Nail Makeup Know How To File Your Nails:
 Keep your nails slightly square or oval - not pointed - to prevent them from breaking. Filing low into the corners and sides can weaken nails. File gently in one long stroke, from the side to the centre of the nail. The classic length that suits most hands is just over the fingertip. Conditioning Your Nails:
Smooth your nails every evening with a nourishing oil or conditioning cream. This helps seal moisture into your nails to prevent flaking and splitting. A tiny drop of olive oil is a great cheap alternative. Cuticle Care:
Go carefully with tough or overgrown cuticles. Most manicurists are against cutting them with scissors, as this can lead to infection. Instead, soak your nails in warm soapy water to soften the cuticles. Then smooth them with a little cuticle softening cream or gel, before gently pushing them back with a manicure hoof stick or clean cotton bud (swab). You can then gently scrub away the flakes of dead skin that are still clinging to the nail bed. Nail Color Tips:
- If you have long, elegant fingers you can carry off any shade, including the dramatic deep reds, russets and burgundies. Short nails look best with pale or beige-toned polish.
- Pale colours also suit broad nails, but you can make them look narrower by leaving a little space at the sides of each nail unpainted.
- If you love barely-there shades for the daytime, but prefer something more exotic at night, try a pale pearlized polish - the shimmer will be caught by the evening light.
- If you find strong colours too bold on your fingers, try painting your toenails instead. A glimpse of colour in open-toed shoes or on bare feet can look sophisticated. You can create a great look by mixing a little dark red and black nail polish before applying.
- Coral polish and pearlized formulations work very well against a tanned skin.
Nail Tips  | 
