Tips and Toes

A pair of strappy heels on non pedicured feet is a definite turn-off. It doesn't matter how great your shoes look or how expensive they cost. If you don't take good care of your nails, not only will your nails suffer, but so will your image! In a hot climate like Singapore, most women wear strappy heels, opened-toe shoes, thongs and sandals. This means our feet and nails are constantly exposed to heat, cold and pollution, not to forget the danger of kicking into something or being stepped on! With the latest trend of opened-toe booties and gladiator flats, we should maintain our feet well and have our nails polished or buffed to show off our gorgeous footwear.

Here are some nail care quick tips from the experts at "Prettie Nails" salon:

1) Apply cuticle oil around the fingernail edges and gently massage into and around the entire cuticle. Do this daily and it will make your nails look healthy and shiny.

2) Always apply a base coat before your nail polish to protect your nail from the colour pigment and from dryness.

3) For brittle and weak nails, soak your nails into a handful of chopped fresh garlic every day for about 30 minutes each time. You will see results within 2 weeks.

4) Keep nail polish bottles in a container and store it away in the refrigerator to prevent nail colour from thickening.

Visit Prettie Nails at #02-53, Orchard Plaza (Tel: 6836 0388)

Chipped Nails are NOT Cool and Everybody Notices!

Recently I have been noticing a new pedicure "fad" or should I say major nail faux pas! Women, both young and mature with only one or two toe nails (usually the big toes) still left with the chipped polish. They walk around in their open-toe sandals, heels or flip-flops on busy Orchard Road; nonchalant about their lack of basic grooming. My nail therapist shared that some women would leave their nail polish on for more than 6 months and when the colour chipped, they would just paint a new colour over the old one. Or they would wait till all the colour has chipped before they decide to do something about it! As a result, their underlying nails got damaged. Ladies, your nails are one of the first thing that people will notice! A pair of well manicured hands or pedicured feet will boost your image and make you look polished and attractive. On the contrary, chipped nails project a "I don't care" or "I am just plain lazy" persona. If you really don't have the luxury of time, there are simple quick ways to ensure good looking nails. Keep your nails short and paint them with a clear varnish or light nail colour for longer wear and easy maintenance. Alternatively, you can buy those nail polish which peels off easily without having to use nail remover, thus saving time. And make sure your nails are clean at all times. If you are unsure about how to groom your nails, go to your nearest nail salon and ask if they conduct sessions on nail care or just google!