Photo credit: Katt Claws

Here at SheKnows, we’re obsessed with nail art. It’s a great way to go beyond your basic mani and have some serious fun with your nails.

Nail art trends to try

We reached out to four fabulous nail art bloggers for some of their best looks, along with some tips and tricks to recreate their designs at home.

Katt Claws: Galaxy Nails

We love the starry, glittery quality of these playful, eye-catching nails and we can't wait to try them out for ourselves.

Polishes:

• Seche Vite - Top Coat
• Essie - Midnight Cami
• Milani - White On The Spot
• China Glaze - Turned Up Turquoise
• China Glaze - Purple Panic
• CND Effects - Silver Sparkling

Directions:

1. Paint your nails with your base color . Dark colors are always preferable, like black or dark purple.
2. Sponge some white in random areas around each nail, starting in the corners and working toward the middle.
3. Sponge China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise partially over the white. Leave a bit of white showing for the next step.
4. Over the white that's left, sponge on China Glaze Purple Panic. Overlap slightly with the turquoise for better blending.
5. Next, add CND Effects Silver Sparkling over any base color still showing.
6. Use a dotting tool to achieve the little white dots.
7. Finish with Seche Vite top coat and you're done.

• Wait in between each step for the polish to dry. If you try sponging too soon, you might lift up your previous color and ruin the whole manicure.
• When sponging each of your colors, try not to blend them too much. It can turn a murky, unwanted color. The less blending, the better. Your top coat will tie it all together.
• Don't be afraid to use different colors -- it's your galaxy!

Up next: Floral nails >>

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Photo credit: Mr. Candiipants

Here at SheKnows, we’re obsessed with nail art. It’s a great way to go beyond your basic mani and have some serious fun with your nails.

Nail art trends to try

We reached out to four fabulous nail art bloggers for some of their best looks, along with some tips and tricks to recreate their designs at home.

Mr. Candiipants: Floral Nails

Go bold with a fun, floral mani that’s perfect for the last few weeks of summer.

Polishes:

• American Apparel - Passport Blue
• OPI Kiss - Me On My Tulip
• OPI - Red Lights Ahead Where
• OPI - Ogre the Top Blue
• Sally Hansen - White On
• China Glaze - For Audrey
• OPI - Caught With My Khakis Down

Directions:

1. Start with the base coat .
2. Then, start creating your flowers. Add the bright pink color on each nail, followed by the white, then aqua, then blue, then red, and finish up with the army green.
3. The key with this design is not being too neat with it and making each flower look a little different.

• All of the details were done with a medium length striper brush.
• It's important to clean the brush out with acetone or any nail polish remover between each color and if the polishes start getting too tacky.

Up next: Mermaid Nails >>

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Photo credit: Little Nails

Here at SheKnows, we’re obsessed with nail art. It’s a great way to go beyond your basic mani and have some serious fun with your nails.

Nail art trends to try

We reached out to four fabulous nail art bloggers for some of their best looks, along with some tips and tricks to recreate their designs at home.

Little Nails: Mermaid Nails

Just try not to swoon when you get a look at this girly but oh-so-chic mani featuring mermaid detailing we can’t resist.

Polishes:

• OPI - Ate Berries In The Canaries
• OPI - Planks A Lot
• China Glaze - Light As Air
• China Glaze - Heli-Yum
• China Glaze - Barry M Gold

Directions:

1. Start with your base coat.
2. Then, starting from the tip of your nail, make a row of dots using different colors.
3. After each dot, wipe the dotter on a cotton ball soaked with nail polish remover so the colors don't get all mixed up. Using several different colors makes it easier to keep them all separated.
4. After the first row, continue adding different colored dots down the nail, overlapping them like the scales of a fish.
5. At the end, use the same color as the base coat to form a starting-off point for the scales.
6. Finish it all off with a top coat for sheen.

• If you can use a dotting tool and have a bit of time, this look is doable. The key is patience and precision, but remember to have fun.
• You can choose different colors. Check out another way to get the look here.

Up next: Aztec Nails >>

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Photo credit: Love Life Lacquer

Here at SheKnows, we’re obsessed with nail art. It’s a great way to go beyond your basic mani and have some serious fun with your nails.

