GET HOT NAILS - BEST PRACTICE TIPS!

I am jealous of girls who have consistently manicured nails; because my job is very hands-on at times I am constantly breaking mine and chipping the polish. When I do find the motivation and attempt to lavish them with TLC, it always seems to be a ridiculous time of night when I can't keep my eyes open. OR, it's just as I'm about to leave the house. I've got into a routine of looking after my nails that I'll happily share with you. I find this keeps them in nice shape, they look healthy and the polish lasts for days. Even if you're not into fuschias and corals and deep reds, there are easy ways to keep them looking groomed and classy. You can still achieve a manicured look without the steady hand!

Let's go.


Step One - Banish The Gunk


Ok, first of all - wash your hands. It's disgusting to think where those bad boys have been. Use a nail brush if you have one handy. Get right in there. All sorts of stuff gets underneath your fingernails and it's nice to start with a clean palette.


Step Two - Destroy The Evidence


Next, get rid of any traces of existing nail polish. The best tools I've found for this task are a pack of cotton wool pads (not balls), and a moisturising nail polish remover. The pads will cover a larger surface area and you can then flip them over and use the reverse side. Cotton wool balls shrink into a tiny fluffy mess so I tend to avoid them.

While it may not be an issue for some, I do find that my nails can look very dry. My favourite nail polish remover is Cutex Moisture Guard. It protects your nails, has a whitening formula and most importantly it does an excellent job of stripping off polish. It also seems to prevent staining around the nails and on fingers when taking off any wild colours.

Then use a moisturiser or hand cream (a light one works best), making sure to get in around the cuticles.

I'm not exactly fond of nail polish remover pads as they can be very greasy and smell repulsive. However if you are in the habit of letting your polish chip away without properly removing it, these babies might be for you. I like to keep a tub in my locker at work. As I mentioned earlier, my job dislikes my nails.


Step Three - File Under "Boring"


This is actually the part I hate the most - shaping. If your nails are particularly unruly, cracked or uneven, then cutting them with nail scissors should be your first step. Another thing I happen not to be a fan of are nail clippers. They're not very precise and give you a brutal nip if you're not careful. Trim carefully with the scissors until nails are the length you desire, and of an even shape.

Then grab a nail file or emery board. I have an amazing glass nail file. It can be cleaned and reused for INFINITY - probably. If you've never heard of glass files they really are a must-have and you can find them in lots of places. ASOS currently do a pretty Bourjois one for an amazing £2.75, so add one to your basket the next time you place an order. If you use an emery board it is important to replace it every once in a while as they do gradually wear down and are less effective. You will find you have to file the nail harder which can cause breaking.

The best advice I was given was not to file back and forth. Always file in sweeping strokes in one direction only, ideally toward the middle. Another tip is to never try to file the sides as they are a supporting structure to the nail. An easy rule to stick to is to follow the shape of the base of your nail, and if you prefer squared nails just file straight at the top.


Step Four - Look At The Shiny Shiny


My secret nail weapon (how many times can you say nails in one post) is a really good base and top coat. I use Sally Hansen Double Duty which is a strengthening polish. There are other, more ridiculously named base and top coats by Sally Hansen if you prefer - Diamond Strength Diamond Shine Base & Top Coat, INSTA-GRIP Fast Dry Base Coat, Mega Shine Extended Wear Top Coat, Nail Quencher Hydrating Base Coat, and, my personal favourite, Sally Hansen Super Shine Shiny Top Coat. Say that after a few mojitos.

Sticking to the beautifully simple Double Duty Top & Base Coat, just a layer or two of this keeps nails strong and gives a really nice shine. This beats having to manicure your nails, and if they are nicely shaped then just a clear coat of polish makes a huge difference.

If you are intending to wear a coloured polish over the top, apply a base coat and let it dry properly. This means no tackiness when you run your finger over the top. As an example my base coat dries in about 2 minutes.


Step Five - Colour Injection


Nearly there!

When the base coat is dry pick out a polish. A few of my favourites:

Rimmel 60 Seconds in 430 - Coralicious



Barry M Nail Paint in

150 - Red Glitter



288 - Silver



273 - Raspberry



Natural Collection in Café Manicure


You'll notice I don't really spend a fortune on nail colours unless I really really like them. If you follow the steps properly you should get as much out of a cheaper polish as a more expensive one, although you may need an extra coat.

Now paint on your polish. Try to use three strokes per nail - one down the middle and one down each side. Don't overload the brush or it'll go all Mr Blobby.

Let this coat dry completely. Be warned as this can take up to half an hour, so put your feet up and let someone else make you a cold drink. And maybe read you a story.

Use your discretion when adding another coat. Some polishes are vibrant and thick enough that you will only need one coat. Others, like Rimmel's Coralicious that I mentioned above, look too transparent with just one coat.


Step Six - Glossed Over


Finally add your top coat when you are sure your nails are completely dry. A second coat of polish usually takes longer to dry than the first, so again, put those feet up. Sometimes I let my polish dry at night, go to bed and add the top coat in the morning just to make sure there's no tackiness left. A quick drying top coat will ensure your nails stay fresh and prevent chipping.

A handy tip if you have longer nails is to paint the top coat over the edge of the nail and slightly underneath the tip - this will create a seal and help to stop your nails breaking.


And believe it or not, you're done! This seems like a long post but the basics are in bold. I'm off to fix mine!