You’re going to be wearing a lot of sandals this summer if you’re like me. It’s just too hot to wear closed in shoes all the time. That’s a problem if you haven’t actually been keeping up with your pedicures. Should you do your own pedicures, or pay someone else to do them?

If you’re going to have someone else do them, there are a few things to keep in mind.

No matter what your manicurist tells you, emery boards can’t be sterilized. If they’re using them on more than one customer, you run the risk of having foot fungus or bacteria transferred to you. Bring your own, or make sure they get a new one out just for you.

Make sure your toenails are clipped using an actual toenail clipper, one with a straight edge. Curved or rounded toenails have a greater tendency to become ingrown. Your toenails should be cut straight across.

Don’t ever cut the calluses on your feet or let anyone else do it. You should soak your feet, and then rub gently with a pumice stone to remove calluses. If you cut them, you run the risk of infection. And it’s very painful!

And speaking of soaking – are the foot baths emptied after each use? If they’re not, do you really want to soak your feet in water that someone else has already used? If they don’t change them after each customer – don’t stick your feet in that water.

Don’t clip your cuticles, or let anyone else do it. Gently push your softened cuticles back with an orange stick or manicure stick with a rubber tip. Cutting your cuticles can cause infections.

Pick a fun, summer color nail polish. Your toes are going to be on show this summer, so why not make them bright and pretty? Just make sure to change the polish once a week. It also doesn’t hurt to leave polish off for a day or two, to let the nail bed breathe.

It’s not hard to give yourself a pedicure, though it is a nice treat to let someone else do. Do you do your own pedicures? Let me know on twitter, Facebook, or leave me a message here on the blog.

Summer is here, and with it, new nail trends. Guess what one of the hottest trends in nail polish is this summer? Pink! They’re also trending blue or gold, neither of which I’ll try. Too young and trendy for me.

I wear a lot of pinks, so I can get behind this trend. They flatter every skin tone, and they go from casual to dressy with no problem. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Essie Pinking up the Pieces is a lovely summer nail polish color. It goes well with nearly everything, and it’s neither too dark nor too light. I wear this color a lot, and it looks great whether I’m wearing jeans or I’m all dressed up and raring to go. It’s a great summer color. Super shimmery and iridescent, it nearly glows in the hot summer sun. That puts attention on your hands, so make sure they look good!

The hot pink bubble gum color of Rio nail polish by Nailtiques is ultra summer fashion. Go with one coat for subtlety, or knock them out with bright color with two or even three coats. It’s a fun color with a lot of shimmery shine, and the top coat makes it really glossy. As a bonus, it’s a two in one treatment and color that makes your nails stronger and healthier. Beautiful color and cover, and it’s good for your nails, as well. You can’t beat that in a nail polish.

What are some of your favorite nail polish colors? Would you wear the blue or gold nail polish that’s also trending right now? Let me know on twitter, facebook, or just leave a comment here.

Nails are usually healthier when you keep them natural and naturally shaped. All they need is a little TLC to stay healthy and beautiful. Healthy, natural nails aren’t hard to maintain.

Of course, a lot of women like to grow their nails out long or use tips. You might also have acrylic nails, or change your nail polish frequently. If you do this, your nails will require a little extra maintenance. Moisturize regularly to keep your nails strong and beautiful.

Long nails are weaker than short nails. If you find your long nails are too flexible, a nail hardener helps to minimize chipping, breaking, and peeling.

Frequent nail splitting and breaking can actually mean that you are dehydrated. Make sure to drink plenty of water if this happens to you, and use a nail or cuticle moisturizer.

Don’t clip your nails if you want them shorter. Use an emery board and file them down to size.

Apply a top coat to help protect your nails and keep them stronger.

Use nail polish remover infrequently and try to stay away from those with acetone. Use moisturizing nail polish remover whenever possible. Many nail care professionals suggest that you use nail polish remover no more than once a week.

Use hand lotion or moisturizing lotion every time you wash your hands. Soaps tend to dry out nails and hands, and can make your cuticles dry and ragged. Moisturize your hands at night when you go to bed, and anytime you get your hands wet.

The cuticle protects the nail and keeps out bacteria. Instead of cutting the cuticle, push them back gently with a rosewood stick or a cuticle pusher. Do this after showering or bathing, or soak your hands first to soften your cuticles.

The best time to do your manicure is after showering or bathing. Your nails and cuticles will be clean and softened, and make your manicure easier.

Don’t peel or scrape off your nail polish! You can actually scrape off the nail surface, and that’s what keeps your nails safe from infection. Likewise, don’t use anything metal on the surface of your nail.

Don’t bite your nails. You can transfer bacteria into your mouth, and you can get a nail or cuticle infection.

Do you have any tips for healthy nails? Tell me on twitter, facebook, or leave me a message here on the blog.

