All Things Nailed

So you're all dressed up for that special event. Your make up is flawless, your clothes are immaculate and your accessories carefully chosen. Even your shoes are not only fabulous but comfortable. What can go wrong? What could possibly let you down? Your hands. It doesn't matter how gorgeous your hair is, how carefully applied your makeup, how fashionable your clothes and how tasteful your accessories nothing says 'skanky ho' like ragged nails and chipped polish.

For those of you who live in New York there is little or no excuse for nasty nails. Nail bars are as prevalent as those annoying boxes that free newspapers are kept in - in other words there's one on every corner. And it's not like a mani/pedi is as expensive as a shot of Botox.

Mind you, a professional mani/pedi isn't for everyone. For some of us, myself included, getting a professional manicure is like chucking money away. Girls who manage to keep their nails in tact from one visit to the manicurist to the next are a complete mystery to me. How do you do it? How? If I can get through one day after visiting the nail salon without chipping or otherwise damaging my new manicure I'm doing well. The record amount of time I've managed to keep a manicure in tact for is 2 days, and that was five years ago. It's not as if I'm not careful. I don't go around plunging my newly manicured hands into boiling hot water to do the washing up. I don't come back from the nail salon and immediately begin to strip wallpaper, or even for that matter, the bed. I treat my newly done nails like sick kittens and give them every ounce of care and attention I can... yet still. My feet on the other hand could endure a nuclear blast without any damage being inflicted on my pedicure. Not having the money, or indeed the time, to visit the nail shop three times a week, what is a conscientious girl to do? Simple - a home manicure, or and this is lovely after a tough day shopping, especially in the heat or in heels, a home pedi.

For a home manicure simply follow these steps.

1. Remove all old nail polish.
2. Soak hands in warm water for approximately ten minutes, and then dry.
3. File nails, and this is important, using an emery board. File in one direction only, do not go back and forth, you are not using a saw.
4. Push back cuticles.
5. If skin is a bit rough or dry use an exfoliating lotion.
6. Apply a moisturizer/hand cream to hands.
7. Apply base coat to nails and allow to dry.
8. Apply polish. Keep a small piece of cotton wool soaked in nail polish remover on hand to mop up any stray marks.
9. Apply a second coat of polish.
10. Add a top coat of clear polish to complete manicure.
11. Allow to dry thoroughly before using your hands, as semi-dry polish will easily smudge.

For an at home pedicure

1. Remove all old nail polish.
2. Soak feet in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. Feel free to add the foot bath/treatment of your choice.
3. Clip toenails straight across with a nail clipper, then file to smooth rough edges.
4. Push back cuticles.
5. Exfoliate feet and use a pumice stone to remove dry and rough skin. In some cases a pumice stone will not be enough to rid you of hard skin and you may need to use a blade. BE VERY CAREFUL. It is extremely easy to cut yourself or to remove too much skin. Go easy.
6. Massage feet with moisturizing lotion/foot cream.
7. Separate your toes using either rolled up tissue/kitchen towel, cotton wool or a ready made toe divider.
8. Apply base coat to nails and let it dry thoroughly.
9. Apply polish. Again have a bit of cotton wool soaked in nail polish remover ready in case your polish goes over your toes as well as your nails.
10. Apply second coat of polish.
11. Finish with a top coat of clear polish.

There are a couple of things I find that make giving myself a home mani/pedi easier. Firstly, I assemble everything I need before I begin. There is nothing worse than having your feet soaking in a lovely foot bath and realizing that your have to take them out to schlep around the house looking for your favourite nail colour.

Secondly, I find it easier to do the nails on my dominant hand first. Don't ask me why but it seems easier that way.

So now your all geared up for your at home mani/pedi, let's take a look at some of the gorgeous products that will keep your hands and feet looking their best. Bella Il Fiore have the most gorgeous Pedicure Set ($20) that even if you could afford to go to the nail salon twice a day, every day, you'd want to stay home to use this. The box alone is so pretty that just having it in your possession will make you feel better about yourself. Inside you'll find two very pretty pink flower toe dividers, a top/base coat and two polishes Foxy (a bright red) and Baby Doll (a sheer pink). All of that for 20 bucks, are you kidding me? Buy a second one to give as a gift, because every girl deserves a little bit of pampering and those toe dividers will last and last - it's an investment in your future.

No point in painting on the polish if your hands and feet look wrecked right? So make sure that you get hold of good hand and foot creams and use them between manicures and pedicures. Aveda Hand Relief and Foot Relief are two of the more popular preparations around. The Foot Relief (two sizes, 1.4 fl oz. $7.50, 4.2 fl oz $18) is a soothing crème blended with herbs, exfoliating fruit acids and jojoba and castor oils to smooth, cool and invigorate sore tired feet. It also helps to alleviate calluses and dry patches. Better yet it will leave your feet smelling nice. Hand Relief (2 sizes, prices the same as Foot Relief) is a rich moisturizer for hands containing hydrating plant emollients, exfoliating fruit acid and anti-oxidants (including Vitamins A & E) which will sooth dry skin and help diminish signs of aging.

Aveda have also got a great gel treatment for cuticles - Cuticle Control ($10) which helps soften and sooth cuticles. Kiehl's too have a great product for cuticles, the Imperiale Moisturizing Cuticle Treatment ($19) which is a very rich product containing Squalene and Vitamin Oils and can be used on any part of the hand, not just the cuticles. If you prefer a traditional hand cream then check out the Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve ($18) a heavy-duty thick rich cream designed with dry active hands in mind. The formula contains various botanical oils including Avocado, Eucalyptus and Sesame Seed as well as natural wax derived from Olive Oil all of which help to sooth, condition and moisturize over worked hands.

For over worked feet try Klaus Heidegger's All-Sport Foot Cream from Kiehl's ($15) a product especially formulated for athletes. This is a lightweight preparation which is easily absorbed into the skin and contains deodorants (always good news where active feet are concerned). This product is especially good for sporty types or for anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet as it contains Menthol, which is especially cooling and refreshing for hot tired feet.

Clinique Water Therapy Foot Soothing Cream ($17.50) also contains Menthol as well as Peppermint and Chamomile all of which will help sooth and refresh sweaty feet. It also contains Zeolite and odour absorbing ingredient which is even better news for sweaty feet. This is an all-round wonder cream for feet as it not only refreshes and deodorizes it also hydrates and exfoliates. You can use this cream daily; in your home pedicure or for a real feet treat put on a thick layer, then put on a pair of socks and let it do its magic while you sleep.