Artificial nails were first developed in Hollywood in the 1930S using basic plastics which were fine for photograph-ic purposes but looked false in real life. Today's  false  nails  are  much  more sophisticated, tougher and less likely to damage the nail underneath. There are four main types of false nails to choose from, depending on whether you want to replace a broken nail or have the instant gratification of a complete set of false nails.

Stick-on nails These are precast plastic nail shapes that you apply with a special fixative or double-sided tape. They can be applied at home and look natural so long as you choose the right size. Most suppliers offer stick-on nails in a variety of nail widths. Brush-on acrylic nails The surface of the nail is first roughened and then the acrylic chemical is painted on and allowed to dry. It can then be styled into the desired shape. It grows out with your own nail. It is best carried out by a professional manicurist. Nail extensions These are made of plastic and are bond-ed to your nails with, a special glue to ensure that they stay in place until your nail grows out. They can be filed as your nails get longer. Again, these are best applied by a professional manicurist.

Nail wrapping This technique is used to reattach a bro-ken nail tip to the nail or extend the length of your nails. A combination of fine tissue papers and fast drying glue is used to build up your nails. This is best left to a professional manicurist for good results. Right: False nails can look as good as the real thing. Below left:  Take care to match the false stick-on nail to the shape of the nail bed. Below: Nail wrapping is a technique which combines fine tissue papers and fast drying glue to build up your nails.

Hands and feet are often the most neglected areas, yet the way they look gives our inner secrets away. Cared-for nails are a sign that the rest of our body is well looked after too. Vitamin deficiencies show up as weak and splitting nails; insecurity appears as nail biting; stress can slow growth; Spend a little time and effort sorting our dry, flaky nails, and hard, rough skin, and thanks to the latest technical advances in nail care, a perfect set of strong, healthy nails in now within reach.

Home Manicure

1. Remove old nail polish with a single stroke by soaking a cotton wool pad with nail polish remover. Wipe away traces of polish around the cuticles stick dipped in remover.
2. Using an emery board, shape nails lightly, working from both edges towards the centre. Avoid moving the board back and forth quickly, which produces heat that dries out the nail and leads to splitting. Try holding the emery board at a single angle under the nail. Don't file down the sides- the nail tip needs the sides as support, otherwise it will weaken and nicks form.
3. Apply a cuticle remover around the nail contours. Using the tip of a cuticle stick wrapped in cotton wool, gently push back the skin. Work away dead tissue before carefully passing the stick under cuticles.
4. Wash your hands in warm soapy water, and brush nails with a soft manicure brush so that polish will adhere to them properly. Pat hands dry with a towel.
5. If nails are weak, apply a strengthening or hardening product, paying special attention to the tips. Allow to dry.
6. Apply a protective base coat, covering the entire nail but stopping short of the cuticle.
7. Apply two coats of polish, starting with a single stroke down the center of the nail, then across the cuticle base and down the two sides without touching the cuticle. Allow each coat to dry.
8. Finish with a top coat for extra gloss and the shield against chipping.

Thirty-minute pedicure

1. Clean toenails and remove all traces of polish with a conditioning remover, as described for the manicure.
2. Cut toenails using a nail clipper and file into the desired shape using the rough side of an emergy board. Hold the board slightly angled down over the edge of the nail. Smooth the edges towards the centre with a light motion; don't cut or file them always as this weakens the nail and can lead to ingrowing toenails.
3. Lightly massage the nail contours with a cuticle oil or cream.
4. Place both feet in a bowl of warm water into which you have added a handful of bath salts or a few drops of pure essential oil such as peppermint. Soak feet for five to ten minutes.
5. Dry feet throughly with a towel and apply a drop of cuticle remover to the nail contours. Leave it on for a few minutes while you smooth away any hard skin or callouses on the soles of your feet using an exfoliating cream. Then gently 'roll' the cuticles back with a manicure stick covered with cotton wool. Massage hard skin again with the scrub, then rinse off in the warm water.
6. Rinse your feet in cold water to boost circulation. Dry them again with a towel, paying special attention to the skin between your toes.
7. Clean your toenails again with a cotton pad soaked in remover to take off any oily film.
8. If required, apply a hardening formula to the toenails, taking care not to let it touch the cuticle or the surrounding skin.
9. Apply a base coat, followed by two coats of polish, ans finally a top coat, as described for the manicure. Placing cotton wool between your toes separates them to make applying polish easier.

Practicality rules over all. The shape is softly rounded. The look lies with medium-sized nails with a French manicure, with clear varnish down the length and white crescents at the tips (check out the Tips and Toes Manicure Kit). 

The colors in vogue are a trifle more complicated. It’s red for the night – we are talking pure fire-engine matte red, the sort of red that makes men go week at the knees and declares you’re a bad girl. The wishy-washy pinks and purples which held sway for a bit and the grotesque steel gray, which became ubiquitous shade for the wannabe hep cats, have all been relegated to the back. The neon greens and blues are best left to the teen brigade where they are slowly crawling down the ladder from hip to has-been.

Transparent camels and frosted sables are the shades to watch out for on toes. These are the shades they’re showing off in open toed sling-backs in Hollywood. They’re also wearing matte and opalescent whites. However, since both pale and pearly nail polish tend to highlight any bumps or ridges, prime nails with a clear base coat first.

Shimmer is so big that Estee Lauder, Yves Saint Laurent and L’Oreal seem to have got an entire range to boast of. These are shades straight from your heart, but with a twist. Sable with an oil slick effect, or opalescent nail polish with a petrol sheen (the multicolored rainbow look) are what are giving nails the hip hop look right now.

The surest, softest and the most chic look amongst the haves is that of sheer coat – the transparent shines that just lets the soft sheen of gloss show the true shade of the nail underneath, but this is a look of the grave. For the woman who has more chores like cooking and cleaning to be done, such daredevil bravery is uncalled for…she should get herself a skin tone matte, or a light peach opalescent. It doesn’t show as much when it chips.

Also, it’s not enough just to have manicured nails today. The hippest craze is to have them stenciled, painted, even pierced, so that you don’t see nails in the same light again.

Even the best shades will fall flat on hands that are not maintained well. Make sure to give them a manicure once a fortnight at home or in a salon. Massage a hand cream into your hands at least a couple of times a week, and make sure you wear gloves when you’re washing up or cleaning. And above all, keep your nails at a tolerable length – shall we say one that will allow you to dial from an old telephone instrument.

Apply a thick layer of cream to your hands
The thermoherb pack reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and tightens skin.
This pack is removed after ten minutes and a rose mask pack is applied with a manicure brush, to refresh and rejuvenate hands.
Nails are polished with a buffer. This improves blood circulation and gives nails a shine
Two coats of nail polish and a topcoat later. Perfect.

Nail Necessities

To soften hands soak them in a mixture of honey and orange juice for about ten minutes. Pat dry and apply hand cream.

Lemon juice is a whitening agent and can also be used for removing stains from fingers and nails. Apply and leave for 15-20 minutes. Remove with warm water, pat dry and follow with a rich moisturising cream (lemon juice can be drying, so you must compensate).

Take three tablets of calcium lactate daily with a warm glass of milk for strong bones, nails and teeth.

To repair the damage done by soaps and hard detergents rub equal amounts of rose water and glycerin to the hands.

Exercise your hands daily – like any other part of your body, they need a workout, tool. Bend your fingers up and down 15-20 times daily. Pep up the circulation by taking the fingers of one hand in the other and gently pulling each finger.
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