Being a woman takes a lot of upkeep. Fortunately, there are some shortcuts women can take to stay on top of it all, without putting themselves completely out. At the top of that list is being prepared. For women who prefer to keep their nails primped and polished, having a well-stocked manicure kit on hand (no pun intended) at all times in a must. That way, she is always prepared in the event of those unexpected snags and tears that can turn a good manicure into an eyesore.

Here are five things every woman should keep in her manicure kit:

Cuticle remover. Nothing can ruin a perfectly good set of nails like raggedy cuticles. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to keep cuticles looking their best without regular attention. Buy a small bottle of cuticle remover cream and rub it into your cuticles every day. Let it sit for a few minutes and then use an orange stick to push the cuticle off the nail. You’ll be amazed at what a difference this can make with your manicure.

Nail clippers. Sure, you never leave the house thinking you’re going to have to clip your nails, but accidents happen. There is no better fix for a torn or hanging nail than a basic pair of fingernail clippers.

A nail file. Any time you have a slight snag in your nail that catches on things (like your hair – ouch!), then the best solution is to file it down with a nail file. This works on those occasions where using a nail clipper is too much. Also, nail files are invaluable when it comes to shaping your nails just the way you want them.

Nail glue. If you happen to tear your nail and can’t get to the manicurist right away to fix it – and you don’t want to just cut it off – then you can repair your nail using nail glue. Just remember that nail glue is like superglue, and be careful not to overuse it, or let it get into the wrong hands.

Clear nail lacquer. Clear nail lacquer is like lip gloss: it is an easy way to look polished even when you’re in too big of a hurry to do much else. If you are in between manicures, trying to grow your nails out, or even just allowing your nails some time off the color, it is a good idea to keep them looking healthy and shiny with just one coat of a clear gloss nail lacquer.

There are certain things that women should have in their arsenal, and manicured nails are just the thing to top any look off. Make sure you have these five items in your manicure kit at all times.

About the Author: Kai Harshfield owns her own nail salon and one of her trademarks is the individual manicure kits she keeps for each client, ensuring cleanliness and safety in tool choice. Every client who purchases a manicure kit gets to choose a signature nail color to keep inside, ensuring they at least have access to their favorite shades at all times!

Disclosures: Girl Gloss at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

About the Author: Carleen Coulter

The wintry chills are replaced with cool breeze, with a whiff of the spring in air. You know summer’s round the corner and wait patiently to take off to that well earned break. You plan your trip to the minutest detail. Start shopping for the perfect summery wardrobe with accessories matched to the T. You have the ‘cut’ and you are ready to move….hold on did you forget a tiny detail. Of course, you did not heed the call of your nails of which had been in hibernation!

Time for a quick prep on how to get those tips and toes in perfect order:

1. All winter you have been applying dark shade to your nails, which might have discolored them. Use a base coat before applying any colour on your nails to avoid the nail varnish pigments leeching into your nails.
2. On the nail colour apply yet another top coat for that perfect finish and avoid chipping.
3. Summers mean moisturizing or rehydrating. Give your nails a dose of vitamin e by rubbing some oil/cream comprising of vitamin e. Olive oil is also great as it not only softens brittle nails but also provides the essential moisture to the nail beds and cuticles.
4. Keep your nails healthy and clean. If it is not possible to invest in manicures and pedicures at the spa/salon, try a few home tricks.
5. Immerse your feet in warm water comprising of sea salts and essential oils (optional) for minimum 15 minutes. Scrub away the dead cells off your feet with a pumice stone. Wipe feet with a soft towel. Push back the cuticles gently with the help of a damp towel or orange stick. Clip nails and apply feet moisturizer. Paint toe nails if required.
6. For hands you can follow the same process except you need not use pumice stone on your hands!
7. Opt for shades in corals, pinks, brown and nudes during summer as they look great with a slight tan. If you want dark shades, apply only on feet as they look better on toe nails than finger nails.
8. Experiment! Of course you need not stick to the boring pinks and browns. You can match the shade with your mood or outfit or sandals or occasion – just ensure that you get it right!
9. Use balms rich in moisture to avoid cracking and drying of nails due to excessive heat, chlorine water in pools/oceans and dry air due to air conditioning.
10. If you have developed ridges on your nails try to buff them once a month to get that evened out look.
11. While washing and cleaning, use gloves to keep the nails from chipping due to excessive chemicals in the detergent.
12. Avoid going barefoot especially in public places such places are full of fungi, bacteria and viruses that might harm not only your nails but your feet as well.

However if you must go barefoot, wear open toed sandals or slippers to minimize the damage!

Be it summer, winter, fall or spring – nails need to be cared for like the rest of your body. They are also an indicator of one’s overall health. By proper care, you not only end up looking good but also feeling confident.

Guest Post: The author is a creative writer who has been blogging on various health related issues like alopecia, human growth hormones, sleep disorders, acne treatment and hair care.

Disclosures: Girl Gloss at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

About the Author: Carleen Coulter