On the hunt for the secret to making your manicure and pedicure last during the beach season? Neri Ortega, nail expert of Butterfly Studio Salon, recommends the following for a long lasting, perfect manicure without chipping:

1. Following a hand massage, it is vital to clean the nail bed twice with acetone or acetone free nail polish remover to make sure that there are no emollients left on the nail- a clean, oil free nail bed is the most important part of a lasting manicure, as it creates a clean surface to begin on.
2. Continue with a protein based base coat- this is key in keeping polish from chipping. A strengthening treatment like OPI’s Nail Envy, works wonderfully to keep nails strong, and polish from chipping.

3. Following the application of polish, a good basic top coat is needed. Neri recommends Essie, and prefers classic top coats over “quick dry” as she finds that quick dry top coats tend to peel faster.

For a great sumer color try:

Pushing back cuticles rather than cutting them will also help a manicure last longer. To keep nail polish looking shiny and new, and cuticles from looking dull and ashy, she recommends a good cuticle moisturizer like Solar Oil- the oil treatment will multi-task to keep your manicure going for extra days.

With tips this easy, the hardest part will be choosing your favorite color!

essie nail colour, strawberry sorbet

Essie, the ultimate colour authority, offers a line of superior nail care products with an exclusive award winning formula.  Essie’s fashion-forward colours are always classic, chic and elegant and can be worn “from the bedroom, to the boardroom, to the ballroom.”

Always inspired by the runways of Paris, Milan, London and New York, Essie colours are recognized worldwide because they are chip resistant, long lasting, and provide flawless coverage.  For almost 25 years, Essie has become the brand most trusted by beauty professionals, fashionista’s and celebrities alike.

$8.00 essie nail colour

I know Brooke Hogan is going through a difficult family time right now, but those nails are awful! Please ladies stay away from the Jungle Hooker nails!

To get a more subtle and sexy look try:

Nic’s Sticks by OPI

Just pump, paint, and go! Long-wearing, fast-drying, and convenient. Fits in your pocket or purse. Check out the Nicole  by OPI Site and you can even see how each color will look on your nails!

$7.00 Nic’s Sticks  ( or at your local salon.)

After a lot of rain we were treated to a beautiful weekend in Oregon on Saturday it hit 74 degrees so Jocelyn and I took our kids to the park for a walk and a picnic. As I strolled the trail in my sandals I noticed my feet were in dire need of a pedicure.

Since I am trying to be a little better this year with my spending habits so my hubby isn’t completely gray by 30. I decided to give myself a pedicure and it actually came out pretty great. I used the Red Professional pedicure kit it’s under 10 bucks and has everything you need to pamper yourself with an at home pedicure. It comes in the perfect little bag to keep all your tools together, it would also be great to take with you to the nail salon if you are getting a pedicure to ensure you are getting clean tools.

Red Professional Pedicure Kit * Salon quality.
* The complete set of professional quality pedicure tools.
* 10 Piece Kit Includes:
o Toenail clipper
o Cuticle nipper
o Food brush & stone
o Cuticle pusher & cleaner
o Pedicure file
o Toe separators
o Nail file
o 4-Way buffer
o Manicure sticks
o Travel pouch
* Complete set of professional quality tools used in salons.
* Use at home or carry to the salon.
* A safe and sanitary pedicure guaranteed with every visit to the salon.
* Free sharpening.
* Made in China.

$9.99 Red Professional Pedicure Kit

I lost my favorite pair of tweezers when I moved a few years ago and I have until now not been able to find a pair I like as much. I just tried the Perfect Pair kit from Kiss and it truly is perfect, finally tweezers with a sharp enough point to tweeze even the tiniest of brow hairs.

The clippers are great too they even have a little nail catcher so you don’t have to worry about a big mess when you trim your nails. The Perfect Pair comes in a cute pale pink color.

Kiss A Perfect Pair

• Nail clipper with catcher eliminates flyaway clippings.
• Precision coated tweezer for better grip.
• Salon expert design.
• Salon quality.
• Stainless steel.

Features:

* Nail Clipper – Durable stainless steel body with a patented pink catcher to eliminate fly away clippings.
* Slant Tip Tweezer – Pink, durable, double-hardened edges and precise, smooth hand-finished tips never pinch delicate skin.

$5.99 Kiss Red Perfect Pair

Sally Hansen Color Quick
Fast Dry Nail Color Pen

Just Click, Color & Go!

* New fast dry nail color formula packaged in an easy-to-use, take anywhere spill-proof pen!
* Just click to dispense color, brush on and go!
* Handy application makes it easy to use anytime, anywhere.
* Great for pedicures, too!
* Available in 8 beautiful shades.
* No DBP, Toluene or Free Formaldehyde.

