Nails

How to Give Yourself a Pedicure

Giving yourself a pedicure isn't easy, but with the right tools, tips, and tricks, you can totally get it done. I recommend you sit somewhere that you can perch your food up on a stool for a better view. Here's your basic guide to giving yourself an at-home pedicure.

Remove Old Polish: Saturate a cotton ball or pad with nail polish remover, and gently rub over each toenail to remove polish. I like to use pure acetone (as most nail salons do) since it's strong and will remove polish easiest.

Soak Your Feet : Fill a bowl with warm water and add a foot soak or bath oil. Apply cuticle remover to your cuticles and then dip your feet into the warm water for a few minutes to soften up your skin.

Exfoliate Feet Using a pumice stone, foot scrub, or other tool of choice, slough away any dead skin on your feet, especially on the heels, until they feel smooth.

Never use a pumice stone on dry skin, as they're designed to work on wet skin for safety.

Push Back CuticlesThoroughly wash and dry your feet, and then use an orange stick or metal cuticle pusher's flat edge to push cuticles gently back toward the base of each toenail.

Cut Your Cuticles: If you cut your cuticles (you don't have to!) use a cuticle nipper to gently clip away excess cuticle skin. Never push down or apply pressure, as you're likely to cut yourself if you do.

Apply Cuticle OilBrush cuticle oil on to seal in moisture and help smooth out cuticles further.

Cut and File Nails Use a toenail clipper to cut nails to your desired length first. Then, use a coarse grit file to smooth nails across the edge, filing around the corners to ensure there are no snags.

Clean the Nail SurfaceSwipe toenails again with a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover to completely remove any remaining residue from nails. This ensures that there's no oil left behind that can make it difficult for the polish to adhere later.

Use Toe Separators These convenient foam separators snap in place between toes to keep them separated before applying nail polish. You can also twist a paper towel and weave it in between toes, alternating going over an under each toe. The purpose of this is so that one toe doesn't knock into the other and smudge the polish after you apply it.

Apply Base CoatApply one coat of base coat to each toenail, using the formula of your choice.

Apply Nail Color Apply a coat of nail polish to each nail, starting as close as possible toward the base of the nail without touching the cuticle, and then sweeping the color out toward the tip. Repeat on either side until you've covered the entire nail.

Nail Basics: Dos and Don'ts

Do: keep a nail file handy. The edges of our nails aren't perfectly smooth, even when we think they are. Everyday life causes microscopic tears and snags to our nails, and if you let them go, they can easily break or rip. Keep a nail file in your bag or in your desk at work so that you can quickly smooth your nails when you first feel an uneven edge. This will help prevent cracks and chips from happening later.

Don't: bite your nails.
Many people do it, and it's easy for the rest of us to tell. Your nails are super-short, uneven, and (though you might not want to hear this) we've probably even noticed you absent-mindedly chomping on them. Yuck. Try to break this habit as quickly as you can, as it tends to stick around for life if you let it go on too long.

You'll never be able to maintain a nice manicure or well-groomed nails if you're biting them.
Do: moisturize your cuticles often.
Cuticles need a lot of attention. In fact, they need constant attention. Slather on a nail oil before bedtime, reapply it in the morning as you head out the door, and apply a moisturizing hand lotion as often as you can. Keeping your cuticles moisturized doesn't just prevent dry, overgrown-looking cuticles, but also makes your entire manicure look fresh and shiny, even if it's been days since you had it done.

Don't: use old nail polish.
Just like most other beauty products, nail polish has a shelf life. Old polish tends to get goopy and thick, making it extremely difficult to apply.
If this happens, either toss your polish, or add a few drops of nail polish thinner (which you can purchase at any beauty supply store) and shake well. This will thin out the polish just like paint thinner does to paint, reviving the formula a little longer. Just don't add too much, or you'll wind up with polish that's too liquidy.

Do: visit the pros (at least once in a while).
Even if you love doing your own nails and are darn good at it, make an appointment with a pro once in a while. You may notice that you'll get a more thorough manicure and pedicure at the salon, or that you've been skipping a certain step, or just may like the way they shape your nails as opposed to the way you've been stuck in a rut doing it. Either way, it's good to mix things up and see a professional here and there.

Don't: ignore problems.
If you notice any problems beginning, whether it's ridges, peeling, or otherwise, don't simply let it go. It's much easier to fix these things at the start before they get worse, so find the appropriate product (as your manicurist if you're not sure) and start using it ASAP. Nail problems can also be an indication of overall poor health, so take it as a sign to start eating healthier, too.

You may think you're fine with nail polish alone (and many new formulas are made to act as all-in-ones) but most polishes do require base and top coat. Base coat will help protect your nails, make polish go on smoothly, and keep it from chipping, and top coat will help seal the polish, dry it quicker, and keep it from chipping as well.

