How To Avoid Making Mistakes With Your Nails And Keep Them Looking Fantastic

Yes, we seem to write a lot about nails, but that's because looking after them and making the most of our nails, long or short, is so important. They can make or break the look you want, and there is nothing so annoying as tatty, uneven, broken nails or cuticles .... it makes you just want to hide your hands away. If you are unhappy with your home manicure, it is unlikely to be the products you are using, such as your nail polish, which is at fault - it's more likely to be your nail care techniques which are not quite up to scratch - so here are some helpful hints to look after your pinkies.

File Your Nails In One Direction

Don't use your nail file like a see-saw on your nails as this causes the nail ends to split and flake. File gently from each corner towards the centre with smooth strokes.

Never Cut Your Cuticles

Your cuticle is there for a purpose - it seals your skin against bacteria. Cutting cuticles is not a good idea, they will normally end up ragged and sore. Instead soak your hands in warm water (you can add a few drops of almond oil to the water to moisturise as well), and then using a cotton bud or orange stick gently push your cuticles back from your nail.

If You Have Dry and Cracking Cuticles - Moisturise Them

If you have had your hands in water a lot or it is wintery weather you may experience dry and cracked cuticles. Use either a specially formulated cuticle cream or oil to moisturise them each night before going to bed to soothe them.

Change Your Nail Polish At Least Once A Week

Nail polish remover should not be used too often on your nails as it is very drying and you should avoid the ones containing acetone if possible. But make sure you remove any polish from your nails at least once a week as leaving on chipped nail polish does not only look horrible, it can also start peeling off the top layer of your nail as it comes away.

Always Use A Base Coat Before Applying Polish

Never use nail polish - particularly dark or vibrant shades - without a base coat first as your nails are likely to become stained a nasty yellow colour, which does not look good on anyone. Also some base coats contain Vitamin E and other nutrients which are good for your nails and help them remain strong.

Tips On The Best Way To File Your Nails Into A Perfect Short Square Manicured Style

More and more of my friends seem to be having false nails applied lately which looks great but which does cost quite a lot of money even if you have a convenient friend who will fix them for you. In these days, when we are all looking to be stylish but maybe hold back a few pennies, it's probably worth looking at some of our favourite celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston or Gwyneth Paltrow and noting that they look super cool with natural and also quite short, neat nails.

Currently darker shades such as navy blue and black are also on trend, and these colours certainly look the job when applied to neat, short and squared off nails. Really, black or blue long talons don't really do it for me.

How To File Your Nails Into A Short Square Well Shaped Glossy Manicure

• Firstly, if you are suffering from broken, or even worse chewed, nails - leave them until there is at least 3mm of white nail showing from the pink part of the nail. If you file them any shorter than this then they can be weakened.
• Do not file your nails from side to side - this is the way you always see people filing their nails on TV - it is wrong! File your nail only from the corner of the nail to the centre in one direction only. Filing from side to side will cause splitting and peeling.
• Ideally for the style we are creating start with a 3 to 4mm white nail tip. Working from the corner of your nail, file to the centre in one direction, creating an almost level tip, with only a slight curve towards the centre.
• When you are happy with this, work on the corners of the nails, rounding them off slightly. Yes, false square cut nails generally have pretty sharp corners, but in real life with real nails a totally square cornered nail is likely to catch, split and break, so a rounded corner is preferable.

What Sort Of Nail File Is Best To Care For Your Nails?

• Don't use the nice shiny metal nail file that you were given in that manicure set at Christmas. They are much too harsh and stiff and can cause splitting and damage, especially in inexperienced hands.
• Choose a nice wide and soft emery board, which is much easier to handle, and gentler on your nails.

What Colour Should You Paint Your New Short and Square Manicure?

• Here I think the world is your oyster as with short nails you can use the most vibrant colours that would look pretty tarty on long talons, but which just look funky and young on a short square manicure.
• Alternatively, a natural look is beautiful and if you fancy applying a french polish, you should be able to apply yourself a neat, well manicured style to rival those from a nail bar. Read here on how to apply a french polish at home.
• If you are on trend, look for black, dark purples and navy polishes which are super cool this season.

Baby Pink Nails - How To Create The Perfect Pink Polish

Just the thing for Spring - perfect baby pink nails. Ideally nails should be finished with a short square or slightly rounded manicure.

How To Choose The Correct Shade Of Pink Polish For You

• English rose complexions suit baby pink polishes.
• Olive toned complexions look lovely with pink based nude colours.
• Darker complexions are lucky and look beautiful in any shade of pink.
• A quick way to check whether you are wearing the wrong shade for you is to look at your cuticles - if they look yellow then the shade is the wrong tone for you.

The Benefits Of Wearing Pale Pink and Nude Coloured Polish

• Light colours minimise any flaws in your nails.
• Pinks are pretty rather than dramatic and are perfect for both day wear and evenings or special occasions.
• Light coloured polishes are less likely to show last minute dramas when you are on your way out such as a chip or a smudge.

