Whether it's part of your girls-night-in itinerary or your budget-lockdown savings strategy, giving yourself a manicure always seems like a great idea -- at first. But somewhere between slathering on hand lotion, filing your nails to perfection and delicately dabbing on Ballerina Slipper, this charming at-home-spa fantasy tends to devolve into, well, a total nightmare.

Yep, when it comes to painting your own nails, the struggle is a little too real. It requires both the precision of a brain surgeon and the patience of a monk -- unless you're cool with flaunting smudged fingertips. We feel your pain, so laugh along with us through every relatable and emotional stage of DIY manis.

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It's raining, you've got no plans and your unpolished nails are giving you the sads. Eureka! You'll give yourself a manicure.

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You're going to save a buck, and your nails are going to look great, dammit.

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Why did you think it was such a good idea to buy so many different shades of red?

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You start painting your non-dominant hand, and you feel like you've totally got this.

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