Brittle Nails
 Brittle nails can be caused by sun exposure, a poor diet or the prolonged use of commercial nail hardeners.
Solution:
Avoid the use of hardeners containing formaldehyde, which has a drying effect on nails, and try using a waterproof coating that seals moisture in the nail and repels water and dirt. Believe it or not, a waxy lip balm can be quite effective at softening nails. Moisturize with an oil or emollient.
There are several on the market, but a vitamin E capsule works just as well.
Dull Nails
 After a day or two, polished nails tend to look a bit dull.
Solution:
Hoof Lacquer, the secret weapon of manicurists, keeps nails looking like new. Purchase this product in your local equestrian shop.
Massage a drop of castor oil onto each nail and buff excess away with a tissue.
Your nails will have an all natural high gloss without polish
Artificial Nails
Although artificial nails can make your hands look more attractive, they can seriously damage your own nails.  Acrylic nails are the strongest and last the longest of all the nail overlays. The acrylic nails can
cause little weakening to the nail plate. Women choose acrylic nails as it is the most commonly-used artificial nail; Besides, if you travel a great deal, it will be easier for you to find a place to repair or fill in your manicure.
If applied and removed correctly, artificial nails do little damage to your nails, but they won't improve your nails or make them healthier cautions The worst offenders are the stick-on variety, which cause some of the nail surface to get torn away when they are removed.
Another problem is the glue, which can cause an allergic reaction. If water gets trapped under the fake nail, your real nail can turn green, and a fungal infection can set in. You need to maintain a regular visit to manicurist if you decide upon artificial nails.
Ingrown Nails
 Ingrown toenails are a common nail problem. The great toenails are particularly vulnerable. Improper nail trimming, tight shoes, or poor posture can cause a corner of the nail to curve downward into the skin. Ingrown nails can be painful and sometimes even lead to infection.
Solution:
Seek treatment for the condition rather than attempting to cut away the nail yourself, as infection may result.
 Split Nail
Apply quick-drying glue to the split, and let dry.
Smooth with a file or buffer.
Mend with a tea bag by cutting a tiny piece from the tea bag.
Cover the split, and dot on nail glue.
Let dry and smooth with a buffer.
Cosmetic Blunders
Thickened Nail Polish
After you've had nail polish for a while, it tends to thicken.
Rather than toss it, turn the bottle upside down, and roll it between your hands.
Don't ever add nail polish remover to thin nail polish.
Although it appears to thin it out temporarily, it will eventually dry the polish out and spoil whatever is left
When polish gets so goopy that the colors separate, it's too old to keep.
Get rid of it.
Chipped Polish
Use a file and smooth out the chipped polish until the ridge is even with the nail.
Apply polish only to the chipped area, and allow it to dry.
Re-coat the entire nail. Smudges
Apply polish remover to smudged polish to smooth out.
Let it dry, and follow up with a thin coat of polish.
Sounds Fishy
When you're looking for a superior nail enamel, locate the type that contains ground herring scales.
This strange ingredient is known in the industry as natural pearl.
It gives polish its extra shine and causes it to stay pure for
a longer period of time.
 Short-Life Manicures
There are new products on the market that will allow a manicure to last twice as long.
One example is Mega Hard by L'Oreal.
This hardener contains Kevlar, the same hi-tech material used in bulletproof vests.
Also try One Step by Orly, which contains both Kevlar and raw silk fibers.
More Tips
- Let fingers rest at least a day between manicures.This allows the nail a chance to "breathe".
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar to a dollop of hand cream, and massage the entire hand.This smoothes and softens.
- Always wash hands thoroughly before a manicure.If it's necessary to clean hands after nails are done, use a cleansing pad.Soap and water washes away protective creams left over from the manicure.
- Use an old eyeliner brush dipped in nail polish remover to clean up a messy manicure.
- Look for Teflon, the trademarked name that revolutionized the cooking industry, in nail products.
- Use a face mask to treat your hands and feet.Hydrating masks work especially well.Gently file nails every other day to keep tips smooth and prevent snags and breaking.
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