TEN DAYS ‘TIL THE ROYAL WEDDING
Engagement Ready Nails!

By DIVAGALS | April 19, 2011 | Lifestyle

Our Ten Days ‘Til the Royal Wedding continues…

Prince William proposed to his bride-to-be Kate Middleton with the sapphire and diamond ring his father Prince Charles gave to his mum, Princess Diana. You know that sparkler is a show-stopper!

Of course, no one will notice the priceless gem if Kate’s nails aren’t on point, so we turned to nail expert and guest contributor Barbara Mutnick for some much-needed nail advice. Barbara is one of the top personal nail artists in New York City, and has worked with such high profile devotees as Barbara Walters. Here are her top tips in getting nails in perfect condition to show off that engagement ring!

Let Them Breathe. After a winter of dark polishes, your nails need to breathe a little, Barbara advises. “Take off your polish and keep your entire nail lubricated. Use a little olive or nail oil them to prep them for the lighter colors we wear in spring.”

Take Your Vitamins. The key to healthy nails starts within. Barbara suggests taking a vitamin designed for hair and nail care. “Look for ones with biotin, a B-complex vitamin that encourages nail growth,” Barbara explains.

Don’t Cut to the Chase. You’ve already put your foot down when it comes to the dress, location and table settings. So leave your cuticles alone. “Two months before the big day, lather up with lots of hand and cuticle cream at night, and wear cotton gloves to bed so your hands will be soft and gorgeous on the big day,” Barbara suggests.

To Fake or Not To Fake? Barbara’s pretty firm on this one. “Absolutely not,” she declares. “They ruin your real nails, and what if one pops off during the ceremony? Short and natural will best keep the focus your gorgeous ring.”

Barbara’s favorite colors for the Big Day include Essie Sugar Daddy and Mademoiselle for lighter skin tones. For darker skin, Barbara prefers a more beige palette, so she turns to Essie Spaghetti Strap and Fed Up.

Are you in the New York City area? You can have Barbara do your nails personally! Check out her website, www.barbaramutnicknails, for more information on her in-home personal services, and look for our special offer from Barbara’s Nails at the end of the month!