Protecting Your Manicure

1. A fresh swipe of top coat every other day on your manicure and once a week on your pedicure will keep the polish from chipping.
2. When it comes to chipped polish, a nail buffer is your best friend. Repair a chip by smoothing the ragged edges with a buffer (the more smooth the chip is, the better the fix is). Fill in the chip with polish. Once it's dry, apply a coat over the entire nail.
3. Don't file nails after a shower, when they are too soft. File in one direction only to prevent tears.
4. For a pedicure, use a special procedure nail clipper made for clipping toenails. The straight-edge works better for feet because they don't allow nails to become curved, which can lead to painful ingrown nails (been there, done that). You can round the edges slightly with a file.
5. Since cotton balls can leave behind fuzzies, consider a cotton band instead. For stubborn polish that stains, press the cotton on the nail for several seconds before wiping off. Don't be stingy with the polish remover. The more nail remover you have on the cotton, the easier it will be to remove.
6. Protect a manicure by wearing rubber gloves when cleaning and gardening.
7. If you suffer from dry cuticles, keep cuticle oil in your bag or on your desk at all times. Cuticle oils tend to be more effective than creams.
8. Nail-biter? Get a manicure every week for 12 weeks. If you can commit to 12 weeks, you won't bite your nails. It tastes gross and you'll also think twice because of the cost of getting nails done. Many women backslide in week 3 but persevere.