UncleSamsModels.com - Advice

Pre-Manicure Care Tips:

1. Before applying new nail polish, remove any excess oil from nails using a cotton ball dipped in either witch hazel or lemon juice. This will allow the new polish to go on smoothly.

2. After filing nails, check to see how smooth they are by running them over an old pair of pantyhose; your nails should not snag the hose.

3. Never cut your cuticle. It's there to protect the nail bed from damage. Cutting your cuticle can result in infections.

4. If fingers are discolored or dirty, dissolve a denture cleaner tablet in warm, soapy water and soak hands for 20 minutes.

5. To whiten nails, soak your nails in water with lemon juice or lemon slices. The lemon acts as an astringent and will remove stains. Soaking nails in warm soapy water with a cup of hydrogen peroxide will also whiten nails and get rid of yellow stains.

6. To make hands softer, place them in whole milk for 10 minutes before beginning your manicure.

7. To prevent brittle nails, once a week apply cream or oil and wear gloves on your hands overnight.

8. To soften cuticles and help brittle nails become more resilient, try soaking fingernails in warm olive oil.

9. To combat hand dryness and soreness during the winter, sleep with Vitamin E oil on your hands and place your hands inside white cotton socks.

10. To treat chapped / cracked hands: Boil a small peeled potato until soft. Mash and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Apply to hands. Leave on for approximately 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Manicure Tips:

1. To get the best results from your polish, use a base coat, two coats of polish and a topcoat. Always wait as long as possible (at least 15 minutes) after each coat to allow it to dry. Applying a coat of polish too quickly will cause an uneven, orange peel effect. (Polish hardens in about 90 seconds, but remains vulnerable to scratches and dents for about 15 minutes.) If you're running low on time, plunge nails into a bowl of ice cold water for 1 1/2 minutes for a quick dry.

2. Always apply polish with quick, light strokes, first one stroke of polish down the center of the nail and then one sweep down each side. The nail should be completely colored in three strokes. Re-dip your brush for each nail.

3. Run a white nail pencil under the free edge of the nail to make the edge look even whiter, especially for a French manicure.

4. Try not to remove and re-apply polish more than once or twice a week because doing so will dry out your nails. Selecting a remover containing moisturizers will help limit the damage.

5. Polished nails tend to dull after a day or two. Hoof Lacquer, the secret weapon of manicurists, can be purchased in most equestrian shops and keeps nails looking like new.

6. Dark nail polish is high maintenance. It requires constant attention. Lighter polishes do not show wear as easily and do not look quite as bad if they chip.

Miscellaneous Nail Tips:

1. Store polish in a cool, dry place away from heat and light. A great place is in the refrigerator.

2. To avoid bubbles in your nail polish, roll the bottle between your hands. Do not shake since this is what causes the bubbles.

3. To prevent the polish bottle cap from sticking, coat it with a little Vaseline.