Nail art trends to try

We reached out to four fabulous nail art bloggers for some of their best looks, along with some tips and tricks to recreate their designs at home.

Love Life Lacquer: Aztec Nails

Love the neon trend but not sure how to wear it? Why not go bold on your nails? We fell hard for this simple yet stylish mani using Aztec-inspired designs on a get-noticed neon background.

Polishes:

• China Glaze - Flip Flop Fantasy
• NYC - City Blackout

Directions:

1. Start by painting your nails with a coral neon hue.
2. Then, simply start to create some random lines atop the neon with a black polish using a fine nail art brush.
3. Finish with a top coat of your choice.

• If you find it hard to create neat lines, place some dots with a toothpick or a bobby pin on your nail and then connect these dots with a fine nail art brush.
• If you made a mistake and your lines aren't as crisp as you want them, you can just outline the black parts with your base color.

Up next: Polka Dot Nails >>

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Photo credit: One Nail To Rule Them

Nail art trends to try

Here at SheKnows, we’re obsessed with nail art. It’s a great way to go beyond your basic mani and have some serious fun with your nails. We reached out to four fabulous nail art bloggers for some of their best looks, along with some tips and tricks to recreate their designs at home.

One Nail To Rule Them All: Polka Dot Nails

What better way to make a statement than with pretty polka dot nails? We love this white on green mani featuring the fun, floral twist of roses on the thumb.

Polishes:

• Models Own - Lime Green
• Barry M - Matt White
• Barry M - Red

Directions:

1. Start with your base colors. In this case, use Lime Green for your fingers and Matt White for your thumb.
2. When your base is completely dry, apply the white polka dots to the green.
3. Next, paint bigger dots in red on your thumb using the same technique. While these dots are still wet, use a pin or a very thin dotting tool to create a swirl in each dot. Wipe off any polish build up from your tool and repeat as necessary.
4. Using your dotting tool, place green dots around the roses in order to create leaves.
5. Once dry, apply a top coat to your design.

• When applying your dots, it's a good idea to use a small plastic tray to drop nail polish onto and then dip the dotting tool into that.
• Be patient. The calmer you are, the clearer your dots will turn out.

Watch: Nail Tips with Katie Cazorla

TV Guide star Katie Cazorla shares nail tips and trends with SheKnows.

More about nails

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4 Celebrity manicure inspirations
Tips for long-lasting nail color

Last Thursday marked the kickoff to Spring 2013 Fashion Week and with it, provided inspiration for these abstract floral nails when Rebecca Minkoff sent these floral-striped white trousers down the runway. Paired with a geometric floral print and a turquoise track jacket, the look isn't too overpowering and when translated onto nails, the effect is playfully chic. Follow this tutorial to find out how to get these runway-inspired nails.

Collars are all the rage right now, whether they are a Peter Pan collar on your shirt, a stand-alone collar that you can layer or a necklace in the shape of a collar.

How to paint
Collar nails

There are so many ways to get in on this trend that you've undoubtedly spotted on everyone from your friends to your favorite Hollywood starlet. One way to translate the collar trend onto nails is by spicing up an old favorite — painting the moon of your nails. But this way, instead of a painting a half-circle moon, you're going to make it a collar for the top of your nail.

You will need:

Two contrasting color nail polishes and reinforcement labels.

Start with a base coat the color of your collar . Let it dry completely.

Cut one reinforcement label in half .

Position the sticker on your nails as shown to create the collar shape.

Paint a coat of your second color over the top half of your nail. Make sure you get the paint into the tip and corners by the sticker!

Let it fully dry, and then gently peel off the stickers. You can now paint a clear topcoat over it and enjoy!

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Nail art inspiration is everywhere this season — from the candy corn on drugstore shelves to the pumpkins sitting on neighborhood stoops. Here are three simple nail art designs to kick your look up a notch and get you in the Halloween spirit.

Begin by painting nails with a neutral base color like white or tan.

Dab a few drops of blood-red polish onto a paper plate or a piece of newspaper. Dip the end of an ordinary straw into the red polish, picking up a ring of color on the tip of the straw.

Position the straw one-half inch over one nail and blow a strong puff of air into the other end. The red polish will splatter across the nail. Continue splattering each nail, adding more polish to the straw as you go.

