer or gel polish, make sure to completely remove everything from your nails before starting to apply gel extensions.

Once I had a clean slate, I made the tough decision to completely cut my nails down (it was for the greater good), then applied some oil to my cuticles and pushed them back. I also made sure the sides of my nails were pristine by removing any hang nails and dead skin. Then, I lightly buffed my nail beds using the gray nail file from the kit.

Afterwards, I poured 70% rubbing alcohol onto a cotton pad and wiped down my nail beds to remove any excess oil. I kept it close by for later.

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