Low-maintenance manis & pedis

If you're a DIY type, regular nail care doesn't take much work, says Leeanne Colley, Revlon nail expert and owner of Tips Nail Bar in Toronto. All you need are a few minutes and the right tools to get a professional-looking manicure or pedicure. Click through this gallery for great tips and tools!

Keep nails neatly filed to an even length. Reminder: Cut and file toenails straight across to maintain a natural shape and avoid trouble with ingrown nails. The secret to soft and smooth feet is incorporating them into your daily skin-care routine. "Put a foot file in the shower so you can quickly buff soles and heels every couple of days," says Colley. Then apply moisturizer as soon as you step out of the shower, while your skin is still damp, to seal in moisture.


Where to Buy? Tweezerman Matchbox itty Bitty Files, $5, sephora.com

For super-soft hands, rinse them in warm water before you apply moisturizer to keep them extra-hydrated.


Where to Buy? Protective Hand Cream, $13, cliniderm.ca

When you're crazy pressed for time, a quick drop of oil massaged into each cuticle and bare nail delivers an instant hit of moisture. Keep cuticles under control by pushing them back with a cuticle pusher (while they're still moist) and by trimming them, if necessary, with a cuticle trimmer.
Where to Buy? OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go, $20, sephora.com

After perfecting your cuticles, file your nails to a neat, uniform shape — and even go a step further and buff each nail to a shine with a nail buffer.
Where to Buy? Revlon Crazy shine Nail Buffer, $6 for two, well.ca

Quick-dry polish is definitely your friend if you can't get to a salon for a coat of colour. "A base coat is a must for filling in ridges and protecting the nail from stains," says Colley. You can skip the top coat, but a fresh layer every other day can make your mani last longer, she explains. Chip-resistant polish means fewer trips to the home manicure table. Some brands promise up to 11 chip-free days of wear.


Where to Buy? L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche polish, $7, well.ca

Having trouble colouring within the lines? Try a corrector pen to make it undeniably salon perfect!
Where to Buy? Precision Nail Polish Corrector Pen, $10, sephora.com

If you like, skip chips and wet nails altogether with polish strips. Thin sheets of dry polish adhere to nails sans glue, and last up to 10 days. They come in a range of colours and patterns and only take moments to apply.


Where to Buy? Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips, $10 for 16 strips, well.ca