At this point, you'll have plenty of splatters outside the lines. Dip a cotton ball in nail polish remover to clean up large areas of splattered skin, and use a small makeup brush or Q-tip for the detailed work around your nails and cuticles. Finish with a glossy top coat for shine and protection!

Begin by painting a portion of each nail with bright green polish. Create variation by painting diagonal sections on a few nails, just the tip on others, etc.

Apply a small amount of black polish to the tip of a thin paintbrush .

To create the Frankenstein-inspired scar, carefully draw a long line of polish along the edge of the green section of your nail. Add a few short "stitches" along the line. Don't worry about perfection here — jagged lines are just fine! Let the black polish dry completely to avoid smearing, and then apply a clear top coat to smooth any bumps and add some shine.

Choose a base color for your nails — either black for a more traditional "mummy" look, or play around with another festive shade.

Use a white nail art brush or pen to cover each nail with thin lines, alternating directions to create a "wrapped" look. Begin by making several parallel horizontal lines, then make a few vertical lines, and so on. Continue until you've covered each nail. Don't worry if your lines aren't perfectly even — the results will still be impressive.

It's difficult to cover your nails in lines without spilling over onto your skin, so dip a Q-tip or a small paintbrush in nail polish remover to clean up around the edges for clean, crisp results.

Let your nails dry completely to avoid smearing, and then add a top coat to add some shine to this intricate look.

These spook-inspired designs are sure to get you in the holiday spirit. Let your nails do the talking this Halloween — no costume required!

More Halloween ideas

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We always knew Giuliana Rancic was a fighter. The Fashion Police star and E! News host was recently diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, and she's vowed to fight the disease. But Rancic is doing more than just fight her own battle against breast cancer; she's giving back to the cause in a fun way.

Rancic's Fab Fit Fun has partnered with Nail Files star Katie Cazorla to offer "Mani-Cure for Breast Cancer," a fundraising initiative that will benefit Rancic's own breast cancer awareness charity, Bright Pink. The Nail Files star is donating 50 percent of proceeds from her clients' mani-cures to Bright Pink.

Manicures and charity... sounds pretty great to us!

Photo credit: Judy Eddy/WENN.com

Check out more ways to give back to the breast cancer cause >>

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Supplies:

• A neutral nail polish
• A green nail polish
• A red nail polish
• A brown nail polish
• Thin paint brush
• Dotting tool
• Nail decals

Instructions:

Paint a thin coat of your neutral nail color. The light blue we used gives a nod to our wintry theme.

Use your dotting tool to paint two rows of green polka dots on nine of your nails. Make sure to leave room in the center!

Use your dotting tool to paint a row of red polka dots in between the pre-existing green ones.

On the bare nail of your choosing , use the thin paint brush to paint on a Christmas tree.

After your Christmas tree has dried thoroughly, place a small star decal on the top, then add small circle details such as Christmas ornaments.

More nail designs

How to create a candy cane nail design
How to do a chevron pattern with polish
How to create a glitter gradient nail effect

We always knew Giuliana Rancic was a fighter. The Fashion Police star and E! News host was recently diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, and she's vowed to fight the disease. But Rancic is doing more than just fight her own battle against breast cancer; she's giving back to the cause in a fun way.

Rancic's Fab Fit Fun has partnered with Nail Files star Katie Cazorla to offer "Mani-Cure for Breast Cancer," a fundraising initiative that will benefit Rancic's own breast cancer awareness charity, Bright Pink. The Nail Files star is donating 50 percent of proceeds from her clients' mani-cures to Bright Pink.

Manicures and charity... sounds pretty great to us!

Photo credit: Judy Eddy/WENN.com

Check out more ways to give back to the breast cancer cause >>

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More Giuliana

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What's new in nails

Hottest nail trends for the new year

From neutral nail color to new technology, check out what's hot in nails for 2013.

Whether you want something dark and sultry or bold and funky, you can find a new favorite nail color for the new year.

Ombre

Ombre hair color has been trendy for a couple of years now, and, in 2012, we were introduced to ombre nails. If you like this look, you are in luck because the trend will continue throughout the next year.

