BEAUTY...BEAUTY...BEAUTY...BEAUTY...BEAUTY...BEAUTY...BEAUTY...
5 STEPS TO A NO-MESS MANICURE...
1. Be organised. If you’re going out shortly after, make sure your shoes are on and that you have your car keys, bus fare, mobile phone and so on out of your handbag and ready. There is no point painting nails perfectly if they get damaged in the rush to go out.
2. Once you’ve painted your nails, run the brush across the tip. It gives a professional finish and helps prevent chips.
3. Apply two thin coats of polish rather than one thick one.
The thicker the coat, the longer it takes to dry and the more likely it is to smudge and chip.
4. Wait at least two minutes between each layer, then wait another three minutes before applying your top coat.
5. Be patient. There’s no miracle product for getting nails dry double-quick, but you can help them set quicker by plunging them into ice-cold water.
CLICK FOR MORE BEAUTY STORIES
AUG 31 BEST TRESSED, JENNIFER HUDSON, GOOD VIBRATIONS
AUG 24 BEAUTY REHAB, RACHEL FLINTOFF, GO WITH THE GRAIN
AUG 17 MAKE-UP MAKEOVER, RACHEL HUNTER
AUG 10 AGE-PROOF YOUR SKIN, PRETTY POLISHES, HELEN FLANAGAN
AUG 3 PERFUME PERSONALITY QUIZ, MAKE A SPLASH, ABI TITMUSS
JULY 27 DYE ANOTHER DAY, BEAU-TEA-FUL, ALESHA DIXON
JULY 20 YOUR BODY (ONLY BETTER), COSMETIC COUTURE, DENISE LEWIS
JULY 13 BEAUTY BAGGAGE, COCKTAIL HOUR, LIZ MCCLARNON
JULY 6 A-LIST BEAUTY SECRETS, NEW ROMANTICS, JAIME MURRAY
JUNE 29 6 MINUTES TO LOOK LIKE THIS, BEAUTY AND THE FEET, LULU
JUNE 22 BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL, TURNING JAPANESE, NELL MCANDREW
JUNE 15 TINY PRICES, TERRIFIC RESULTS, 24-CARROT GOLD, JENNY FROST
JUNE 8 GOING FOR GOLD, LIP SERVICE, PARIS HILTON
JUNE 1 WRINKLE-BUSTERS, BACK IN BLOOM, ABBEY CLANCY
MAY 25 MEET YOUR MATCH (MAY 25), HOT AIR, ESTELLE
MAY 18 CURL POWER (MAY 18), DUST BUSTER, JENNI FALCONER
MAY 11 LUXE V LOTS, AGEING - LICKED, FREEMA AGYEMAN
MAY 4 BYE BYE BIG GIRL'S BREAKOUT, SCENT-SATIONAL, KELLY ROWLAND
APRIL 27 HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW, SCOOP OF THE YEAR, ZARA ABRAHAMS
APRIL 20 HOT NEW WAYS TO TAN, EYE CARUMBA, MICHELLE KEEGAN
APRIL 13 HARLEY STREET IN THE HOME, SO RETRO, KONNIE HUQ
APRIL 6 SPRING'S HOTTEST HAIR, MILLION DOLLAR SMILE, KACEY AINSWORTH
MARCH 30 WEIRD BEAUTY SCIENCE, SCRUB UP, KIMBERLEY WALSH
MARCH 23 MANICURE MASTERCLASS, GO FOR GOLD, JENNIFER LOPEZ
MARCH 16 WRINKLE-BUSTING CREAMS, DRAW THE LINE, TRINNY WOODALL
MARCH 9 FACE THE FUTURE, FIVE SHOWER TIPS, TINA O'BRIEN
MARCH 2 HEAVENLY HAIR, BRUSH UP, PENNY LANCASTER
FEB 24 STAR GLAM-UP SECRETS, SPRING'S 'IT' NAIL COLOUR, NATALIE CASSIDY
FEB 17 SKIN FIXERS, SUSIE AMY
THE NEW MANICURE MASTERCLASS
NAILS ARE BREAKING ALL THE RULES THIS SEASON WITH BRIGHT BOLD SHADES AND FUNKY NEW LOOKS. HERE’S HOW TO MAKE SURE YOURS ARE UP TO SCRATCH . . .
TRY THE LATEST TRICKS
COLOUR ON THE TIPS: The “Funky French” was created at the Brits by celeb manicurist Leighton Denny, for singer Adele. Instead of leaving the nail natural and painting the tips white, he painted them in glossy green with gunmetal blue tips.
