Hair's the Scoop

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Below, professional manicurist Deborah Lippmann— who's groomed every A-Lister from Sarah Jessica Parker to Kate Winslet— shares her secrets for a long-lasting manicure, top color picks and puts to rest the age-old question: to cut or not to cut.

What's the secret to a long-lasting manicure, is it in the choice of polish or the application (or both)?
A secret to a long-lasting manicure is in both the polish and the application. A good quality polish will last longer if it doesn’t have a quick-dry or matte formula. Application is important as well. To get the longest wear from your manicure, start with a base coat. Then polish your nails with two thin coats. It’s important to wait a few minutes between coats to ensure the polish dries all the way through each layer. Finish with a non quick-dry top coat to lengthen your manicure even more.

Do you feel one's hands and feet should match, or are complimentary colors a more modern/current look?
The new trend for spring is matchy matchy. A lot of the designers at fashion week were debuting matching hands and feet with more modern, opaque colors.

It seems that square is the shape du jour, but a round nail is considered to be more flattering. Which finish do you personally prefer? Does one's choice of color play a role?
I love an almond shaped nail. To achieve the almond nail, file away the sides to create a tapered shape—just like an almond. The idea is to create an elegant, elongated shape, not a severe point. Neutral shades of pinks and beige perfectly complement the gentle curve of the almond nail. The natural, feminine hues make the fashion-forward shape wearable. For luxury designer campaigns like Roberto Cavalli and Dior, I accentuated the almond nail with Fashion, an opaque nude shade that’s subtle yet editorial.

What five shades of nail lacquer do you feel every woman should own?
Every woman should own a deep purple, a good red, a sheer pink, an opaque nude and a fun bright shade.

To cut or not to cut?
Never cut, always use a cuticle remover and push them back.

To view Deborah's step-by-step tutorial on "The Perfect Manicure" visit LippmannCollection.com.

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