Hot Summer.

Heat Wave

An interview with Deborah Lippmann, New York City manicurist and creator of Lippmann Collection Nail Polishes:

Cover your bases [degrees]Clean nails with a cotton ball soaked in remover, so there [macron]s no dirt stuck to them or oil to repel the polish, [+ or -] Lippmann says. [degrees]And don [macron]t ever skip basecoat. It helps color go on more smoothly, adhere better, and last longer. [+ or -]

Think thin [degrees]Thick, gloppy coats of polish peel off easily, so apply two thin layers instead. And be sure to wait a full two minutes between each coat you apply *there are solvents in nail lacquer that need to evaporate for the polish to adhere well. It [macron]ll seem like the process takes a long time, but trust me, the results will be worth it. [+ or -]

Top it off [degrees]A topcoat adds a layer of protection between rough sand and your polish *

plus, its glossy finish masks scuffs and imperfections. Since sun and chlorine can cause light shades of polish to yellow, use a topcoat with a UV inhibitor, available from most companies. Regular sunscreen lotions have oils that make polish more likely to come off sooner, so when you [macron]re applying one to your feet, be careful not to get any on your nails. Add another layer of topcoat whenever you notice the shine wearing away *

as long as it [macron]s a thin coat, you can reapply several times a week. [+ or -]