Admittedly, I am a nail polish wearing addict. I usually change my colors once every 5 days or even less, depending on time constraints and my interest in the current color. Also, with my poor polishing skills, my nail color do not usually last longer than 5 days, so a retouch was always inevitable, so might as well start with a clean slate (my usual reasoning for a color change).

Unfortunately, my nails do take a beating with the exposure of acetone (in nail polish removers) when I remove the old color for the new.  And adding glitter embellishments makes it worse since I would use double the amount of nail polish remover to rid of these pesky leftovers. Someone suggested getting shellac nails but considering that I have low tolerance for long term commitments, money will be wasted on a long term investment. So I researched and taken these tips to practice and have seen tremendous results on my nails!

1. Use a non-toxic nail polish remover. I use acetone-free nail polish removers that were less harsh on my nails and provides much needed nutrients to regain its strength and beauty. I use Piggy Paint Nail Polish Remover ($8.99), which contains aloe vera and vitamin E and Priti NYC Soy Nail Polish Remover Wipes ($10).

2. Give your nails a one day break and nourish it with oils. I find that its nice to give my nails a bit of freedom to breath as opposed to being constantly coated in color. I also found that nourishing my nails with oils strengthen my cuticles and made the surface smooth and ready to polish. Try Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil ($49) which could also be used for hair, face and body (see review on Argan Oil)  or Dr. Hauschka Neem Nail Oil ($39.95).

3. Eat a healthy diet. Super important! I confess I am a junk food addict. Especially during the winter, when I would skip dinner and opt for cookies, cakes, candies and chips (rolos and popcorn for dinner usually happened 3 times a week). It definitely reflected on my nails, my cuticles being dry and brittle. Once I added seaweed, regular veggies high in iron (think spinach and kale) and grains (brown rice), my nails looked healthier and a lot sturdier.

Hopefully these tips help for those of you who change polish frequently. Treat your nails like your face, with great care and delicacy for beautiful longevity.

How do you maintain your manicure? What tips and tricks do you use?