I’m of the camp that you don’t cut your cuticles. The cuticle is a barrier to keep bacteria from entering your body, so it’s best to keep it where it is. On the other hand, you must groom them — but that’s easy. All you need is a good cuticle remover and an orange stick. Don’t use a cuticle oil or cream for this — you really need a cuticle remover to sufficiently soften the cuticle. After you apply it, gently push back cuticles with the orange stick. Then move the orange stick in tiny circles around the base of the nail to help remove the dead skin and debris that may be there. Do this at least three times per nail. When the debris is lifted, wipe it with a cotton ball. Then moisturize.

If applied and removed correctly, artificial nails do little damage to your nails, but they won’t improve your nails or make them healthier cautions Substance Nail Expert Deborah Lippmann. “Applying artificial nails is like coloring your hair,” Lippmann says. “Once you start it’s a lifetime commitment. When you stop, your nails will look the way they did before, just like your hair will go back to its normal color.”

There is not one fake nail that is better than another. Talk to your manicurist to find out what he or she does best, or find someone who is an expert in applying the type of nail you want.

If you decide to get fake nails, remember, once they are applied, you have to go back. “It’s not like a regular manicure that you get whenever you feel like it,” says Lippmann. “You must go back to prevent nail lift-off.” Artificial nails will begin to lift off as the nail glue weakens. If water gets trapped under the fake nail, your real nail can turn green, and a fungal infection can set in. You also need to go back to the manicurist to fill in the nail as it grows, and if you want them removed, the safest way is at the salon, where the manicurist will soak your nails and gently remove them.

2.Always use a base coat and top coat. It’s sometimes tempting to skip them if you’re in a hurry. But remember, it’s not worth it if your polish chips faster. The base coat acts as a foundation for your manicure, and the top coat is a protectant for your polish.

3.Let each coat dry for a couple of minutes before applying another. This allows the polish to set so the next layer adheres better.

4. Wear gloves whenever you do a job in water or dirt: dishes, cleaning, gardening.

5.Try not to use your nails as tools. Concentrate on using the pads of your fingers and not the tips of your fingers when you reach, grab, hold and type.

Quick-dry oils work well, but don’t use it for at least three minutes after you apply your top coat. If you apply it before the polish is dry to the touch, you will get a messy nail.

The best way to dry your nails fast is to us a UV light dryer, available in many salons. You must use it with a special top coat, however, and sometimes salons try to save money by using their regular top coat. The UV dryer will not dry your nails any faster than a regular dryer if you don’t have the right top coat. It’s hard to tell what you’re getting, but know that the right top coat has a strong odor.

2. If you’re having trouble achieving the perfect French Manicure try using a white nail pencil underneath the nail tip instead of white polish you’ll find it’s much easier

3. Give your nail varnish plenty of time for each layer to dry to ensure a lasting finish. If you’re likely to get impatient waiting around opt for a quick drying formula like Lancome Vernis Instant Magnetic or L’Oreal Jet Set

4. Always wipe the top of the nail varnish bottle with a cotton bud to get rid of any excess polish, this will prevent the bottle from becoming glued shut

5. Lots of beauty companies have nail polishes available with matching lip colour for whose seeking a totally co-ordinated look, ask at your local beauty counter

6. Remember it’s much better to apply lots of thin coats of colour rather that one thick one, it will dry quicker and last longer

7. Try not to remove and reapply polish more than once or twice a week, as it will dry out your nails. Choosing a remover with built in moisturisers will help limit the damage

1.Choose a nail polish and base coat with nail strengthening qualities if you have dry or brittle nails.

2.Always use a base coat and top coat with your nail polish. Avoid the polishes that are all-in-one base coat, polish and top coat. They’re never as good as using three different products.

3.Experiment with different types of nail polish to see what type of finish you like best and which lasts the longest.

It’s summer time, the happiest season for nails. The sun is shining on everything so we sure want our nails to shine back just kidding, but actually during summer nails manicure becomes more important. The reason is pretty obvious- because they can be seen, so we want them to appear nice and pretty. Therefore I brought you this special post that summarizes the hottest nail colors for summer 2011.

This season we’re talking about broad spectrum of brights, metallic or some naturals. In the brights section we’re talking about pinks, oranges, bright reds, yellows. The metallics for this season contain the silvers, the golds and some turquoise blues mixtures. The naturals are mostly bright brownish mixed with creams and whites.

1.Slide the nail buffer gently back and forth several times across each nail to even out any ridges.

2.Apply a clear base coat to each nail. Touch the tip of the applicator brush to the bottom middle of the nail (near the cuticle) and drag it to the top. The result will be a strip of color covering approximately 1/3 of the nail.

3.Repeat step 3 on the left and right sides of the nail to completely cover it in polish.

4.Wait 2 to 3 minutes for the base coat to dry.

5.Apply the colored nail polish using the technique from steps 3 and 4.

6.Wait 2 to 3 minutes for the colored polish to dry.

7.Apply a clear top coat, using the technique from steps 3 and 4, if you want additional chipping protection.

8.Avoid doing any work with your hands for at least 20 minutes while the coats of polish dry.

9.Use to a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover to wipe the skin surrounding the nails in order to remove any excess polish.