You have heard it said so many times that you probably believe it—that giving your nails crucial attention is important for both your looks and health. Any lady, who is conscious about her looks, knows how much nail polish can boost her looks. Rita Ingabire, 24, is one of those trendy young women. She says that she loves the fresh smell of nail enamel, and her favourite colour is pink. She coats it with some glitter, which makes her nails beautiful. “Applying nail polish is an art,” says Alice Kayitesi, a beautician. “It’s possible to get beautiful hands and nails if the polish is applied well.” Kayitesi adds that regular nail care and an occasional manicure are the best ways to get beautiful nails. “Neat, clean and well manicured nails add charm to your personality.” Women/girls are always excited about the great effect the nail polish brings. Get done with cleaning, trimming and shaping your nails. Apply the base coat. Get ‘tip guides’ from beauticians. It will help you to know the polish that suits your skin tone, and how to apply it yourself without necessarily going to the saloon. Hit the beauty boutiques today, and buy all the essential make-up products you will need to groom your nails. Make your own manicure kit. Add the craziest shades of pink and blue to your collection. Go out of the way by wearing black nail polish to show your wilder side or opt for an elegant manicure to put forth a ladylike look. Be sure to receive those flattering compliments. Do you want to make your nail polish last longer? Manicuring is the main method of nail care. It should be done once a week, preferably after washing and filing your nails to remove the dirt. Apply a base coat of clear and then apply the polish of your choice. “My nail polish lasts longer if I do two coats of the same colour, one after the other,” Claudine Umugwaneza, 30. “It also makes the colour brighter and more flawless looking.” Now it is time to give your nails a new look with colours of your choice. Choosing the perfect colours can give amazing results. To achieve a natural and trendy look use a strengthening nail polish remover to get every bit of polish off your nails. Shaped nails look so much better than scraggly ones with different lengths. If your nails are in different lengths, start by trimming them all to the length of the shortest nail. This will make your hands and feet look nice. According to Alex Twahirwa, a health expert, healthy and strong nails can depict your health. Avoid nail biting and cuticle picking for the wellbeing of your nails. Eat lots of proteins and nutrients—copy that! Also, beauticians argue that it’s important to massage your hands and fingernails with body oil. Ladies, hand moisturiser is a ‘must-have’ thing to carry in your handbag, apply it often, so your hands will never go dry. Ends