Nail tips and advice

I have been talking to a TS recently who has nails to DIE for and I asked her to share her secrets with me so I could in turn share them with my friends.

Here are a few tips for us all, male, female and in-between!

1. When planning on wearing stick-on nails, paint them ahead of time (at least 30 minutes dry time) to avoid overrunning the nail and getting polish on your skin. Stick the nail on a clothespin or similar object to make it easier to polish and dry.

2. If you are at risk of being found out at work (or home) but wish to wear nail polish, first apply a thin coat of Elmers' Glue to the nail and extend it out slightly onto the skin. It will dry clear and keep the polish from staining your nail or leaving tell-tale traces along the cuticle and skin. When you are ready to remove the polish, work a nail or thin object under the edge of glue and peel it right off!

3. If your nail splits, simply glue a tiny bit of facial tissue under the nail to reinforce it. Then put on two coats of topcoat or clear polish. When that is all dry, put on your polish as usual.

4. Never use more than two coats of polish, especially dark colors.

5. Always allow at least thirty minutes for polish to completely dry, even the fast-drying kinds. Any less and you run the risk of marring the finish.

6. Never polish your toes without using those foam toe separators. You will ruin the finish and likely get polish on your skin or something else.

7. If (like me) your nails are very wide, create the illusion of thinner nails by leaving a narrow strip of nail unpolished.

8. If you usually wear dark nail polish, you can turn your nails yellowish. If this happens, buff your nails out, then soak then in lemon juice for five minutes. If the nail is still yellowed, try a cotton swap and hydrogen peroxide on the to and bottom of your nail.

9. When polishing your nails, start with the pinkie and work your way in, leaving your thumb and forefinger free until the last minute. Always spread your fingers out on a flat surface. If you need to file your nails, leave old polish on until you finish, this will help protect your nail from scratches.

10. To help your nails stay long and strong, put two coats of clear polish on, allowing plenty of time between coats for drying. Then take a tiny dot of nail polish remover and smudge the polish to dull it, making the polish nearly invisible to the casual eye. I do this all the time and not even waitresses notice!

There, my friends' Top Ten hints to better nails. If you have any tips you would like to share, please feel free to do so. Us gurls need to support one another!

Brianna