ace of base

whether you're sporting a neutral manicure, or bright nail polish, the best way to maintain chip-free, glossy colour is by using a quality base and top coat on your nails. here are my favourite products to ensure that your manicure lasts weeks without chipping...

base coat: china glaze strong adhesion

acting as a primer for nails, this varnish preps the nails for polish by filling in ridges and preventing discolouration from dark, pigmented nail varnishes. this product also allows the surface of the nail to adhere better to nail polish once it is applied, giving it even more of a finish.

what i really like about this base coat is how strongly the nail polish adheres to it, allowing for an easier, smoother application. As well, this product dries really quickly, so you can apply nail polish over top after only a couple seconds of drying time,

(this product retails for about $6 and is available at sally's beauty supply stores in canada, or online at www.sallybeauty.com)

top coat: seche vite dry fast top coat

this product is by far the best top coat i've ever used (a manicure once lasted almost two weeks on my nails after i applied this top coat). it leaves nails looking really vivid and glossy.

what i like about this top coat is its ability to make any polish (whether drugstore or high-end) last longer and look professionally applied at the same time. as an added bonus, this top coat has a fast-drying formula, which cuts the drying time down to around ten minutes. seche vite top coat bonds to the nail varnish, leaving behind a shiny, durable finish.

(this product retails for around $8 and is available at sally's beauty supply stores in canada, or online at www.sallybeauty.com)

- tanya

thairapy

well friends, it's pretty much summer (although today's weather hasn't quite taken the hint) and i, for one, can't wait for days at the beach and evenings on patios. unfortunately, between sun-induced highlights and chlorinated pool water, our hair is going to be taking quite a toll. luckily for all of us, tanya has tips for any hair-type, on any budget.

x elizabeth

favourite high-end product: moroccan oil

this hair treatment is an amazing product for all hair types, as it moisturizes and conditions, leaving hair soft and shiny. moroccan oil contains a product called argan oil, which helps treat and repair damaged hair. it also helps speed up the drying process on wet hair, so it's perfect if you're in a rush to style hair after getting out of the shower. although it contains oil as an ingredient, the product absorbs quickly into hair and does not leave behind an oily residue.

how to use it: dispense one pump of moroccan oil and rub the product into your hands before applying to the ends of your hair. apply to damp or dry hair.

moroccan oil retails for about $40 and can be purchased at www.morrocanoilproducts.com.


favourite drugstore product: aussie 3-minute miracle

for under $4, aussie 3-minute miracle is a must-have conditioning treatment. this product completely repairs and treats damaged hair and always leaves it looking healthy and glossy. i always notice a huge difference in the texture of my hair after i rinse out this product.

how to use it: shampoo and rinse hair prior to applying the product. dispense a quarter-sized amount onto wet hair, leave it for a couple minutes, then rinse out thoroughly.

aussie 3-minute miracle retails for about $4 and is available at shopper's drug mart.

- tanya