pretty nail polish. You can also use-a nail strengthener and a clear varnish for a top coat if wished. A manicure need not take long — under 30 minutes even

if you are polishing your nails and waiting for them to dry before applying the top protective coat of clear varnish.

1. Remove any old nail polish with a special oil- based remover using cotton wool pads.
2. File the nails to an oval shape with an emery board, filing from each side upwards towards the centre. Don’t file back and forth.

3. Gently massage in some cuticle cream and then soak for a few minutes in warm soapy water. Remove any dirt with a soft nail brush.

4. Use an orange stick tipped with cotton wool to gently push back the cuticles and remove any dead skin. Dip it in cuticle cream to do this. Dry your

5. Now you can apply polish if wished. If your nails are inclined to be brittle, start off by applying a base coat of nail strengthener. When it is dry,

apply a colored polish. Dark polish tends to make nails look longer; pale pearly polishes diminish them.

6. When the polish is thoroughly dry, you may wish to apply another coat. Dry and then apply a protective, hardening, clear top coat to prevent any unsightly

chipping which may occur.

Now you should start taking special care of your nails. Just as pregnancy affects the skin in different ways, some women find that their nails become

stronger than ever while a minority complains of brittle, split ones. As a general rule, nails tend to grow faster and stronger during pregnancy, especially

if you are eating a healthy diet that supplies plenty of calcium and iron. Taking an iron supplement also tends to make nails healthier. Often, nails are

brittle and tend to break easily in the first three months of pregnancy while your body is adjusting to the new stresses imposed on it and then improve in

the last two trimesters. If you want to have beautiful hands and nails throughout your pregnancy you should follow these guidelines:

1. Always wear rubber gloves when washing-up and doing household chores such as cleaning, washing and dusting.

2. Wear strong gloves when gardening to protect the hands from dirt, thorns and chemicals.

3. Apply moisturizing hand cream every day, especially after washing your hands which can be drying, and in winter when they may become dry and chafed.

Nails should be pink, smooth, strong and flexible – not brittle, ridged and mottled with white spots. They are made of keratin, a form of protein, and their

health is directly related to your diet. A doctor can tell a lot about your general state of inner health by examining your nails. The nutrients you need

are: 1 Vitamin A to help prevent nails splitting and breaking. Liver, cod liver oil, carrots, yellow fruit and vegetables, dried apricots and dark green

leafy vegetables will all help promote healthy nails.

2. Vitamin B deficiency can cause nails to look ridged and to split easily. A daily helping of brewer’s yeast and yoghurt will help right matters.

3. Iron helps make nails look pink and healthy – pale; weak nails may be a result of a lack of this important mineral in your diet. Eat a weekly helping of

liver together with eggs, whole-grain cereals and leafy green vegetables. They are best taken with a source of vitamin C for better absorption – oranges,

baked potato, tomatoes and peppers, for instance.

4. Zinc is rather an overlooked mineral in our food and is often deficient in women who tend to eat an over-refined and processed diet. A tell-tale sign of

zinc deficiency is white spots on the nails. A zinc supplement taken with plenty of fresh dark green vegetables, whole-grain cereals, meat and seafood often clears up nail problems.

5. Calcium in milk, cheese, eggs, yoghurt and sardines helps keep nails strong and healthy-looking.

6. Protein is the main constituent of nails and therefore it is an essential element in your diet, either from animal or vegetable sources.

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