Instructions

* Shake well with cap on before use.
* Remove cap.
* Gently click top of pen 5-7 times to start the flow of color.
* Apply 1-2 coats.
* Re-click as needed.
* Touch up every few days as needed.
* Protect work surface while using this product.

Testimonials

I am unbelievably impressed with your new Color Quick Nail Polish Pen. I’m currently at work and don’t have much time to paint my nails in my free time but, I painted my nails at 3:15 and sent you this email ten minutes later with dry nails!! Incredible!!! I love the ease of the application, the pen was easier to hold so my nails looked even nicer because of the control I had over the pen. Not only is it quick drying too, but the color is nice and vibrant. It was perfect with the first application! I’ve never written any company to tell them how impressed I was with their products, so this is a first. Thank you, thank you, thank you for finally coming up with a quick, efficient, and non-messy way to paint my nails! I can say you’ve got my hooked and I’m going to be sticking with these color pens, so please make more colors, cause I’ll buy them all! Thanks again!

Kimerly B. Brookfield, IL

$7.99 Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Pen

My nails have taken a beating this winter and have ended up really thin and brittle. My nails used to grow without much issue and I didn’t have to invest any time. Now my nails seem to be splitting or breaking and I needed something to bring them back to their former strength.

I just found some amazing nail products from a company called nailtiques, I am pleased to see how quickly they are working. Within the first use I could see a difference and now 2 weeks in my nails are strong and healthy again I have listed my favorite products from the nailtiques line.

Nailtiques Nail Moisturizer

Nailtiques Nail Moisturizer is a greaseless fortified conditioning nail crème enriched with soluble collagen, jojoba and aloe.

Benefits:
The aloe and jojoba provide nourishing and conditioning benefits while collagen restores moisture and promotes flexibility.

Application:
Use several times a week under the nail tips. Apply at bedtime allowing the crème to penetrate during the night. Begin using as soon as nail tips become firm.

Healthy nails are not only strong, but flexible.

$4.00-$15.00 nailtiques nail moisturizer

Nailtiques Cuticle & Hand Conditioner

Nailtiques Cuticle & Hand Conditioner is a highly concentrated combination of pure aloe and jojoba oils that rehydrates and conditions the hand and cuticle area.

This nourishing crème has been formulated to soften cuticles and skin without softening the nails.

Benefits:
This lightweight, non-greasy, fast absorbing hand crème is formulated to rehydrate and condition the hands and cuticles, softening the skin but not the nails.

Application:
Apply a small amount to hands, pushing back the cuticles with fingertips while massaging until completely absorbed. May be used several times during the day for conditioning the cuticles and hands.

$4.00-$15.00 nailtiques cuticle and hand moisturizer

Nailtiques Oil Therapy

Nailtiques Oil Therapy is a delicate blend of vitamin-enriched oils specially formulated to prevent and treat brittle nails and cuticles naturally. Cuticles are softened by replenishing the skin’s natural oils. When used over wet polish, the oil acts as a drying agent to help set polish. This is an excellent product for toenails that are dry and flaking.

Benefits:
Softens cuticles by replenishing the skins natural oils. It also acts as a preventative and treatment for dry brittle nails by sealing in moisture.

Application:
Apply generously to cuticles and nails. For nails with white spots, apply directly to the nail surface as often as possible. When used over wet polish, the oil acts as a drying agent to help set polish.

$4.00-$12.00 nailtiques oil therapy

I used to paint my nails blue in college and never thought I would be using it again on my nails. Granted my blue of choice in college was electric blue and the new blue nail polish colors are a more grown up navy. I have been seeing blue polish for awhile and I finally gave in, and to my surprise I am really loving the color! It’s such a dark blue it almost looks black on my nails but the color it the most amazing shimmery shade of Navy.

A few different brands featuring Navy nail polish:

Dior Vernis Long-Wearing Nail Lacquer

What it is:
A nail polish shade inspired by the legendary Dior Midnight Poison fragrance.

What it does:
Dior Vernis Long-wearing Nail Lacquer is drama at your fingertips! This spring, Dior takes nails to new levels of intensity by introducing Poison Blue, a deep midnight blue nail polish in a silky smooth formula for long-lasting, glossy nails. Only by Dior and only at Sephora.com.

$19.00 Dior Vernis Long-Wearing Nail Lacquer Poison Blue

Nars Nail Polish

What it is:
A new, improved formula of NARS Nail Polish for long-lasting, durable, glossy nails.

What it does:
This season, the NARS Nail Polish line debuts a new longwearing formula that provides a tough, chip-resistant finish with UV protection to prevent polish discoloration.

What else you need to know:
For best results, apply NARS Base Coat before applying color, then use the quick-drying NARS Top Coat for a shining finish. NARS Nail Polish is Toluene, Formaldehyde and DBP Free.

* Midnight Express is only available exclusively at Sephora.com!

$16.00 NARS Nail Polish Midnight Express