Whether you are showing off a new ring or shaking hands with an acquaintance, well-groomed nails help improve the look of hands and make a better first impression. If nails have tiny white spots, called leukonychia, there really isn’t much you can do to get rid of them. These spots are usually caused by some trauma to the nail or nail bed. The best course of action is to let these grow out on their own and cover them with polish until they do. Even a fleshy pink color like those used in French manicures will reduce the appearance of the spots.

If your nails seem to be brittle and split often, try taking a daily biotin supplement. This will increase your vitamin B intake which will also improve the health of your hair…a bonus! Using a strengthener can also get the job done. A great and inexpensive product is Sally Hansen’s VitaSurge Strength Gel. Applying this product daily will add the extra vitamins to your nails that they are missing. Keeping hands and cuticles hydrated will also make nails smoother and less brittle. Be sure to moisturize every time you wash your hands and rub a little extra into the cuticles while you’re at it.

Nails that look yellow are usually stained due to lifestyle choices. If you smoke or wear dark polishes most of the times, your nails will look more yellowed. A short soak in some warm water and dish soap can brighten up the nails for a while, but using a more neutral polish and avoiding things that yellow the nails will keep the whiter and brighter longer. Going “au natural” for a couple days and allowing the nails to air after a good buffing will also improve their natural color.

Love the look of designer nails but can’t afford the trips to the salon?  Not to worry, creating that artistic nail look can be done at home for a fraction of the cost.  Starting with nails that are clean, well-shaped and in good condition will make the look even better.

Trim nails so that they are all similar in length and shape.  Add a drop of cuticle oil to each nail and massage in before pushing cuticles back and trimming.  Every great artist starts with a smooth canvas.  Achieve the perfect nail canvas by applying two base coats.  Not only will this improve the final look, it will also help to strengthen the nails.

Allow both base coats to dry completely before creating the work of art.

Before starting this project, make sure to have all materials ready and an idea or technique in mind.  Materials don’t have to be expensive tools of the trade.  Everyday items like toothpicks and hair pins can be used to create polka-dots, swirls, letters and more.  Craft brushes also come in very handy for creating unique looks.  Spend some time in the nail care aisle to find polish pens and stencils to help create a fun look.  Be sure to have a pure acetone polish remover and cotton swabs on hand for eliminating any errors.

Once the materials are ready, start with simple designs, glitter, stickers or jewels.  More advanced techniques include blending colors and intricate designs with multiple colors.  Once you have created the desired look, apply a top coat.  To help maintain and protect your art, apply another top coat and a drop of cuticle oil every two to three days.  Whatever the look, be creative and have fun in the process!

Nothing can give away your age like your hands.  To keep hands looking healthy and young, apply the same daily SPF facial moisturizer to your hands in the morning.  Before bed, smear some of your favorite night cream on the backs of your hands as well.  To keep your fingernails healthy, soak them in lemon juice for about 10 minutes once a week.  This will help them stay stronger and brighter.  You will be amazed at how shiny they will look.

Well-manicured nails can also make your hands look great.  If you are among those who keep your nails painted, remember to give the polish the day off at least once month to help keep nails healthy.  On the days when you are sporting your favorite manicured color, carry around a bottle of clear polish.  You can apply a coat of clear polish every day or two to help keep your manicure chip-free and looking great longer.

In America, little girls like to put decals onto their nails in all shapes and colors.  In Japan, girls of all ages decorate their nails with decals and even larger plastic roses or dangling items.  The difference between the countries is incredible.

There are thousands of possibilities with fingernails, and everyone has their own preference for what looks good.  Some like complicated designs, large decals, plain matte colors, shimmering rainbows… even words painted on! However, the question still remains — do plain or decorated nails look the best?

For a woman with an important job, decorated nails would look silly, wouldn’t they?  On the other hand, tiny little cherry blossoms in white would look gorgeous on the nails of a bride.  There is no “best” look.  It all comes down to the event or daily activities that you will be showing your newly manicured nails off in.  Every girl has the right to beautiful nails, so make yours the prettiest you can and always have fun!