The Dark Side: Avoid Staining Your Nails

Cooler weather means deeper, darker shades in not only clothing, but also nail polish. If you like going over to the dark side, then you may be concerned about the effects those reds, browns and blacks have on your nails. Reds, burgundies, browns and oranges contain dark pigments that can stain. And those fashionable dark blues and blacks can leave your fingers looking like they belong to a Smurf. The most obvious way to get rid of stains is not to get them in the first place. Before you paint dark hues, be sure to use a high-quality clear base coat. It'll not only protect nails and cuticles, but also will fill ridges and irregularities in the nail's surface, giving you a smoother look overall. Manicurists recommend bringing the clear coat a little past the nail bed and onto the cuticles to keep the color away from them as well.