DIY Manicure: Secrets From The Salon

If your do-it-yourself manicure didn't turn out the way you hoped, don't blame the nail polish! Top manicurist Eugenya Viner, of the Aida Thibiant Salon, in Beverly Hills, California, says that the condition of your nails and cuticles makes all the difference in your manicure. Here are some common manicure mistakes to avoid, according to Viner (courtesy of Ladies Home Journal):

Mistake #1: Filing nails in the wrong direction. Don't saw your nails; instead gently file them down at an angle to the nail, file from left corner to center for a few strokes, then from right corner to center.

Mistake #2: Neglecting cuticles. Rough, ragged cuticles can lead to painful hangnails. Put a dab of rich cuticle oil on your cuticles after showering and before bed.

Mistake #3: Cutting cuticles. Your cuticles act as a barrier against bacteria - clipping your cuticles increases the risk of skin and nail infections. Instead, dip your hands in warm water and push your cuticles back with a washcloth or soft Q-Tip.

Mistake #4: Skipping base coat. Without a base coat, your nails can become stained or dried out from your polish. Always use a moisturizing base coat on clean, dry nails and let the base coat dry before applying polish.

Mistake #5: Leaving polish on too long. Nail polish has a tendency to dehydrate nails and once the polish begins to chip, it can peel away a layer of the nail. It's good practice to remove nail polish once a week, wash your hands and reapply nail polish for a fresh and cleaner look.

Home Spa Pedicure

With summer in season, it's time to focus on pretty feet and toes for your bare feet moments. Pamper your feet for summer with a home spa pedicure. Here are some tips to create a luxurious home spa atmosphere at a fraction of the spa pedicure cost, courtesy of Ladies Home Journal:
1. Fill a tub or foot bath with warm water and drop you favorite bath salts. Some common soothing scents: lavender, vanilla, jasmine. Bath salts soften up dry skin and also provide a soothing atmosphere. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and soak your feet for 10-15 minutes - olive oil acts as a moisturizer for your skin.

2. Massage an exfoliating body scrub into the bottoms of your feet. You can purchase a body scrub from any drug store or beauty supply store. Using a pumice stone surface foot brush, scrub the soles and balls of your feet with the scrub on. This will lessen the appearance of any calluses and slough away dead skin cells. Rinse your feet with cool water.

3. Trim your toenails, cutting them in a square shape to prevent ingrown nails. Gently push back cuticles but never cut your cuticles. Cuticles are necessary for keeping bacteria from entering the skin.

4. Dry off your feet with towel and apply a foot cream. Most common fragrances are peppermint or lemongrass. Massage the foot cream from your toes through your calves.

5. Finish off with your favorite toe nail color. First apply a base coat and then two coats of your favorite polish, followed by a top coat. After your nails have dried (at least 30 minutes), rub a small amount of cuticle oil into your cuticles and nail beds.

Great Colors for Natural Nails

OPI, Essie, and Lippman collections of nail polish colors look great on all women. The names of these polishes are so funny they are hard to forget! Popular with spa's and at home, these brands last for days without chipping or ruining natural nails. A huge selection of colors is just what you need to find a match for you.

Maintain Healthy, Natural Nails

The foundation of your nail is important to keep healthy. But do you know the steps to maintaining a perfect nail? It starts with understanding the anatomy of your nail, which is imperative to maintain healthy, natural nails.
- The Nail plate: The plate is the part of the nail that's most visible, and usually the hardest part of your nail.
- The Nail folds: The skin around your nail that frames your nail plate.
- The Nail bed: Your nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate.
- The Cuticle: Your cuticle is the tissue that overlaps your nail plate at the base of your nail. It protects the new keratin cells that slowly emerge from the nail bed.
- The Lunula: The lunula is the whitish portion of your nail, often in a half-moon shape, at the base of your nail underneath the plate.

Spas For Your Feet

Tired of dry and cracked feet? Plenty of products are now on the market to soothe your tired toes, and they are especially for feet. Try looking for a foot mask; one that has a clay base to detoxify. Also look for ingredients like aloe, vitamins, cocoa butter, eucalyptus and/or peppermint oil, as these tend to soothe achy feet along with intense moisturizing effects. Are you on your feet for the majority of the day and need a way to recoup for the next morning? Try using a soak especially for feet. Ingredients like aloe, vitamins, and essential oils such as bergamot, eucalyptus, and peppermint can be used in the tub or in a foot spa. A foot spa can be found at any major drugstore and is made specifically for tired feet.

How to Correctly File Your Nails

Do your natural nails crack and chip a lot? Before you invest in cutting edge nail polish or miracle nail hardener, try filing your nails. Improper nail filing can result in nail cracks and chips. Start by filing from outer edge of your nail in, on both sides of the nail. Filing as if you were sawing can ruin the nail and crack nail instantly. Less filing can help build up nail strength.