5 Steps to a Perfect Manicure

Don't have the money for a salon manicure? With this step-by-step guide, you can paint your nails like a pro without emptying your piggy bank.

3 Hot Nail Trends for Fall 2010

Forget the chipped pink polish you've been wearing since fifth grade. This season's biggest nail trends are chic, unique, and perfect for the style-savvy gal.

1. Neutral nails give your manicure a makeover with sophisticated shades of grown-up colors. Think camel, mud, dove, and minx -- names that don't look good on paper but will leave you super stylish in a cinch.

 2. Lacy laquer is a interesting, hip way to glam up your nails. You can try other embellishments as well, like rhinestones or glitter, as long as you don't go overboard.

3. Rocker-glam glitter is all the rage. But instead of your usual flecks of sparkle, models are setting the trend with big, chunky pieces of glitter to add some hardcore drama to any diva's look.

Would you wear any of this season's fierce nail trends?

Make Nail Polish Last

Don't you hate it when your polish chips? Here's how to get the most out of your manicure.

1. Wash your hands to make sure your nails are clean and have no oil residue from your fingers or lotion.
2. Apply a clear basecoat.
3. Apply two coats of your favorite color polish. Let dry.
4. Apply a clear topcoat to seal and shine.

BONUS TIP
Your polish will chip once the topcoat is worn off. You can keep reapplying topcoat every 2-3 days to make the color last even longer.

Nail Polish Remover 101

As soon as your nail polish starts to chip, that's your cue to break out the polish remover and scrub the color away. Before you start, there are a few important things to know about what you're putting on your nails.

A main ingredient in nail polish remover is acetone -- the same stuff used to make cement and photographic film. Cool, right? It's extremely flammable and exposure to the vapors can make you sick. Of course, just like it can take the paint off your nails, it can also take the finish out of your mom's furniture or the color out of your jeans.

Another ingredient in this product is alcohol. This is found in many personal care products, but it is infamous for drying out your skin, hair, and nails. Because of the alcohol content, you shouldn't use nail polish remover more than once or twice a week unless you want brittle nails.

You can get nail polish remover in a pad or in a bottle with a cotton ball. For best results, soak your nails in warm or hot water before wiping away the polish. To rescue your nails after use, soak them in olive oil for 5-10 minutes.

DID YOU KNOW? Acetone is produced naturally by your body, but can also be found in onions and grapes.