Clean nails that have been polished and taken care of can certainly add to the beauty of your shapely hands and add to your overall personality. Nail polishes help you in enhancing the beauty of your nails and hands. This is a fact that women have been aware of for centuries.

Choosing the right nail polish can go a long way in ensuring that your nails get the best beauty enhancement. The very first step in choosing the right nail polish is to take basic care of your nails. So first of all let's look at a few tips that will help you take special care of your nails.

Nail care
Taking good care of your nails involves getting proper nourishment; avoiding excessive contact with damaging material and taking due care while working. Household chores can be damaging to your nails because many of the solvents and cleaners that are used are not meant for your skin or nails. It is a good practice to wear gloves while you are doing household chores, particularly when you are handling suspect material.

Choosing the color
Cherry red, pink, coralthese are some of the colors in which you get your nail polish. You can even get them in green or yellow, and look good in them if you know how to use them. How do you choose the color of your nail polish? You should choose a shade such that it will enhance your beauty. That would depend on your complexion. Fair complexion will go well with almost any color, darker colors being more effective in striking a contrast. If you are dark skinned, lighter shades should suit you better. Shades such as red and rich brown would also suit darker skins.

You can also choose between glossy or matte shades. The polish that you choose should match your general appearance, your clothes and jewelry and other makeup. To make you task easier, some companies offer makeup kits that contain matching items covering all the makeup items that you will need.

For formal or semi formal occasions and first meetings, light colors and basic neutrals are best. If your toenails are exposed, you can choose matching nail polish for your toes and fingernails.

Ultimately, though, choosing the color of your nail polish is a very personal decision that you have to make, depending on what your personal preferences are and what kind of a personality you project.

Other considerations
Quick drying nail polishes are available that will dry quickly, but they may also tend to chip off easily. Strong and longer lasting nail polishes are also available. Depending on your need and environment you can choose one of these. Strong chip resistant nail polish should be preferable for daily wear, as you will not need to touch these up frequently. You can also get strong chip resistant and quick drying nail polishes.

While choosing your nail polish you should also consider your general health and allergies. If you have sensitive skin, you should choose hypoallergenic and unscented nail polishes.

Applying nail polish
There are some basic facts that you can keep in mind while applying nail polish. First of all, remove all traces of the existing polish from your nails. Apply a base coat first. After this, apply two coats of the nail enamel. Apply the polish in a few large strokes rather than several small strokes.