A few tips for gorgeous, glossy nail polish that stays on forever

Jun 2, 2008 12:55 GMT  ·  By

This summer, nail polish is all about being bold and trying on new, intense shades in anything from bright yellow to orange to shades of fuchsia and hot pink. Bright, glossy colors are extremely trendy and look great on your hands and (why not) toes, but the more intense the color, the more unpleasant it will look when you happen to chip a nail playing volleyball at the beach or simply swimming and enjoying the sunshine with your friends. Save a lot of effort and a great deal of frustration by having a look at a few easy tips that will help you keep your manicure and pedicure in perfect condition.

First of all, we all tend to do our nails after having a shower or a long, relaxing soak in the tub, complete with a massage with our favorite moisturizer. For a lasting manicure, make sure that there are no emollients left on your nails, and clean the nail bed twice using an acetone-free nail polish remover. It's essential to have a clean surface for any subsequent efforts. Step two is applying a base coat - if you use a protein-based one, so much the better. This will effectively prevent the polish from becoming chipped and will help keep your nails strong.

Step three - it's time to add the color. Don't be afraid to go for bright shades, such as the Essie Summer Collection (as an extra tip, they also have a shade of yellow Hot Pop Nail Polish that you could try). Apply at least two coats of nail polish, then apply a basic top coat - if you have a choice between a classic and a quick-dry one, go for the classic, as it's sure to help your manicure last longer. As a final (optional) tip, pushing back cuticles rather than cutting them will also help keep the nail polish shiny and new for longer. Have fun selecting your favorite color, and have fun putting it on.

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