DIY Professional Looking Manicures and Fingernail Art

Step 3 Nail Shaping

Healthy nails grow strong and hard. Frequent nail care also encourages healthy nail growth. Every six months you have new fingernails, from cuticle to tip. The rate of growth of healthy nails is about an eighth inch a month. "Just like the eyes are the window to the soul, so are the nails," says Tamara Lior, MD, a dermatologist with Cleveland Clinic Florida.

If your nails break often they are likely too long for your lifestyle. Chipping and flaking nails can be a sign of poor health or lack of vitamins. Google fingernail health for articles on conditions that may indicate through nails. There are also products available that can help most nail issues, check the OPI website; tab Beauty Consult; sub-tab Nail Rx.

Shape Nail

Shape each nail first to the length you desire. Here is a good place to check OPI's web page and use the 'Try-On This Color' tab. It allows you to experiment with nail lengths for preference and see what you are most comfortable with.

Nails look best either by mimicking the natural rounded shape of the fingertip or when longer with a flat center with rounded corners. The diamond dust file is perfect for this job. Remember with frequent nail care, little nail material is filed. File your nails in one direction and round the tip slightly, rather than filing to a point. After filing clean each nail with the nail polish remover again to remove the nail dust.