"My personal favorite trend at this moment is ombre. It looks professionally done if you have the patience for it, and all you'll need are two different shades of polish. I always recommend using a top coat and a base coat, and find that having a makeup sponge handy can help to clean up any mess and tighten up the edges of the colors," says Creative Director of Pretty Woman USA, Aija Vilemsonne. Execute this trend at home with this ombre nail tutorial courtesy of Vilemsonne and www.PrettyWomanUSA.com.

• First, make sure that your hands are moisturized, clean and dry. That's the first step to any successful manicure and should be a standard practice.
• Apply your base coat and the base color — Vilemsonne recommends two coats, depending on the polish used. This will show as the lower color on your nail, closest to the cuticle.
• Use a paper bowl to pour a small amount of the second color , and dab a tiny amount on your makeup sponge. Do this slowly and carefully, never applying too much at a time. This will help to keep the mess manageable.
• This is important: Make absolutely certain that your nails are fully dry before applying the second color. Dip the makeup sponge into polish and dab the tips of your nails in quick, short strokes. Make sure to cover the end of your nail.
• The top coat becomes a blending tool with this style. It will act as a re-wetting agent to bleed the two colors together, and keep your color lasting and solid.

Glitz

For a night out, try ultra shiny nails with all-over sequins or chrome holograms. Look for a nail salon that specializes in Minx. Minx nails have been hot for a couple years now. Celebrities from Beyonce to Katy Perry wear Minx nails for special occasions, performances and events. Applied in a salon like stickers and set under a heat lamp, Minx nails can deliver amazing designs you never thought possible.

Green, three ways

Green will be one of the hottest colors of the year in fashion — and in nails.

• Emerald— When emerald was named Pantone Color of the Year for 2013, we knew this rich hue would find its way into the beauty scene and it has. Many of your favorite nail lacquer brands will release emerald-y shades in 2013.
• Mint— Mint green has been popular in spring for the last two years, and we'll see more of the same in 2013. If you like pale shades of polish but want something a little different than girly pinks, then mint might be the answer for you.
• Accents— Bold color combinations are going to be on-trend all year. One of our favorites is jet black nails accented with brilliant green designs. We saw an example of this at the Nicole Miller show in New York and now we are starting to see it on the city streets, too.

New technology

For 2013, multiple Grammy Award-winning recording artist Mariah Carey is teaming up with OPI to bring you a fabulous new collection of nail polish.

The Mariah Carey by OPI Spring 2013 Nail Polish Collection, which will be released in January 2013, features eight new limited edition shades inspired and hand-selected by Mariah. What's totally cool is that four of them feature a new technology — OPI Liquid Sand — a textured matte pebbled finish infused with a light shimmer and fine glitter sparkle. Our favorite color of the collection? Stay the Night — a matte black with red glints. You can find the collection at OPI retailers with each lacquer priced at $9.

Bright and beautiful

If you love your nail polish to be bold but not overwhelming, you'll adore the Dior Vernis Cruise Collection 2013. All three shades — Lime, Mango and Pasteque — are vivid with a fresh and sexy flair.

Whatever nail polish you are wearing in 2013, make sure you touch up your nails often. Chipped nail polish is definitely not in style for the New Year.

More nail tips and trends

Go funky fab with these nail trends
How to: 5-minute manicure
Inspiration for cool nail designs

DIY French manicure

Want professional-looking nails without spending a half day's pay in the salon? With some practice and a little patience, you can enjoy a fancy French manicure any time you want for only the cost of your nail polish!

Get salon-styled nails

The perfect manicure

A pale pink base and bright white tips have come to characterize the ever-so-popular French manicure, which, believe it or not, is a common request at nail salons everywhere. Even in France, where it's considered an American invention, this kind of mani is called "la French." Too funny, huh?

Professional nail stylists may paint your fingers alone or perhaps apply fake tips or gel nails if that's more your thing. Based on your personal preferences, a nail designer will also give your nails a strengthening and conditioning workout prior to painting them.

Now with all the new nail advances, it's easy to score a salon-worthy mani right in the comfort of your own home. Pick up a French manicure kit at your local beauty supply store , or invest in some sheer pink and white polish to easily do it yourself. Today, we'll be using Red Carpet Manicure's Gel Polish Pro Kit and French Manicure Kit, both available at BeautyCollection.com, to get the look. But don't worry, we've provided simple steps for everyone to follow, no matter which style you're planning on rocking.

