Manicures at the Salon

• It's my professional opinion that real nails are much classier than fakes. They are also much better for your nail health.

• If you are super-paranoid about germs in nail saloons, you can bring along your own tools for your manicure.

• Cut the cuticle or not? Please do not. The cuticle is there to protect the nail bed and a cut on a nail can easily become infected. Instead, push the cuticle back with an orange wood stick covered in a cotton ball. Professionals are trained in cuticle cutting so most can be trusted. If you are paranoid (manicurists have accidentally cut into my skin one too many times for me), simply ask them not to cut.

• Like the look of clean, nude nails? Skip the polish and ask for a buffing or buff your own nails with a good  buffer. Buffing removes ridges and creates a high shine that clear polish tries to emulate. 

• Skip the fast-drying topcoat unless you are in a hurry. Salons like to charge extra on this gimmick. While these coats do dry faster, they are more susceptible to chipping.