It’s a dilemma all of us face.  You leave the salon with a gorgeous manicure, only to find it chipping & peeling 2 days later.  Unless you put bubble wrap around your nails or get shellac every time, it’s hard to keep your manicure looking perfect. 

To find out some inside tips on how to make a manicure last, MainelyMara chatted with one of the top manicurists in town, Vanessa Cavallaro of Head Games.  With over 11 years of experience as a nail technician, Vanessa definitely knows a thing or two about nails.  Follow her five easy tips below and you’ll have a much longer relationship with your mani. 

1.  Top coats are essential for maintaining a manicure.  Invest in a quality top coat such as OPI Quick Dry, Zoya or Creative Nail.  Apply a thin coat the day after your manicure, followed by a coat every other day after that.    

2.  Apply nail oil to nails every morning and evening.  (Vanessa’s top pick – Dr. Hauschka Neem Nail Oil).  Nail oil will help nails grow, keep them flexible to stop breakage (especially in the dry winter months), and keep them strong.

3.  Protect your nails when cleaning (doing the dishes can be super hazardous to a mani).  Rock a pair of cute rubber gloves!

4.  Use hand cream.  Whatever your favorite kind is, keep it by your bed or at your desk and apply regularly. 

5.  And always remember – your nails are jewels, NOT tools!

A big THANK YOU to Vanessa for sharing her tips with us.  Thanks to you, there will be a lot more perfect manicures around town!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 at 12:00 am and is filed under How To. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.