If you’re anything like us, keeping your nails and hands looking great might feel like mission impossible. Everyday wear and tear, sun damage and our love affair with dehydrating hand sanitizers can all contribute to our hands looking... well, old.
“Filed nails and regular conditioning are key to younger-looking hands,” says Melissa Forrest, a nail expert for Sally Hansen Canada. “You wouldn’t go to the hairdresser, get a fabulous cut and then never use conditioner in your hair. A beautiful manicure won’t last without proper care, either.” According to Forrest, nail maintenance takes only minutes a day. Her simple DIY routine consists of filing your nails to help prevent breakage and tearing, exfoliating your hands to eliminate dry skin and calluses, and applying moisturizer to your skin and cuticles for a soft touch and to keep annoying hangnails at bay. And don’t be lazy: Remove your chipped nail polish and replace it with a fresh coat of lacquer.
For summer the trend-worthy hues range from canary yellow, blue-green teal and tangerine orange to ruby red and every shade of pink. Perennial tones found in sheer and neutral polishes are also a great option. They always look sophisticated and never go out of style.
These days getting a salon manicure is a simple and relatively inexpensive indulgence. And with all the nail bars popping up, it can be a great way to spend some time with a friend. Bonus: You walk away with nice-looking hands.
DIY MANICURE Getting the salon look at home is as easy as 1 ,2, 3
YOU’LL NEED: • Nail clippers • Nail files • Ridge filler or base coat • Polish and topcoat
1. CLIP and file nails and then apply a base coat or ridge filler to smooth nails and prevent staining.
2. SWIPE on two coats of polish and allow a few minutes of drying time between coats.
3. FINISH with a thin layer of clear topcoat and let nails dry for at least 10 minutes.
PRO TIP: Protect hands from the sun by applying cuticle oil and a hand lotion with SPF daily.
Read more: 11 tools for the perfect at-home manicure
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Adriana is an award-winning writer and editor. She lives in Toronto with her Spanish-speaking husband, Johan; their very spoiled feline, Trixie-Belle; and a fantastically large perfume collection.