Start by trimming your nails to the desired length. Make sure all of them are even. And remember: When it comes to the French manicure, the longer they are, the better.

Figure out the type of shape you’d like . Then grab a nail file and get to work.

If you really want to recreate the spa experience at home, dip your hands in a bowl of warm water and let them soak for a minute or two. Then take a cuticle pusher and gently push your cuticles back. Use the opposite end of the cuticle pusher to remove any dirt and grime from underneath your nails.

Now, before you apply your first coat of polish, buff the top of your nails to prepare them for it. If you’re doing Red Carpet Manicure gel nails , at this point you’ll want to cleanse your nails with the Purify Pre & Post Application Cleanser. Next, take the Prep Max Adhesion Sanitizer, and lightly paint a thin layer onto each nail. For those of you doing just a regular polish, simply massage cuticle oil onto your nails at this time.

You’re all ready for your base coat now. Paint on a thin layer of sheer pink polish, and let your nails dry for a couple of minutes. For gels nails, cure them under the LED light for 45 seconds only, no longer. Repeat this step again with a second coat of polish, and allow your nails to dry before moving on.

Once they’re all dry, place the nail guides on them to snag the perfect white tip pain-free. Don’t have any? That’s alright. The next step will just require some concentration on your part.

With your white polish, lightly brush color onto the tip of your nails . Let the polish dry for a few minutes. For gel nails, let it cure for 45 seconds. Repeat this step with a second coat, and wait for it to dry or cure.

Remove your nail guide, and apply a top coat of polish. Allow this coat to dry for several minutes . Voila, you’ve just completed your very own French mani!

Want your nails in tip-top shape? Check out the latest tools to help turn those worn-down hands into works of art.

Nail art made easy

Check out these nail art tutorials>>

New York manicurist Julie Kandalec says to ditch the worn-out wooden nail file for a more durable glass nail file. "I can't live without one," she says. "They prevent the nail from splitting and are especially crucial for saving brittle nails. The grit never wears out, and best of all, they are environmentally friendly." Find glass files at Pampered.com.

Sally Hansen’s Ahead of the Curve Sapphire File is another top choice. The metal makes it super-durable. Clean it with soap and water, and reuse.

If you want hangnails to take a hike, try the Sephora Collection Angled Cuticle Nipper. And while you're at it, clear trapped dirt and makeup with the Tweezerman Pushy and Nail Cleaner. The Corrector Pen by Nails Inc. is another must-have for polish lovers. Clean up and correct mistakes on the go.

Want to look polished without the polish? Give those bare nails a quick rub-down with the CND Glossing Buffer Block.

Check out how to master the manicure>>

More nail tips articles

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Tips for long-lasting nail color
Top 10 tips to prevent and repair dry, damaged nails

Baltimore Ravens nail art tutorial

Ray Lewis fans are very excited about the Ravens making it to the Super Bowl for his final season. So, we created this nail design for you to root for your favorite team in style.

How to do a ravens super bowl nail design

• Sally Hansen 'Deep Purple'
• OPI 'Black Onyx'
• Sally Hansen 'White On'
• Small paint brush
• Scotch tape

Start with a base coat of purple on the thumb and black on the rest of your nails.

Paint some strips of tape with purple and black polish and let dry.

Cut the painted purple tape into strips and stick on the middle of black nails.

Cut thinner strips of black painted tape and place over the middle of the purple strips. Trim excess tape.

Using the small paint brush, paint the number of your favorite player on your thumbs. Finish with a top coat.

The other team: A San Francisco 49ers nail design>>

More nail designs

How to do a chevron print nail design
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Nail design tutorial

In honor of the 49ers making it to the Super Bowl this year, we created this nail art to wear when rooting on your team.

football nail art for the big game

Follow these easy steps to create the full nail design. At the end, add the number of your favorite player on your thumb for a personal touch .

Start with a base coat of red on the thumb and gold on the rest of your nails.

Paint some strips of tape with red and white polish and let dry.

Cut the painted red tape into strips and stick them on the middle of your gold nails.

Cut thinner strips of the white painted tape and place over the middle of the red strips.

Trim excess tape.

Using the small paint brush, paint the number of your favorite player on your thumbs and finish with top coat.

