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5 Products for Great Nails
By lauracarsonmiller Posted on August 28, 2008 - 5:10pm
While a professional manicure and pedicure is a luxury most all women love, a little at home maintenance can go a long way to give you beautiful, healthy nails without ever stepping into a salon. A weekly filing and nightly application of moisture to your cuticles will give you a lovely look without much effort on your part. Learn about the five ‘must-have' products that will have your nails in top shape in 2008:
Nail File
Sephora Glass Nail File - I’m loving the smooth shape and easy cleaning of this nail file. It is small so it is easy to work with for my small hands and nails. Just rinse it off after use and it is all ready to go for next time! Weekly filing (and of course anytime you might have a snag) is key to keeping nails looking groomed. Keep this in your purse so you are always able to smooth any rough spots immediately.
Top Coat or Nail Protein
Poshe Super-Fast Drying TopCoat – An award winning topcoat that dries to the touch in one minute! Contains no Formaldehyde, no Toluene, no Nitrocellulose and is highly chip resistant. As the week goes on apply a topcoat even you are sporting only clear polish. Shiny nails equal ‘just manicured’ looking nails and since this dries in a flash you won’t miss a beat!
Nailtiques Nail Protein – Nailtiques pioneered the nail protein craze and in my opinion it is still the best product out there for problem nails. Four different protein based polishes address specific nail issues and if you follow the directions on the package ~ you will grow nails! They also sell their ‘After Artificial Treatment’ which helps your nails recover after tips, gels, acrylics, etc.
Nail Polish Corrector Pen
Sephora Nail Polish Corrector Pen – Nothing beats this cool nail polish ‘eraser’ in a chubby pen style package. If you have an issue with ‘going outside the lines’ with your polish, this is a must have! Especially necessary with reds and the other dark hues that are so trendy at the moment, you can clean up and have your nails looking fabulous with the help of this easy to use tool!
Cuticle Cream
Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream – Dry, cracked cuticles are not only ugly, they hurt! Circumvent an all too common nail tragedy with this lemony scented cream that works like a magic wand to send battered cuticles away for good. The sooner you get into a habit with moisturizing your cuticles, the better. And don’t cut! Don’t fall into the trap that some manicurists set (especially in those cheap strip mall nail factory type salons) where they cut off every speck of cuticle you have ~they do this because the second it starts growing back, you will likely pick at it and will have hideous looking cuticles, so you will come back in for them to cut them all off! They try to make you think that cuticles are for cutting off, but they are so wrong ~ don’t fall for it! As a former nail professional I had clients I had to wean off of total cuticle abatement as they were so used to be cuticle free. I had to get them moisturizing and then slowly they would come around to my way of thinking and see that healthy, moisturized cuticles are happy cuticles. Cuticles butchered and sliced away by the nipper are sad, very unhappy, unloved cuticles.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Speed Dry Drops
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Speed Dry Drops – Prevents smudging, and dents while it moisturizes your cuticles! This is a dream product. You really can hurry out into the world soon after you do your nails when you use Sally’s Speed Dry Drops. Now I don’t recommend a rigorous hair washing with a deep scalp massage or anything but this will definitely help your polish set up so you can be on your way to whatever is next on your agenda.
The promise of great nails really can be kept when you use these or other similar products on a regular basis. As with any beauty challenge, the more tender loving care you give it, the better results you’re l likely to see. Merely keeping your nails filed and your cuticles moisturized will make a huge difference in the look of your hands and nails. Try it for a two-week trial period if you are skeptical and chances are you’ll be hooked on nail care for a lifetime. If you do visit a salon or spa for nail services, I recommend having your own nail tool kit that you bring with you each time you have a nail service. This ensures your safety from bacteria, fungus, etc. As much as we want to believe our nail professionals are taking every step toward proper sanitation, and I believe most are, it is always better to be safe than sorry! There are even disposable liners to go into pedicure tubs available now, as pedicures are one of the most prevalent ways clients end up with toenail and other skin issues that can be a nuisance to battle. If your nail professional does not use these currently, ask what kind of tub they use and if liners are available for that particular model.
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Whenever I have polish on my nails, I peel it off as soon as a chip appears. I'm compulsive about it. The only thing that I do for my nails is keep them short and clean, and use hand lotion. Might try that cuticle cream though because my cuticles aren't pretty.
I'm a bad person. I was blessed with perfect nails, that grow long and rounded without having to file at all...really. Unfortunately I've been too lazy to paint them as of lately, and everyone's getting mad at me. I feel I should be leading by example. And on that note, I'm at least going to topcoat them.
ugh, my nails are in sad shape. cracked, split, dry, painful. blaaah. maybe that burts bees and protein stuff will help!
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