101 terrific tips, trends, tricks and finishing touches

NAIL NEWS

91. Swipe nails with a nail polish remover-soaked cotton ball before you apply polish. This'll remove any oil residue and make the polish you apply last longer.
92. Keep your cuticles soft by applying cuticle oil to them. After it soaks in, use polish remover to take off the excess.
93. Square 'em off! Avoid filing nails too low at the sides, since this whittles away your nail's support.
94. Don't shake that polish bottle--it causes air bubbles, which can ruin your manicure. Roll it between your palms instead!
95. Gonna try out one of winter's dark nail color shades? (PURPLE is way in) First apply a basecoat, like Basecoat:001 Paint Job Base Coat. Hey--you don't want that nasty yellow stain on your nails, do ya?
96. Wouldn't it bum you out if you ruined your new paint job before it even dried? Wait three to five minutes after applying your last coat of polish before spraying your nails with quick-dry.
97. Don't use your nails as tools--dial the phone with a pencil; use your knuckle to flip light switches; open soda cans with a spoon.
98. Why not, go nude! Um, not that way. Instead of putting on polish, buff your nails to an au naturel shine.
99. Do your nails break, like, when the wind's too strong? Make sure you're chowing down on foods that give you plenty of calcium, zinc and iron.
100. Create your own nail colors. Use a clean, empty nail polish bottle and start mixing your least favorite, unused shades!
101. No time for a manicure? Run a white nail pencil under the tips of your nails for a quickie French manicure effect.