Have you ever been on your way out the door (on time no less) and noticed that you aren’t as cute as you thought you were because your nails are chipped or your cuticles are a mess? Perhaps neglected hands are acceptable if you are doing manual labor or your look plainly says "I don't care," but if you care about the way you look and if you want to be taken seriously, then that must translate all the way to your fingertips. Your hands are a key element to appearance and as far as I am concerned, they are just as important as plaque-free teeth.

There is no mistaking the power of the first impression and the way your hands look has an impression on your overall appeal. Amongst it obvious functions, your hands are used as a means of communication and expression and you don’t have to be a high maintenance or spend a lot of money to have a polished look. Weekly manicures will help you maintain youthful and attractive hands, hands that will speak volumes no matter what image you are trying to project and you can do it from home. Spending a little time, pampering yourself is great for your self-confidence and mental stability. Here is a simple guide to a great weekly manicure.

Gather your tools:

• Nail-polish remover
• Cotton pads
• Extra-fine emery board
• Bowl of warm water
• Cuticle oil or cream
• Cuticle cutter
• Orangewood stick (a soft wooden stick)
• Nail scissors
• Block buffer
• Base-coat polish or ridge filler polish
• Color polish
• Nail-polish solvent or nail-polish thinner
• Top coat or sealant
• Nail Clipper

Optional:

• Nail Dryer
• Drying accelerator

Set aside an hour to allow for mistakes and drying time. Now is the time to pop in that CD you never had a chance to listen to or just be alone with your thoughts. The trend for nails right now is short or medium length, square with rounded edges; kind of squoval.

1. Find a comfortable spot.
2. Use a finely grained nail file (not a metal file) to shape and smooth your nails; avoid filing back and forth. File in one direction because filing back and forth weakens the nail.
3. Soak your nails in a bowl of warm water and a little liquid soap for 5 minutes and then pat dry.
4. Apply cuticle cream to your cuticle and massage in.
5. Gently push back cuticles with an orange wood stick and remove any hangnails with a cuticle cutter.
6. Wash and scrub hands and nails with a nailbrush.
7. Dry thoroughly.
8. Apply base coat or ridge filler. This provides a smooth surface and protects your nails from stains left from dark polish.
9. Apply two coats of your favorite nail polish allowing each coat to dry before applying the next.
10. Apply topcoat. I also like to apply a drying accelerator after the last coat. When nails are dry, dip a Q-tip in nail polish remover and remove any unwanted polish from around your nails and fingers.

The art of nail painting was popularized by French makeup artist Michelle Ménard in the 1920's with Max Factor introducing color to nails in the states with a nail tint (The Max factor brand will no longer be available in the US by 2010. Read my goodbye blog) tucked into his Society Makeup line in 1927. Although painted nails were taboo, Hollywood starlets like Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford flaunted the moon manicure (the style experienced a resurgence on the Fall runways ) and there was no looking back. Applying unnatural colors to your nails isn’t just for the girls or people for that matter. It is not that unusual to see teenage boys and men sporting dark nail polish. There is even a matte line of nail polish for the male species called Man Glaze. Yes, there is even nail polish for dogs. Pawlish by OPI comes in six colors and is tested on humans, not animals. Dog polish is not cheap or easily accessible. Pawlish cost about $12, and is only available online, in select salons and beauty supply stores.

If you’re having your nails done professionally, make sure that the nail tech uses new files, buffers and sterilized equipment. The last thing you want is nail fungus; it’s not pretty. It’s not a bad idea to make a kit with your supplies and bring it to your appointments; then you don’t have to worry about the previous customers health issues. If you don’t want the embarrassment of peeling polish, Acrylic, Gel or Fiberglass nails are ideal for a manicured look that last. Bi-weekly visits can cost you $15-$60 per visit, depending on what the service is and your location. The constant filing with the drill can cause havoc on your nails so it’s a good idea to take breaks; your nails need to breath.

When taking off an old set of nail enhancements, insist that the nail technician soak your nails properly. Some impatient manicurist will only soak them for a few minutes, then try to peel or clip the material off your nails. It is a dangerous, lazy practice, not to mention; uncomfortable, painful and makes the nail even more fragile because it peels off layers from your nails. Your nails are already in a fragile state, they do not need to be any weaker than they already are. More care needs to be taken to preserve natural nail health when applying nail enhancements.

Our nails (fingers and toes) should be considered accessories. They are the finishing touch to complete and compliment a look yet are severely neglected. Staying hydrated does wonders for your skin so lots of water is key to looking and feel good. What’s the point of spending time and money on your nails if the skin surrounding them is wrinkly, dry and scaly? Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. You just had a great nip and tuck session; don’t let your hands give your age away.

Next Big Thing: Minx

This is a new company that applies a flexible nontoxic film form onto the nail heat. Your nails are designed with metallics, personalized graphics, and photo-quality designs are easily removed. Editorial manicurists and celebrities Lady Gaga love them because they are bold and quick to apply and remove. www.minxnails.com.

Yeah! Fun!: Sula Beauty

Sula Beauty Paint & Peel Polish is designed with a water-based formula so you don’t need a base coat, top coat, or harsh nail polish removers. Although this sounds like something a young girl would have in her play make up kit, there aren’t many “girlie” colors in the color palette. I found the colors to be sophisticated and I can see this adult playing with it because all you have to do it paint it on then peel it off at will, www.sulabeauty.com.

http://www.ourvanity.com

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