The other team: A Baltimore Ravens nail design>>

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4 ways to sparkle up your nails

Nail design tutorial

Inspired by the draped red and pink top with black shorts look from Christian Dior's spring 2013 line, these nails are a fashion-forward way to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Red, pink and chic

Follow these easy steps to create this nail design at home. Here is what you'll need.

Start with a base coat — we chose pink.

Place a piece of tape diagonally across each nail, making sure to press down firmly.

Paint a coat of red over the area not taped off and let dry.

Gently peel off tape. Paint a line of black on the tips. You can do this by hand or tape it off. Follow with a top coat.

More nail designs

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Owner of the trendy Los Angeles and Japan based MARS the Salon, Hiroko Fujikawa confirmed the new go-to look for nails this season by giving us a few tips and tricks on keeping our nude manicure red carpet ready. Pair Fujikawa's nail expertise with a SheKnows tweak, and your nails will be as stylish as ever!

Pick your perfect polish

Choosing your nail polish is going to be the make or break step for your manicure. Depending on your skin tone, personal style and daily schedule, you will want to pick a nail polish that suits you best. Fujikawa's top three favorite nail polishes for a nude manicure are Essie polish in Allure, Essie polish in Fed Up and OPI Samoan Sand. We couldn't agree more — these colors are too cute!

Because skin tone will play a key part in picking your go-to polish, we have put some of our favorite polishes into categories to make choosing a little bit easier.

Fair skin

Out of Fujikawa's top nude nail polishes, we are going to vote Essie polish in Allure as our number one color choice for fair skin. This polish has an elegant look that is definitely going to pop against a lighter skin tone. Essie Mademoiselle is another awesome color for fair skin nude manicures. The pink in the polish will keep your nails looking sleek!

Medium skin

OPI Samoan Sand is another of Fujikawa's choices and would be absolutely perfect for medium skin tones! This color is soft and chic but has a slight pink undertone that will definitely stand out. OPI and Mariah Carey partnered to produce a nude polish with a hint of sparkle, OPI A Butterfly Moment, and it's our top choice for anyone with an olive or medium skin tone.

Darker skin

Another one of Fujikawa's favorites, Essie polish in Fed Up is the perfect color for those with darker skin complexions. The color is very soft and will give a chic look for a darker skin toned person's nude manicure. OPI Tickle my France-y is a nude polish with an awesome color effect. This color is sure to give a bare look and complete any nude manicure on dark skin tones.

More ways to keep your nails red carpet ready

French manicure steps
Nail design tutorial
Maintain beautiful nails on the go

Photo credits: Apega/WENN.com, Brian To/WENN.com

There are several things you can do to help keep your nails strong: regularly use a good moisturizer on your hands, wear gloves when you wash dishes and refrain from biting your nails. Along with those helpful tips, try a DIY nail strengthener, too. It's an easy, natural and luxurious way to keep fingernails tough as nails.

Castor oil is a vegetable-based oil that has been used for many home remedies over time, and it is also used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. We love it as a DIY nail strengthener because of its deep-conditioning properties. When used on your nails, it can help keep them moisturized and prevent them from cracking and breaking — and keep them strong. Adding a bit of vitamin E to this DIY mixture helps keep your nails and cuticles further moisturized and protected, too. Essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus not only smell great, but they have antiseptic properties, too.

DIY Nail Strengthener

Supplies:

• 1 teaspoon castor oil
• 2 vitamin E gel capsules, broken open
• Several clean cotton balls
• Small glass container or bowl
• Optional: 3-5 drops eucalyptus or lavender essential oil

Directions:

1. Place the castor oil in a small glass container.
2. Over the glass container, pierce the vitamin E capsules with the tip of a sharp knife. Allow the liquid to drip into the container. Discard the capsules.
3. If you're using essential oil, add 3-5 drops to the mixture and mix with a spoon.
4. Use a clean cotton ball to rub the mixture over your nails, twice a day. Allow the mixture to remain on your nails for about 5 minutes, then gently rub off with a clean cotton ball or tissue.

Nail it with this DIY nail strengthener!

More DIY Skin Care

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Keep
your
nails Cool

Trying to find a new way to sweeten up your mani and pedi? Look no further — we've got a treat your nails won't be able to get enough of.

