Sorry this is one day late, but my favorite thing latley has been the "Shatter" for nails. It is fingernail polish that crackles and gives an interesting texture to your nail polish. It comes in all different colors but I like black and silver. Some of you may know that I went to school to do nails. So I am giving you my Manicure 101 class on the best manicure and how to use Shatter. The photographer in the pictures below is my wonderful husband.
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Tip #1 
Many people wonder how to remove their nail polish, say on your feet for example, without ruining your manicure. Simply put the cotton between your fingers as close to your hand as possible.

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It can be akward at first, but the more you do it the easier it gets. It really does help keep a good manicure if you are working on your pedicure.

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Tip #2
Use a good polish. I love OPI. I have used it ever since I learned to do nails. It is a little expensive but they have great colors (and great names for the colors too!) They were the first ones to come up with Shatter, now alll the other brands have copied them.

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Tip #3
Always start with a base coat. This is a step that can be easily skipped but you'll regret it later when your nails have turned an ugly color becuase the polish has stained them. I typically dont use a base coat on my toes though. I always have polish on them in the summer. In the winter I could care less what ugly color they are stained because no one sees them. (Except my hubby and I dont think he cares a thing about my toes!)

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Tip #4
There's no need to cut your cuticles. Just keep them pushed back. You can do this after you get out of the shower and the skin is soft from the heat. I have to admit I am not a big fan on the long, narrow nails that are in style now (see Beyonce or Rihanna.) Been there, done that in the 80's and 90's! I keep my nails pretty short these days.
Apply your first coat of color. Do not go all the way down to the skin. Leave a small polish free rim around the cuticle. Polish doesnt like to stick to skin and this can make your polish flake off sooner.

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Tip #5
Give the first coat a little time to dry. A hairdryer on the cool setting can help with this. Apply a second coat if you really want to see the true richness of the color shine through.

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Tip #6
Before applying the Shatter, you MUST allow your 2 coats to dry. It wont work if you dont. Shatter can be difficult to work with if you arent careful. Exposure to air is what makes it work, so you have to work quickly. I would suggest you try it out a few times first. Do NOT put alot of Shatter on your brush, it will not look good. Use just a little and do not paint over and over on the nail with it, like you might with regular polish. I did one stroke on half the nail, then another stroke on the other half. Practice makes perfect!

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Tip #7
Apply a top coat. This WILL make your manicure and all of your hard work last longer. It also makes a shine on the Shatter that is very nice. Always go back with a cuticle stick dipped in nail polish remover to get rid of anything left around the cuticle and fingers. This really does make the manicure look more "polished." If you ever notice, manicurists get polish all over the cuticle and fingers all the time. A good manicurist knows how to use that cuticle stick to make a manicure look flawless. YOU CAN TOO!

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Tip #8
I always finish with cuticle oil. It gets rid of the dry skin around your nails and really makes the manicure shine. It also help speed up the drying process of your polish and keep your cuticles in good shape.  Tadaa! You're finished.

Here is a cool manicure I found on Pinterest. Anyone want to give it a try and let me know if it works?
This what they had to say about it..How fun!     1. Put on nail polish and let dry.  2. Dip fingernail in
alcohol-basically any will do, vodka is suggested.  3. Press a strip of
newspaper big enough to cover the whole nail on to your alcohol soaked nail.  4. 
Pull off slowly and be really impressed with yourself. 5. Paint top coat if
desired
Pam Duffy
7/28/2011 09:26:08 am

love the nail lesson. OPI colors are great and I love getting funky colors on my toes. I have been doing the shellac on my fingers and love it. The only trouble is, is that it isn't something you can do yourself!

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