Whether you have them long or short, strong or brittle, nails will always look great with the right nail polish. I’m sure everyone will agree there is nothing better than a professional manicure and pedicure; not only does it feel nice to be pampered, but the result is so much better than what we can do at home….or so we think.

In order to get the professional look, the first thing we need to do is to invest in the best nail polish available. My personal favorites are Orly and Opi, as you can see in the OPI’s Summer Flutter collection, the colors are not only fun, but you can expect high quality.
OPI Summer Flutter
As for Orly, they are offering the Viva Collection, four shades that are perfect for the summer and with the proper application will last all week.
Orly Viva Collection
In order for your polish to last as long as possible you need to polish them properly. That means take your time, do it while your watching a movie or TV show and have the patience to add layer after layer of polish. If you are like me there is little time during the week to think about your nails or worry about them chipping, so it is essential that you use one or two layers of a proper base coat, at least two layers of your favorite color and finally one of two layers of top coat.
OPI Base & Top Coat
If you are unsure about what shades would look good with your skin tone, go to the OPI website, they offer an interactive feature where you can customize your skin tone and nail length. Click on the “Try on this color” link and you can play with the different shades and see what looks better on you.
And for the artist in you the Orly website has a section dedicated to the Instant Artist, with instructions and videos on how to create amazing designs on your nails.
Orly Instant Artist
My personal trick to have strong nails came from my favorite manicurist. She told me to eat Jello gelatin every day since it contains keratin and it helps with nail and hair strength. From my personal experience I did feel a difference on my nails, and it doesn’t hurt that Jello is a tasty low fat snack……so eat away.
You can find Orly and OPI nail products at stores like Sephora as well as Beauty Supply stores like Sally Beauty. The prices range from $6.00 to $9.00, this is one of the best investments you can do for your beautiful hands.