The sun is creeping its way out and sandals are about to be in season, so that means it's time to pick your favorite nail polishes for the spring. We have the inside scoop on three Deborah Lippmann polishes that are going to be a big hit this season.

Chill out

Lippmann is a celebrity manicurist who took cooling down to a whole new level when she came up with her Staccato spring '13 collection of three ice cream-inspired nail polishes. All of the polishes are available online for $19 each. Not only are these polishes adorable, they are also healthy for your nails because of the combo of biotin, green tea and aucoumea. Good for your nails, sweet as ice cream and cute — triple win!

If any of these fabulous ice cream themed polishes were sold at Cold Stone Creamery, we'd have to order the “gotta have it” size! With spring colors as their base and matte black glitter specks, these polishes will be an extraordinary accessory for your outfit.

Here are Lippmann's polishes that will have your taste buds going crazy:

I'm Not Edible!

The I'm Not Edible color will surely get your taste buds going, but as its name suggests, please don't eat it. Instead, try wearing the panicked pink color to the beach or as an everyday color all spring long!

Rockin' Robin!

Rockin Robin is definitely… rockin! This is our favorite out of the three simply because mint is definitely in this season. After applying this polish, you might get a craving for mint chocolate chip ice cream, but it'll be well worth it!

Polka Dots and Moonbeams!

What tastes better than Oreo ice cream? Don't worry — we'll wait for your response while our Polka Dots and Moonbeams polish dries. This color is super cute and it's perfect for the working woman who doesn't want a polish that's too much for the office.

Spring beauty guide

Check out our
picks for a very
beautiful spring!

More ways to keep your nails cool

Nail launches we love
Nail tools and products you'll love
How to choose the perfect nude polish

To have beautiful nails, you can start from the inside with healthy habits and vitamins.* Try Nature's Bounty Optimal Solutions for a great blend of nutrients that support not only healthy nails, but healthy hair and skin, too!* Eat foods that contain protein, zinc, B vitamins and biotin, such as cashews, green beans, soybeans, chicken, eggs with yolk, lentils, nuts, whole grains, seafood, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes and bananas.

Now it's all about outward maintenance. You'll want your hands to be a great canvas to showcase your beautiful, natural nails. Exfoliate with a sugar hand scrub to slough away dead skin and reveal a glowing and youthful appearance.

Cuticle care is important for maintaining a polished look when you want to go polish-free. Begin by applying a cuticle remover and let it sit for a minute to soften the cuticle and skin around the nail. Then take a cuticle pusher and gently push back each cuticle. Only trim if necessary, such as when you have loose skin or hangnails. Otherwise, it's best not to trim cuticles for optimal nail health. After moisturizing (Step 5), use a cuticle cream or oil to give extra attention to the area.

Using a nail buffer, buff all your nails to shiny perfection. This makes the surface smooth and glossy, which is always a must whether you're wearing polish or not. Next, file nails into the shape you like (oval, square, almond, etc.).

The final step is to use a moisturizer. You'll want to show off all your hard work and natural beauty, so make your hands supple and gorgeous with lotion. For intensive treatments, use products with luxurious coconut, sunflower, olive and argan oils. Use a drop of nail cleaner on each nail to remove excess oils for a nice finish.

Stylize your
nails

Click here for the ultimate guide
to nail art!

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Filing your nails correctly is important to prevent them from splitting and weakening. If you've been naughty and filing in both directions and using the wrong tool, try this method out and see the difference for yourself.

We've all used standard emery boards before — they are cheap, come in cute colors and patterns, are standard in nail tool kits and are easy to come by. But they wreck your nails. Swap one out for a crystal nail file. A crystal nail file is more expensive, but you can use it way longer than an emery board and it delivers better results that are worth every penny.

Now that you have the right tool, let's go over the right technique. We've all heard you should always file in one direction, but when it gets right down to it, you're usually filing away in every direction because it's faster. Take the time to do it right. You should be filing toward the tip of your nail on each side of your finger. Start by filing the sides to get the shape you want, then finish the tip in one direction.

Stylize your
nails

Click here for the ultimate guide
to nail art!

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If you love a mix of classic and iconic, you need to try this Kermit's Kollar tutorial. Get the look in seven simple steps.

