June 12th, 2007 — Nail care tips
How To Do Your Nails Fast
When you are in a rush, decisions have to be made. Prioritize.
Do you shape or polish? Do you quick-dry or go the long, slow route?
New formulas allow for snap decisions: Speed-dry enamels are worthy of their name (you can open mail, search for keys, or put on your tightest long-sleeved shirt within seconds), but there’s a downside: “As fast as they dry, that’s as fast they chip,” insists manicurist Anne of Manhattan Nails, so save them for emergencies.
Eke a few extra days out of a fast-dry manicure by doing a daily touch-up with a quick-drying coat. In the other corner, there are strong, chip-resistant formulas - the torttoise of the polish race. To pick up the pace of these tougher enamels, like L’Oreal Shock Proof, carefully submerge freshly painted nails in a bowl of ice-cold water for 30 seconds to harden still-groopy polish. Light or sheer shades are best for hasty manicures, Anne says. “You can even get away with just a wide stripe down the center” rather than painstakingly painting the entire nail. If a manicure is beyond the repair of a topcoat or two, face facts and call in the remover. You can keep single-use packets of nail polish remover (Cutex and Get Fresh make them) on hand so you can strip away color on the run. When there is no time for polish, just clean underneath the nails, rub on a buffing cream, and shine them with a chamois buffer.
For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page
June 12th, 2007 — Nail care tips
Brittle nails are simply nails that have dried out to such a degree that they are splitting or simply snapping off.This is a common problem for a lot of women, but if you know what is causing it, you are that much closer to fighting back.
Known Causes
* -contact with harsh household products
* -low grade polish removers
* -metal nail files
* -chlorine from swimming pools
* -shortage of calcium or essential fatty acids
* -products containing formaldehyde
Tips that Can Help
* -Use polish removers no more than once a week. The low grade polishes I mentioned above can be extremely drying and have the strength of paint strippers in some cases.
* They can also remove the microorganisms that are necessary to healthy nails. Look for removers that are oil based.
* -Massage the nails with castor oil. After a month or two, you should notice a difference. Olive oil is another inexpensive way to moisturize dehydrated nails.
* -Give your nails a break from daily use of polishes. Let them breathe as much as possible. Rubbing the surface of the nail with your fingertips can not only stimulate circulation but leave each nail with a healthy glow.
Foods That Can Help
1. Salmon
2. Tuna
3. Shrimp
4. Trout
5. Cauliflower
6. Liver
7. Milk
For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page
June 12th, 2007 — Nail care tips
The condition of our nails speaks volumes about us. While you or I may pay scant attention to our nails, others will. Think of the nasty nails you’ve seen on display in open-toed shoes and you know what I mean. Showing off out-of-style nail trends also says a lot about us — mostly that we don’t subscribe to fashion magazines. When was the last time you saw a model with a French manicure or nail art?
Nail Art
I sincerely hope no one orders a hit on me for saying this, but nail art is tacky. A painted flower on one big toe is cute because it’s dainty and unexpected, but ten fingers decorated in swiggles, lightening bolts or glued-on cubic zirconias are wrong.
That said, if you love nail art (in some parts of the country, such style is incredibly sought after). There are loads of ideas for nails.
French Manicures
People think French manicures are a classic style but I agree with the editors of a major beauty magazine (the name of which I can no longer remember) who stated quite firmly that French manis are declasse.
Even tackier than French manicures? French pedicures. Find out what happened when I said that on a blog in May, 2006. More than 50 people wrote in the comments section either agreeing or vehemently disagreeing with me.
Fingernails of Varying Lengths
This is a major fingernail faux pas of which I am constantly guilty. It is a big no-no to leave one’s house with unkept nails of varying lengths (I will never forget the day my friend Deirdre took one glance at my hands and said, “That’s just wrong.”).
At any given time, one of my nails will be legions longer than the other nails, no two of which are the same length. This is because I have nails of varying strengths. If I let them grow, only the nails on my pinkie and ring fingers would make it to Guinness Book of World Record length. My thumbs? Not a chance. They are always the first to break.
Long nails in general are not popular right now. Even if you have fingernails that are strong as horse hooves, you should aim for a short, rounded nail.
Unkept Nails
Chipped nail polish isn’t cool. If you are like me and are too lazy for proper upkeep, skip the color and try a clear polish.
Also falling under “unkept”: Chewed nails. To stop biting your nails, invest in a manicure. You’ll think twice before gnawing on your $20 investment. Plus, nail polish doesn’t taste good.
So what type of nails are in? Short, rounded nails. Squares were popular for awhile and are ok, but rounded is really the way to go. Paint nails a bright, dark, opaque (my fave) or clear. Bare nails are also OK if you are too busy for manicures or inately lazy like me.
For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page