The long hot summer is over, and with it goes summer makeup and beauty care. Fall, with its cooler weather has a whole different set of beauty problems. Here are some tips to keep you looking fresh this fall.

Hair Care

Make sure to deep condition your hair once a week. The dryer air and cooler temps of the fall can dry out your locks in a heartbeat. You don’t want your hair looking as dull as the dead leaves littering the ground. Deep conditioning treatments will keep your hair soft, shiny and healthy.

Try not to shampoo as frequently. Try every other day if you can.

Use a leave in conditioner. You might think your hair gets less damage in the autumn, but you’d be wrong. We all tend to shed more hair during the fall, so conditioner your hair and strengthen that new hair right from the beginning.

Skin care

As the winds pick up and the air grows cooler, you’re going to be more prone to dryness and chapping. Make sure you use a daily moisturizer with a sunscreen during the day. Use a night moisturizer as well, to keep down the chapping and dry skin. Also, use a moisturizing body wash, to keep the rest of your skin from drying out.

Make sure to exfoliate during the fall. You’ll avoid that flaky, dull skin you can get in cooler, windy weather. Just make sure you moisturize well afterward.

Nail care

Colder air also makes your nails more brittle. File them on a regular basis, to avoid snags or breakage. Use a nail and cuticle moisturizer to minimize brittleness and dryness.

Eye care

Just as your skin can be dryer in the autumn, so can the tender, delicate skin around your eyes. Make sure to use a moisturizer specifically for eyes. If you’ve got puffiness and dark circles, drink more water and use an eye serum.

Lip care

Your lips can be prone to chapping and peeling in the cool fall wind. Use a tinted lip balm during the day to combat dryness. For night wear, a moisturizing lip stick is best.

So, what do you think? If you’ve got any more fall beauty tips, make sure to leave a comment on our Facebook page, send them to me on twitter, or leave a comment on this blog.

Your polish looks great – but when you take it off, your nails are yellowed and discolored. That’s not good. You want your nails white and pretty. You might want to wear clear nail polish or a translucent pink, and you don’t want the yellowing to show through. What can you do?

You can soak your nails in denture cleaner. Yes, you read that right. Leave your nails in the solution for about five minutes, rinse, and dry. You’ll be amazed at how white your nails are, and it won’t damage your skin, cuticles, or weaken your nails.

If you’re not up for that, try mixing a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with three tablespoons baking soda. Use a cotton swab to dab all over your nails. Make sure to pack it underneath them, too. It’s going to be thick, so it will stay under there. Leave it for about five minutes, then rinse and dry. This might make your hands a little dry, so moisturize afterward, especially the cuticles.

You can also get a nail whitening pencil and run it under your nails for an ultra white look. It’s a great quick fix when you have somewhere to go and you don’t have time to whiten. It takes only seconds – but keep in mind that this is just camouflage. Your nails won’t really be white. They’ll just look better temporarily.

How do you whiten your nails? Let me know on twitter, facebook, or leave me a message here on the blog.

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.

Nail biting is a common habit. It is usually not a serious problem, but it can become habitual, and it’s a nasty habit. It’s also a habit that can cause bacterial infections, bleeding, and even permanent nail damage, not to mention that it makes your manicure look horrible. It’s common during the teenage years, when about half of all people bite their nails to some degree. With some people, however, the habit lasts into adulthood.

How to stop biting your nails:

First, consider why you’re biting them. Is it merely a habit, or is it a response to stress? Many people don’t even notice when they’re biting their nails, they’ve become so conditioned to doing so. If it’s stress, however, ask yourself what stressful situations cause you to bite your nails. Work pressures, frustration, nerves, or any combination of these can cause you to feel stressed and out of control. If you’re a nail biter, this can send your fingers right into your mouth.

Make a plan to help you keep you from biting your nails. Go over the plan daily, and see how you’ve done. If it isn’t working, try to tweak the plan until it does.

If you’re biting your nails when you’re stressed, try to relax. Do deep breathing exercises when you feel pressured. Every time your hand goes to your mouth, make a conscious decision not to bite or chew. Every time you go a day without biting your nails, reward yourself. Watch a movie you like, or have an ice cream bar. It doesn’t matter what the reward is as long as it is something you like.