How To Get Naturally Pink Nails

• Use a nail buffer which will give your nails a natural shine, increase the blood flow to the nail which will make them grow faster and also stop them from splitting and breaking.

My Picks:

How To Look After Your Nails and Tips On How To Stop Them Breaking, Splitting And Cracking

It's a nightmare isn't it when you have been carefully looking after your nails, feeling proud that you are the only one of your mates who hasn't resorted to falsies or acrylics, when one of your beautifully manicured nail tips splits or breaks. This can happen when nails are too dry or weak, but there are things that can be done to make this disaster a lot less likely to happen.

• Flaking nails can be inherited unfortunately, but if you have them them there are a few things you can do to help the situation such as brushing on Solar Oil each day. Solar Oil is a blend of naturally light oils and Vitamin E, designed to deeply penetrate and protect skin and nails.
• Flaking can also be held at bay by using a buffer on the free edge of your nails and buffing in the tip to cuticle direction will help to seal the nail layers together and make them less likely to flake.
• To help stop general breakage of weak nails that bend and split, use a nail strengthener such as Sally Hansen Hard as Nails. They do call it the orignal nail clinic in a bottle, which does seem to be more than marketing blurb, as it will definitely help prevent chipping, splitting and cracking. It seals the nails with a smooth surface that helps strengthen and smooth the nail and seals nail edges. Your nails should grow if you use this product as directed.
• Diet is important for nails. Eating a varied balanced daily with lots of fruit and vegetables helps to keep your nails as well as your hair and skin healthy. Foods such as brazil nuts contain selenium, avocados and flaxseed have essential fatty acids, broccoli, fish and seaweed contain silicon and brewer's yeast (available from chemists), brown rice and soybeans are high in biotin.
• The old favourite - drink lots of water - if you are dehydrated then there are less nutrients circulated to the nails and they will dry out and grow more slowly.
• If you are applying polish (and not using a nail strengthener) then make sure you use a base coat. This will protect your nails from staining if you are using a bright coloured polish, and some base coats also contain nutrients such as Vitamin E to strengthen the nail.

How To Apply False Nails At Home To Create A Professional Manicured Look

There are so many different styles of false nails available today that you can create your own perfectly manicured look at home. As long as you apply your nails carefully, following the instructions from the manufacturer, and you don't try to remove them without thoroughly soaking them in nail polish remover to soften them, you will not damage your own nails - they can even grow whilst the false nails are on as they will protect your natural nails from breakage.

How To Apply False Nails

• Check that you have both nails and glue in the pack that you have bought - some nail packs do not have glue included and you can buy this separately. Be very careful with the glue - it has the strength and stickiness of superglue.
• Go through the nail pack and lay out the nails in order for each hand which match in size to your natural nails for each finger. Ideally, spread out some kitchen-towel on a table top and lay the nails down on these - preparation for when the glue is involved so that it doesn't damage your table surface.
• Make sure your own nails are clean, oil free, the cuticles are tidy and pushed back and ideally your nails will be filed short and neat.
• Starting with your left hand if you are right handed and vice versa, start applying the false nails by starting with the thumb of the hand.
• Pick up the nail using the tip (some false nails have small tabs on the tip to hold them with which can be filed off once applied) and apply the nail glue evenly over the surface of the nail which is to be attached to your own nail.
• Place the false nail carefully over your own - remember the glue is very strong so try and position it exactly where you want it, as close to your cuticle as possible, without sticking the nail onto your skin.
• Carefully and gently press down on the nail to remove any air bubbles - the better the nail fits the less likely you are to get air bubbles under the false nail.
• The glue will take hold almost immediately, and once you have completed the first nail, continue along to your little finger, and then do the same with your other hand. Your second hand may be more difficult, and it may be useful to have a friend available if you are not confident, but generally it's quite easy to do both hands yourself.
• If you had tabs on your nails now is the time to file them away and then admire your handiwork.

I particularly like the air brushed French Polish style nails that you can easily get hold of in stores such as Boots, Superdrug etc, but there are lots of other styles that are available such as nails that have been pre-coloured in your favourite nail polish shades (believe me the dark shades chip much less than dark polish on your natural nails), or nails which are decorated in lots of amazing styles - some even with built in sparkle.

Removing False Nails At Home

This is where you need to be very careful not to force the false nails away from your own natural nails as you can cause damage to the nail bed or just weaken your nails and/or damage the surface of them which looks unsightly. The best way is to use nail-polish remover which contains acetone. Pour this into a small bowl and soak your nails in the acetone remover for around 10 minutes. The false nail will become soft and pliable and should easily come away from your natural nail. Do not pull or force the nail as this is just asking for trouble. If you have any doubts at all about removing your false nails go and visit a professional beautician who will do it for you - and you can get a manicure for your natural nails at the same time.