By Yolanda Okereke
Only if you take proper care of your nails will they look good. To keep your nails healthy and looking good all the time, you’ll have to work hard on them. You can use a nail file, which is available in different sizes, shapes and designs, to buff and shape your nails for a neat look.
To make your nails look even more beautiful, you can apply nail polish or use fake nails which you can stick on your real nail. They’re available in hundreds of designs and colors, from floral or gothic designs to tattoo designs.
As for nail polish, they are available in thousands of colors and great shades. Nail polish can hide any flaws in your nails and at the same time, provide a protective cover.
One of the most common types of nail polish is the base coat, which will prepare your nails for the actual solid color nail polish. The base coat also protects your nails from getting discolored by your selected nail polish.
The top coat, also known as the clear coat, is normally used after applying your preferred polish to protect and harden the color. It will protect the color from chipping off.
Tips for keeping your nails in great condition
How do you get really stunning nails? Well, there’s no magic involved. Here are a few tips that will help you keep your nails in good shape and looking great:
* You can apply some nail varnish remover just prior to coloring your nails. You can use the varnish even if you don’t need to remove your old polish. The varnish removes any kind of dirt or grease, helping the nail polish last longer.
* French manicure is considered as the best treatment for your nails. There are times when you might have problems in achieving the right and the most perfect type of French manicure. In such a scenario what you can do is use a white nail pencil just underneath your nail tip instead of the white polish you have been using so far. This will make your French manicure much easier.
* Always ensure that you wait after the application of nail varnish, so each layer gets enough time to dry. This will also ensure that you get a lasting finish.
* If there’s excess nail varnish around the top of the nail polish bottle, always use a cotton bud to remove it. This will prevent it from getting glued shut.
* There are several beauty and cosmetic companies that sell nail polish with matching lip stick colors too. Using the same color on your nails and lips can enhance your overall appearance. Alternatively, you can use nail colors that are in contrast with the lip stick colors.
* It is always better to apply numerous thin color coats as compared to a single coat of thick color. Numerous thin coats mean that the nail polish will last longer.
* Avoid removing and then re-applying nail polish more than twice a week. If you remove and apply nail polish thrice or 4 times a week, it’ll dry out your nails. You can get a remover with built-in moisturizer to protect your nails from drying.
* You should give your hand and fingers a little massage from time to time so that the blood circulation is maintained. Good blood circulation means good nail growth.
* The simplest is the solid color manicure. It employs the use of mild solid nail colors and basic neutrals.
The most important thing is to eat healthy so your nails don’t become yellowish. As long as you maintain a healthy diet with lots of vegetables and fruits, your nails will look beautiful and healthy, with a pink tinge to it. To make your style statement bolder, you can wear a different color on your finger nails as compared to your toe nails. At the end of the day, coloring your nails is just another way of pampering yourself.