Give yourself a manicure. Nail polish in a pretty color can make you think twice about biting your nails. At the very least, put a clear top coat on your nails. Not only will it make them look better, it will make your nails stronger and harder to bite. The unfamiliar texture might keep you from biting, as well.

Condition your cuticles and nails, even if you don’t do a full manicure. The unfamiliar taste of the cream or oil will make you think twice about putting your fingers in your mouth.

A nail hardening regimen with a protein formula nail hardener can build a strong nail foundation resistant to peeling, chipping and splitting. That means less breaks, stronger nails, and less damage from biting.

Even if you’re not able to stop biting your nails completely, you’ll lessen the damage to your nails if you can keep them out of your mouth. Do you bite your nails? Did you break yourself from this habit? Let me know on twitter, facebook, or just leave me a comment here on the blog.

I manicure my nails at home. How about you? At first, I wasn’t very good at it and it took me a long time. Now, my nails look great, and I can whip through a manicure in no time. It was a trial and error process for me. Here are some tips and tricks to help you with your own manicure.

Sally Hansen’s Teflon Tuff Extra Strength nail protector makes my nails long, strong, and chip free. It’s a 10 day protective shield for weak, soft nails. Once I even slammed my hand in the car door – and the nail didn’t break!

Eat plenty of calcium.

Don’t forget to moisturize your hands. And rub a moisturizer into the nail bed and cuticles, as well. Nailtiques Oil Cuticle Therapy is a good one that helps keep nails strong. It seals in moisture and keeps them healthy.

Massage your nail beds. (Not the cuticle, the nail itself.) It increases blood flow and stimulates nail growth.

Groom your nails weekly. File them and give them some shape. Then either put a clear coat of polish on them, or put on colored nail polish. It will keep your nails stronger, and they’ll look fabulous.

Keep your cuticles pushed back, but only push them back when they’re wet. Otherwise, it’s going to hurt, and you’re going to get tearing. After a bath or shower is a great time to push back cuticles. Alternatively, you can soak your hands in warm water with a little olive oil thrown in. It will soften your cuticles and your hands at the same time.

Don’t bite your nails.

If you’re a nail biter:

Have any home manicure tips of your own? Hit me up on twitter, Facebook, or let me know 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.

Nothing is more beautiful on a woman than beautifully manicured nails, in my opinion. They do, however, require some care and maintenance. The current shape trend is nails that are straight across the top with a rounded edge, but any nail that is well manicured looks good, so don’t let trends keep you from wearing what you think looks best on you. I have short, square-tipped fingers so I let mine grow out past the tip and then round them gently. I do my own nail care, and here are some tips for you:

Filing Your Nails:
File your nails when the white part of the nail tip has grown out at least a quarter inch from the pink part of the nail. If you file too soon, it can weaken the nail. Filing from side to side weakens your nails, so make sure you don’t do that. When you’re filing, go from the corner to the center in one direction. Then start on the other corner and go to the center from there.

Buffing Your Nails:
Buff your nails for a shinier finish. Start at the cuticle and work your way down to the tip, but don’t press too hard. Just use a light to medium pressure. Buff in one direction; don’t use a back and forth movement as heat will build up and damage your nails. Buff lightly until all the ridges on the nail surface have disappeared.

Base Coat:
Always use a Base Coat when polishing your nails, and let it dry for at least one minute. The Base Coat helps keep your nail polish from chipping and makes your polish last longer.

Applying Nail Polish:
Always apply two coats of nail polish when you’re doing your own manicure. Cover your nail with polish in three strokes, one on each side and then one in the middle. I usually apply one coat to each hand and then apply the second coat on the hand I started with. One caveat, however: The darker the polish, the longer the drying time it requires. You might have to wait a few minutes in between if you’re putting a dark red nail polish on as opposed to a light pink.

Top Coat:
Once your nail polish has dried completely, apply a clear Top Coat to seal it. If you put a new layer of Top Coat on every day, your manicure will stay fresh and beautiful for much longer.

Do you do your own manicure or nail care? Have any tips for me? Tell me on twitter, facebook,or just leave 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.