How to Choose a Manicure that Lasts and Looks Natural

Lovely, manicured hands and nails that look gracefully natural project a positive image. How long your manicure lasts depends on what you request when getting a professional manicure.

The shape of the nail you request, as well as the color, will help extend the life of your manicure. The classic, more natural look will actually last longest.

The other part of making your fingernails look great for a long time depends on doing some easy upkeep between manicures. With these directions, you can go for up to 2 weeks between manicures.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hand lotion with SPF
• Cuticle oil or lotion
• A good nail salon
• Gloves for chores
• An average of $20 per month

1. Keep it Real
   Avoid artificial nails that require maintenance, and that can look obviously fake and thick. It can be very hard to go back to natural after you start getting artificial nails. Do not get artificial nails.
   
   You can keep your real nails and hands looking beautiful and neat on a daily basis when you follow the directions in this article. Your real, natural fingernails can be very beautiful.

2. Choose the Best Nail Shape
   Ask for nails that are square, not rounded. The length to choose is just a tad (1/8 to 1/4 inch) longer than your finger. The square shape at this length is less likely to catch on things as you use your hands. This will give you much less chance of breaking and tearing fingernails. The great thing is that shorter nails are actually in fashion now!

3. Choose the Best Polish
   Choose light shades or clear nail polish. These may chip like other darker polishes, but if you choose the lighter shades, it will be much, much less noticeable between manicures! Another plus to the lighter shades is that they go with all colors you wear and will make your fingers look longer and more graceful.

4. 
   gloves to protect your skin and nails

   At Home Between Manicures
   After you take a shower, gently push back your cuticles with a soft towel. Do this every day. This helps the cuticle to stay neat.
   
   The next step is hydration. Use a good hand lotion that has a sunscreen in it daily. The sun protection factor is important to help prevent sun damage that can lead to age spots in time. Use it after every hand washing. The way to do that is to keep some of the lotion next to every sink in your house, and to carry it in a travel size hand lotion in your purse. Another good idea is to use a special cuticle oil or lotion a couple of times a week.
   
   Wear gloves when you do dishes and other household chores. Wear gardening gloves when you do dirty outdoor gardening work too.

[Arathi]

on 6/7/2009 I like the natural look too. Thanks for the tips!

[kittykat3]

on 6/7/2009 I like having a nice manicure. Great tips on how to choose a manicure that lasts and looks natural. 5*

[sgfgirl]

on 6/6/2009 Love the natural look - and you save money at the salon!

[jseven]

on 6/5/2009 I agree that artificial nails are not good, the glue is awful on your real nails! Thanks for a great article..:)

[Gottaloveit]

on 6/5/2009 Nice tips for keeping a manicure fresh longer. I like gel on top of my nails as it keeps the oils from my fingernails away from the polish. Gel is not quite as hard to get rid of as fake nails.