Cool Nail Polish

Keeping your hands and nails in good shape are very important. It lets everyone know you take pride in yourself and keeps them from getting dry and uncomfortable. After awhile, good hand and nail care will become a habit you can't live without.

The first thing you need to do is wash and dry your hands completely. Using a pair of cuticle trimmers, carefully trim any torn or ragged cuticles. Next you need to file your nails. I know everyone says to file your nails in one direction, but I admit, I never do. I just file them until I get the shape I want, then call it good. You can use a nail buffer to smooth out the tops of your nails if you have any ridges. Be sure not to buff too much or too often so you don't weaken your nails.

Apply cuticle oil to your cuticles (duh lol), work it in well, and let it soak in for a minute or two. After this I like to soak my hands in a bowl of warm water for about 5 minutes. Use an orange stick (wrapped in cotton if you like) to gently push back your cuticles. Next I like to apply a little nail polish remover to a cotton balls and give my nails a quick swipe to make sure the cuticle oil doesn't keep my nail polish from adhering well.

The hardest part of a manicure is picking a cool nail polish color, so good luck! Once you do, dip your nail brush in the polish and lightly brush it against the inside of the top of the bottle to remove any extra polish. A good paint job involves only three strokes. Paint a stripe down the center of your nail, then one down each side. With a little practice you should be able to do this easily. I like to start with a base coat, then a coat of color, then finish with a top coat....letting it dry completely in between coats. You can reapply the top coat every few days to give it a little extra shine and refresh your color. Be sure to clean your manicure tools with rubbing alcohol every time you use them to keep them sanitary.

For a quick, yet effective pedi, begin by filling a large bowl or tub with warm to hot water. I like to pour in a little olive oil as well. It's a great natural moisturizer. Let your feet soak for at least 15-20 minutes to get your skin nice and soft. Now is the time to scrub. Using either a pumice stone or foot scrub, give your feet a nice polishing to remove any dead skin. You can make yourself an easy foot scrub by mixing sugar into olive oil to form a nice paste. Rinse your feet off and use your favorite lotion. When that's all soaked in, take a cotton ball dipped in nail polish remover and swipe it over your toes to remove any oil. Now is the time to get creative and paint your toes however you like! Just like on my fingers, I like a base, color, and top coat. Be sure to moisturize your feet often in between pedis!