Sally Hansen Teflon Tuff Extra Strength Nail Protector is on sale, via the Daily Deal! 23% off, making this a heck of a deal! This is a great summer product; your nails are vulnerable during the summertime because you typically spend more time out of doors and the harsh summer sun can dry them out. My nails really dry out in the summertime and all the extra activity affords me many more chances to damage my nails and ruin my manicure. If you spend a lot of time at the pool this summer, Sally Hansen Nail Protector is a must-have nail care product; all the extra water exposure can definitely make your nails weaker.

Sally Hansen Teflon Tuff gives nails a line of defense against the everyday abuse they get. It provides your nails with incredible hardness, smoothness and toughness. When you use this nail strengthening product, your nails will be resistant to moisture, abrasion and the daily abuse we subject them to. It’s fortified with polymers that help reinforce nail strength, and it contains Pro-Vitamin B5 to moisturize, as well.

It’s a 10 day protective shield for weak, soft, or fragile nails. You just paint it on; you can put it on alone, underneath your polish or use it as a top coat. It’s got UV protection in it, so it keeps your nail polish looking good longer, as well. How’s that for a bonus?

Have you ever used Sally Hansen Teflon Tuff Extra Strength Nail Protector? How did it work for you? I’m fond of Sally Hansen nail care products; I think they work as well or better than very expensive salon brands. Tell me your opinion. You can let me know on twitter, Facebook, or leave me a comment here on the blog.

If your cuticles (the skin immediately around your fingernails) are ragged and dry, the whole look of your manicure can be ruined. My cuticles are prone to dryness and hangnails, and I’ve often bemoaned their very existence. I don’t bite them…anymore…but I fight a constant battle to keep them looking good. For years, I went around looking like I’d been scraping out the dog’s dish with my fingertips, but no more: I’ve found some ways to make sure that my cuticles always look nice.

Moisturize your cuticles.
Even if you put lotion on your hands every day, your cuticles can be dry. They just dry out easier than the rest of the skin on your hands. You need to rub moisturizer into the cuticles themselves, not just your hands. If you’re doing this already and they’re still dry, do it twice. Nailtiques Oil Cuticle Therapy is a good choice for dry cuticles. It moisturizes, seals, and protects your cuticles against dryness.

Only push back your cuticles when they’re wet.
Use an orange stick, rosewood stick, or something non-metal to push them back when you get out of the shower or after soaking them in a bowl of warm water. They’re easier to do that way, and you will protect yourself from tears or cuts.

Don’t cut or bite dry cuticles.
Your cuticles keep your nails protected by keeping out bacteria. If you bite them or cut them, they can’t do this. No matter how much you want to, don’t do it. Your fingers won’t look any better and you might get an infection. Sometimes, however, I get hangnails. So what do I do then?

Trim your hangnails carefully.
If after all this moisturizing you still get a hangnail, cut it carefully. You don’t want to cause any sort of infection. Make sure you use a sharp cuticle cutter and that you’ve disinfected it with alcohol or peroxide. Then, as soon as it’s done, put some sort of antibacterial lotion onto the area.

So, do you think you can keep your cuticles – and your manicure – looking good now? I’ve got another tip for you: During the rest of the month of May, all nail care products are 10% off at StocknGo. Use code NAILS10 at checkout until May 31, 2011. You can make your hands look pretty and well-cared for, and save money doing it. Share this coupon with your friends and family, and let them take advantage of this offer before time runs out. That’s not a deal you should pass up, so head on over to StocknGo and get yours now. Share this on twitter and Facebook, if you are so inclined.

StocknGo appreciates their customers, and every Wednesday we prove it by giving you a special coupon. This week, I let out a ‘squee!’ when I saw the promo code and what it was for. You’re already saving up to 51% at StocknGo on nail care products, and now you’re getting another 10% off. That’s amazing – and it gives you amazing prices. You can only use the code once, so make sure you’ve got every kind of nail care product you could possibly want in your cart when you check out. I don’t know about you, but for me…that’s going to be a lot of nail stuff. Use code NAILS10 at checkout. The offer expires May 31st, so look around the site and place your order before then.

StocknGo has quality nail care brands like Essie, Opi, and Nailtiques. There are tons of colors of nail polish to choose from, along with base and top coats, and nail and cuticle treatments.

Excuse me while I go and drool over some nail polish… I need some new colors for summer. I’m thinking something like Essie Nude Beach. It’s a sheer, glimmering pink and I’m betting it will be great on my fingernails and toes on those casual summer days. What do you think?

At Stockngo, you’re getting the best prices possible on health and beauty products . With our Price Beat Guarantee, you get the best prices on the internet, and that’s a promise. Even if you’ve already purchased something and find it at a lower price elsewhere, we’ll pay you back the price difference.

Share this coupon with your friends and family, and let them take advantage of this offer before time runs out. Up to 61% off nail care products! That’s not a deal you should pass up, so head on over to StocknGo and get yours now.

And don’t stop there: Share it on twitter and Facebook, as well. Let me know what nail care products you bought there, too, or leave me a comment here on the blog.

10% Off Nail Care
Code – NAILS10
Expiration – May 31, 2011