This season, more and more celebrities and style icons are stepping out with natural nails. While not as edgy as the navy blue’s and purples making it big, natural nails are very classic and classy. However, natural nails require more care to your actual hands and nails because your nail color will not be drawing eyes away from any imperfections on your hands. Here are some tips on how to achieve great looking natural nails, and how to keep them in top shape.

First off, it’s important to keep your hands healthy! Both the skin and your nails take a lot of wear during the day. It’s very important to pamper them as much as possible. No matter how young your face looks, if not cared for properly, your hands will always give away your real age. Moisturizing your skin and cuticles, as well as taking supplements can aid a great deal in the health of your nails. Personally, I take Biotin. Pre-Natal vitamins are also great for the health of your nails. Foods high in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids will help the health of your nails as well.

Besides supplements and eating properly, there are several things that you can do to help out your hands and nails. Exfoliation is also important since it removes dead skin cells. To make a gentle exfloliant at home, simply mix some epsom salts with warm olive oil. Gently massage into hands, making sure to get in between your fingers, then soak in warm water to rinse. As the salt dissolves, it should take your dead skin cells with it. Pat dry with a towel and then moisturize. Several times a day I moisturize my cuticles with Smith’s Rosebud Salve and my hands with Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. Make sure to really massage any hand creams into your skin and cuticles to help increase blood flow to those areas.

Use an emery board or a glass nail file to shape your nails. Remember to only move the file in one direction across the tip of your nail using broad strokes and to apply as little pressure as possible. If you do not plan on polishing your nails, a 4 sided buffer is a great way to keep your natural nails looking good. It helps to smooth out the surface of your nail, buff it, and then shine them.

If you are going to paint your nails, with either a clear top coat or a French manicure, there are a few extra steps that you can take to make your hands look fabulous. Do these steps after you have exfoliated and moisturized your hands and nails.

1. First swipe a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover over your nails. Even if there is no polish on them, this will help remove any oils or residue that may be there and could effect the application of nail polish.

2. If you decide to push your cuticles back, a step that I always skip, make sure to soak your hands in warm water first to soften the skin. Then gently push back the skin with an orange stick. Do not cut your cuticles! This can lead to all sorts of nasty infections.

3. Apply a clear base coat before any colored coat of nail polish. This will help protect your nails and ensure an even application. Allow each coat at least 5 minutes to dry completely to avoid any bubbles in the nail polish. Apply thin and even coats as thick coats of polish are likely to peel off after they are dry. After the base coat, apply two layers of colored polish, and then a top coat.

If you are giving yourself an at home French manicure, I would suggest picking up some nail guides to help with the application. I use Sally Hansen French Manicure Nail Guides. I have the Sally Hansen French Manicure Kit in Nearly Nude. The kit comes with guides for both fingers and toes, as well as two colors of polish. The guides for finger nails are curved so, unlike cheaper options such as tape, the results are more natural looking. There are also French Manicure White Tip Pens available from both Sally Hansen and Sephora. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it on Sephora’s website, but I have seen it in the store. First, paint the tips of your nails with a white or off-white color. After it has dried completely, gently peel off the guides (if you are using them, that is). Apply two thin coats of nail polish that is very similar in color to that of your natural nails, covering the white tips. This helps the tips look more natural and blends the line between the nail and tip better. Finish with top coat.

4. After your polish has dried completely, wash your hands well with warm water and soap. This will help loosen any polish that is on your skin. Then moisturize your hands and nails again. To keep your nail color lasting, re-apply your top coat every two to three days. If you are hard on your hands, apply an extra layer of top coat to just the tips of your nails.

Hands are an often neglected part in everyones beauty regiment, but they can have a big impact when taken care of properly. All it takes is a few minutes a day. When settling in to watch a movie or a TV show, spend some of that time massaging cream or oil into your hands. Then slip on some cotton gloves and let your skin really absorb the moisture. Do this every day for a week and you will notice a huge difference in how your hands look and feel. Having great natural nails is well worth the small effort.