Nail it down

Keep the following things handy - nail file, emery board, orange stick, scissors, nail polish, removers, tooth brush, Dettol, hand and bo...

Keep the following things handy 8211; nail file, emery board, orange stick, scissors, nail polish, removers, tooth brush, Dettol, hand and body lotion, warm soapy water and a soft towel. Remove nail polish and file nails use an emery board for brittle nails.

Soak hands in warm, soapy water. Add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of Dettol. When you feel that your nails have become soft, scrub them with the brush using a mild soap. Clean the insides of your nails.

Wipe hands with a soft towel. Push back cuticles with an orange stick. Trim it with a small pair of scissors. Massage the whole hand with cream or body lotion in circular movements from finger tips to wrist. Then wipe off the excess cream. Apply transparent coat of varnish and let it dry and then apply polish neatly.

Always start with the more difficult hand first your left if you8217;re right-handed, the right if you8217;re a leftie. Begins with the thumb and apply base coat. Dip the brush into the polish, wipe it on the rim of the bottle to remove excess and paint nail from base to tip with three strokes. Start in the centre, then do each side. Re-dip the brush for each nail.

If you want to dry your nail polish fast, hold your nails under a hair-dryer and then put them in water.

Remove little smudges of polish with a toothbrush wrapped in cotton and dipped in polish remover. Choosing the right colour is important. Normally, mauve and plum shades look good on fair skin. Darker skins look nice with lighter shades and frosted nail polish.

Other beautiful secrets of beautiful hands:
A little care goes a long way in keeping hands beautiful. Lovely hands are a real morale booster.

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A good diet is a must. For healthy nails, include foods such as yoghurt, milk, fish and eggs in your diet, because nails need protein, iron, vitamin B and calcium which are found in these foods.

Keep hands clean and well moisturised. Dryness leads to ugly wrinkles when you8217;re older.Wear gloves while washing dishes or handling other harsh detergent or chemicals. Use a gentle soap. Massage in a really light moisturising cream at night. This helps in blood circulation.

Use only really good nail products as inferior products could discolour and damage your nails.

Very often the skin of the hands looks discoloured. This can be improved by cutting a lemon and rubbing it over the discoloured area.

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Lack of calcium causes brittleness. Rubbing warm olive oil or almond oil can do wonders.

When you8217;re dressing up for a special occasion, adorn fingers with pretty rings and hands with bangles. Polish your nails. And presto, you8217;ve boosted your hand value.