Easy Polish Tips
Whether you’re preparing for your next party or attend some school meetings or going on holiday trip such as one of those mexico vacations soon, you probably want to have your nail polished done and have pretty nails going out. Right Mommy? 
If you have limited time, then you may go for a salon trip but if you can squeeze few minutes with your schedule and doesn’t want to pay the salon prices, then these at-home manicure tips from expert Marie Scalogna may help you polished in minutes…
Remove. Take off old color with acetone polish remover on a cotton ball. (Note: Don’t use a tissue, it will fall apart and doesn’t absorb the remover well.)
Trim. Cut and file nails to your length of choice. As for shape, there are two main options: square or rounded. And neither form will chip more than the other.
Soak. Rest hands in a bowl of warm water for five minutes. Add two tablespoons of a bath powder or your favorite liquid soap to soften nails. Make sure the water’s not too hot or it will dry out your hands and nails. (If you don’t have time, you can skip this step.)
Soften. Apply cuticle oil or lotion on dry hands to nourish and soften rough spots.
Push. Use a cuticle or Popsicle stick to press cuticles back so they don’t get in the way of the polish. Some people prefer to cut their cuticles for aesthetic purposes, Scalogna explains, but it’s best not to do this at home. “Unless you’re a professional, you’re going to end up with cuts all along the side of your nails,” she says. “Just push them back and keep it easy.”
Scrub. Exfoliate hands with a body scrub or homemade mixture of olive oil and kosher salt or raw sugar. Scrub for two to three minutes, then wash thoroughly.
Moisturize. Dry hands and apply a rich moisturizer.
Polish. Apply a base coat first, then apply two thin coats of polish. Finish with a top coat if you haven’t used one yet.
Helpful Hints:
• If you don’t have time to paint your nails, just take off the polish and moisturize. It will look much better than chipped paint.
• No file on hand? Use the rough edge of a match book.
• If you don’t have cuticle oil, olive oil works just as well.
• Light polish is easier to maintain than dark polish – chips and cracks aren’t as noticeable.
• Keep polish in a cool, dry place, like the fridge. It’ll last longer.
French manicures are best saved for special events like weddings. They make nails look longer and more elegant, but on a daily basis, “They’re not hip,” says Scalogna.
So Mommies, if you cannot go for a salon trip then the above tips will work really well. Let’s have those pretty nails on Christmas day…. 