Photo credit: Chalkboard nails for OPI

1. Stick a hole punch protector at the base of your clean and prepped nail.
2. Polish your nail with 2 coats of "I Love Applause" leaving the cuticle bare.
3. Create an arch of 5 tiny dots just about halfway up your nail. You can do this with a nail art brush or a toothpick — both work great.
4. With a thin nail art brush, draw 2 lines from your sticker guide to each of the dots to create 5 triangular points.
5. Carefully fill in the triangles.
6. Gently remove the sticker guide. TIP: Pull from 1 side of the nail to the other, never directly up.
7. Finish up with a top coat and marvel at your masterpiece!

Cheer on the original Hollywood power couple, Kermit and Miss Piggy, with this design.

Photo credit: Chalkboard nails for OPI

1. Start with a dry "I Love Applause" mani.
2. Pour a small amount of "Gaining Mole-mentum" onto a paper plate, then pick up glitter flecks with a toothpick.
3. Place the glitter flecks on your nail in a heart shape. TIP: The center line of your nail is an easy reference for the center of the heart.
4. Fill the heart with as many glitter flecks as you want.
5. Solidify your design with a top coat.

All we needed was just one look at Ty Burrell's glorious 'stache in Muppets Most Wanted for it to become the muse for this next nail art design.

Photo credit: Chalkboard nails for OPI

1. Start with a dry "Chillin' Like a Villain" manicure.
2. Add a coat of "Int'l Crime Caper" and let it dry completely.
3. Layer on "Let's Do Anything We Want" glitter. TIP: Dab the glitter onto your nail to ensure that you get even coverage.
4. Use a dotting tool to make 2 dots of "Miss Piggy's Big Number" at the tip of your nail.
5. Fill in your favorite mustache shape and let it dry.
6. Finish your design with a top coat as always.

As Kermit can tell you, one tiny dot can cause a whole lot of trouble. If you're up for a little mischief, try this quick and easy design.

Photo credit: Chalkboard nails for OPI

1. Start with a dry "Chillin' Like a Villain" mani.
2. Outline circles of "Kermit Me to Speak" with a very fine nail art brush.
3. Fill in the circles and let dry.
4. Throw on a top coat and you're all done!

Try all the designs now and wear your favorite to the theaters when Muppets Most Wanted opens on March 21!

How to create the perfect heart. Click here >>

How to create the perfect flower. Click here >>

How to master the nail art watercolor effect . Click here >>

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We caught up with celebrity manicurist Lisa Jachno of Labnails to discuss why so many women deal with terrible, chipped manicures. "Working with your hands a lot will definitely chip your nails," she said. "But if the manicure isn't done properly, this will cause rapid chipping as well."

Manicures: You're doing it wrong

Think back to your most recent visit to the salon. Most manicurists start the process by soaking fingernails in sudsy water before shaping the nails and applying color. Unfortunately, soaking the nails at the beginning of the manicure can actually contribute to rapid chipping. "Wet manicures cause chipping because the nail absorbs water and expands," Jachno explained. "Your nail polish will lose its bond with the nail if the nail shrinks back to its normal size after the polish is applied." Serious bummer, since this can translate into a gnarly, chipped manicure within just a few days.

The miracle of dry manicures

Cut the water from your manicure routine to get longer-lasting color. "You should be able to get five to seven more days out of a dry manicure," reported Jachno. Not only that, you'll shave at least 10 minutes from your routine if you do it yourself.

So what's the trick? Jachno provided us with these steps for a successful dry manicure:

1. Whatever you do, don't soak.
2. Remove polish. Because, duh.
3. File your nails into your favorite shape. Keep 'em short to prevent chipping caused by run-ins with walls or computer keyboards.
4. Apply cuticle remover. Let it sit for one minute to soften the skin, just like a water soak.
5. Exfoliate. Jachno recommends The Buffy brush to delicately remove overgrown cuticles.
6. Wipe away. Use an alcohol spray to make sure sloughed nails and cuticles are clean and prepped for color.
7. Apply polish. You know the routine — base, color and topcoat for optimal coverage.
8. Keep it fresh. Jachno suggests that your reapply top coat every two or three days to make sure your dry manicure lasts a full week.

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