6 Signs of a Good Nail Salon

1. Sanitize all tools.

The most important thing a nail salon should do is sanitize its tools. Since all sorts of bacteria and even blood can be found on these instruments, you don't want the same cuticle nipper that the salon just used on someone else to be used on you. Make sure your nail technician removes a new or freshly sanitized and cleaned set of tools (you can tell because they're usually sealed in a sanitized pouch, similar to at the dentist's office, or taken out of a UV sanitizer in front of you) before she begins your manicure.

If you don't see this happen, you shouldn't stay for the service.

2. Clean the foot bath after every client.

After each pedicure, the whirlpool bath should be cleaned and disinfected. If you don't notice anyone scrubbing the foot baths, or you're ushered to a pedicure chair right after another person's water was drained, this is a sure sign that the baths aren't being cleaned

3. Use a good top coat.

You may think you're getting a bargain with a low-cost manicure, but some salons save money by using cheap top coats. Not all top coats are created equal -- or created to be quick-drying -- so a salon that uses Seche Vite, Essie Good to Go, or another recognizable top coat is always a good choice. This ensures your manicure will dry to a smudge-proof, shiny finish. Paying a little more for a manicure that lasts is worth it, as the money you saved on a lower-cost manicure isn't a bargain if you smudge your polish as soon as you walk out the door. Most quick-drying top coats can fully seal nails in 5-10 minutes, so there's no need to spend 20 minutes or more at the dryer.
If you're hooked on a salon that offers cheapie manicures with a no-name top coat, or that charges you a dollar extra for the "good" top coat, then simply bring your own. Your manicure will last longer and look better as a result.

4. Stock the latest color collections.

With all of the nail polish colors available, visiting the salon should be an opportunity to sample them all. The best nail salons keep an eye on new launches from the big polish brands and make sure to have them ready for clients who walk in. This way, you're always guaranteed to see what the new trends are and pick from the most current options. If you keep seeing cool colors on other women's fingers, or keep seeing magazine ads for new polish collections that your salon never seems to carry, it's time to pick a new go-to spot.

5. Offer to help with your bag/coat/shoes.

Once your nails are wet, putting on your shoes or coat, or carrying your bag to the dryer is a bad idea. A good nail salon should have friendly staff that offer to help you with this. In winter time, the salon should have nail oil and saran wrap on hand to wrap your toes in after drying so that you can slip back into your socks and shoes with some extra protection against smudges.

6. Let you pay before the polish.

While you don't have to pay before the actual manicure, it does make sense. Why go fumbling around in your bag for your wallet with wet nails? It's up to you when you prefer to pay, but a good nail salon will let you pay mid-way through your manicure (when shaping, filing, etc. is done, but before the polish is applied).

The 4 Best Nutrients for Stronger Nails

It's not just genetics that determines what type of nails we end up with. Our lifestyles and diets play a big part in our overall health – and that translates straight to our nails. From nails that won’t grow to nails that are weak and peeling, there’s a nutrition cure for almost every complaint. Here are the four key nutrients that can make your nails stronger, longer, and healthier from the inside out.

1. Protein

Nails are made of keratin, a protein, which is why a protein-rich diet is important to maintaining nail health. If you eat meat, eggs, or other protein-rich foods regularly, there’s no need to worry. But if you don’t eat meat, add these vegetarian protein sources to your diet, such as quinoa, beans, and meat substitutes like tofu and seitan.

2. Zinc

A lack of zinc in your diet could be the reason your nails are weak or not growing. It’s also a lack of zinc that can cause the white spots many of us notice on our nails. If you have any of these issues, it’s time to eat more of this important mineral. Oysters are rich in zinc, as are pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, lamb, beef, and oats.

3. Iron

Not getting enough iron? If your nails are thin, curved, or have ridges, it’s usually a telltale sign of anemia or an iron deficiency. Stock up on red meat, leafy greens like spinach and kale, and shellfish, all of which can supply your body with much-needed iron.

Tip: In the past few years, nutrient-powerhouse kale has become the go-to ingredient in healthy salads, snacks, and smoothies, and no – it doesn’t taste terrible! Here are some healthy kale recipes and more facts about the nutrition it provides.

4. Biotin

The B-vitamin Biotin promotes healthy cell growth and helps the body metabolize protein-building amino acids – all good things when it comes to helping nails grow stronger and healthier. A supplement is the easiest way to get Biotin into your diet, especially when you consider that you have to take it regularly to see results. But if you prefer to get your vitamins the natural way, you can find Biotin in foods like swiss chard (a top source), eggs, wheat germ, whole grains, and salmon.

Tip: I’ve tried many hair and nail boosters, and I’ve gotten the question, “Do they work?” many times. The short answer? Yes. But you have to pick one with the right ingredients – and an adequate amount of each ingredient. I love Reserveage Organics Keratin Booster™ supplement, which contains 1000% of the recommended daily value of Biotin, among other healthy hair and nail nutrients like Cynatine® HNS, a form of easily absorbable keratin (the protein that nails are made of). I definitely see my nails (and hair!) growing stronger and healthier with regular use of this supplement.