GET THE LATEST FAKES: “I’m loving stick-ons,” declares Kylie’s favourite manicurist, Marian Newman. “The new fakes are shorter and more natural looking. I adore the Broadway Nails Fast French Nail Kit, £7.99. My clients love the look.”
FAST FRENCH: Until now, decent French manicures have only been available at the beauty salon. But Yves Saint Laurent has changed all that. Its French Manicure, £30, is a simple two-step pen set that will create the perfect “French” finish. The pink shade distributes the colour with an easy-to-use brush, while the white click-for-more pen has a sharp edge for precise application on the nail edge.
THE BEST SHAPE: The most flattering shape is “squoval” (or squared-off oval). Clip nails straight across, then round off the corners with a file. To make sure you have the right shape, check that the tips match the curve of your nail base.
WEAR THE SEASON'S "IT" SHADES"
GO-BRIGHTER GREEN: Barry M Nail Paint in Spring Green, £2.95. You heard it here first, there’s no hotter colour for spring than gorgeous, glossy greens.
RED-CARPET RED: Essie E! Live From The Red Carpet, £8.50. Inspired by all the red dresses at this year’s Oscar ceremony, this is the perfect shade of scarlet.
NO-GLARE GREY: Nails Inc Nail Polish in Charlotte Street, £9.50. If you don’t want bold, bright talons, take a style tip from Victoria Beckham and opt for a pale grey.
PASTEL BLUE: Barbara Daly’s Make-up For Tesco Limited Edition Mini Nails in Dust, £2.40. This light shade looks great on shorter nails.
SUNNY YELLOW: Zoya Professional Lacquer in Dreamy, £8.95. Tune into the hi-colour trend with this bright yellow.
NEARLY NUDE: Leighton Denny Nail Colour in In The Buff, £10. Coffee-creams like this are perfect for complementing a tan.
Click here to win one of 50 Barry M Nail Paint in Spring Green and one of 50 Nails Inc Nail Polish in Charlotte Street!
NAIL TIPS
TREAT THEM LIKE YOUR SKIN: The Nail Doctor is a new range of problem-solving nail products containing ingredients which are normally used in skincare. The Bright & White Nail Brightening System, £8.99, even uses a peel-off mask to help transform dull nails.
PROTECT THEM FROM THE SUN: It’s a little known fact that the sun will discolour varnish over time. Step in Nailoid Results Instant White, £4.50, which contains UV protectors.
GET THE MUST-HAVE KIT
* Revlon Top Coat, £6.29 Don’t just use post-manicure, apply thinly every other day to help polish last.
* Ms Manicure 6-Way Nail Buffer, £2.10 Files and shapes edges, smoothes ridges, and buffs and polishes nail beds to a high-shine.
* Dove Rich Nourishing Beauty Hand Cream, £2.29 Your hands need to look the part too. Keep them moisturised and chap-free with a good hand cream.
* Glenis Baptiste Acetone-Free Nail Corrector Pen, £4.99 Keep smudges in check with a polish eraser pen.
* GOSH Glass File, £6.99 Doesn’t split nails like an emery board can.
Nail tips
WIN BEAUTY GOODIES
50 x Barry M Nail Paint in Spring Green RRP £2.95
You heard it here first – there’s no hotter colour for spring than gorgeous, glossy greens. And there are 50 of the Barry M shade Spring Green up for grabs!
To enter, just click here and leave your details.
Usual Fabulous terms and conditions apply.
COMPETITION CLOSED
50 x Nails Inc Nail Polish in Charlotte Street RRP £9.50
If you don’t want bold, bright talons, take a style tip from Victoria Beckham and opt for a pale grey. And we have 50 of this fab shade to giveaway!
To enter, just click here and leave your details.
Usual Fabulous terms and conditions apply.
COMPETITION CLOSED
STOCKISTS: Barbara Daly (Tesco stores nationwide), Barry M (Boots and Superdrug nationwide), Broadway Nails (01784 460622), Dove (leading chemists and supermarkets nationwide), Essie (www.nailsbymail.co.uk), Glenis Baptiste (Superdrug stores nationwide), GOSH (Superdrug stores nationwide), Leighton Denny (0845 862 0515), Ms Manicure (01784 460622), The Nail Doctor (Boots nationwide), Nails Inc (www.nailsinc.com), NailOID (Boots and other leading chemists nationwide), Revlon (leading chemists and supermarkets nationwide), Yves Saint Laurent (01444 255700), Zoya (www.zoyapolish.co.uk).
Words and Styling: Donna Francis. Photography: Simon Songhurst at sixtyoneproductions.com. Model: Charlie at Independent Models. Hair and Make-Up: Britta D at Carol Hayes. Nails: Helen at sixtyoneproductions.com
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