How to file nails properly...

The tips of some of my nails look like this (~) - what do I do please as I would like them to be straight? I wear nail polishes by Leighton Denny and Nails Inc every other day and on others they have just ProStrong. My friends can't believe the transformation in 8 weeks - rhat's how long it's been since I last bit my nails.

Alison: I think the problem here is with how you file your nails. You may be not filing them correctly or using a soft emery board that's not giving a good enough quality file at the end of the nail.

I'd recommend the Nails Inc glass nail file or the Leighton Denny crystal nail file to achieve that smooth, filled-in finish at the end of the nail. Also, make sure your paint your nail colours, as well as your base and top coats and cuticle oil, to the very end of your nails and underneath the tip of the nail to seal it in. This should help to keep them strong and prevent them from snagging.

As your nails are growing up from the nail bed, you may want to add an extra layer of your ProStrong Nail Strengthener to the end of your nails, where it can become more fragile. If this doesn't work, then you could try the ProStrong building formulas to help thicken and seal the end of the nail - such as capsules of ProStrong Nail Thickening Serum once a week smoothed on to the end of the naked nail. You can use these underneath your Leighton Denny nail varnishes.

For dry, sensitive hands with nails breaking constantly...

I'm 36 and over the last 12 months my hands are getting very dry and sensitive, especially the fingers. The nails keep breaking and I have hard dry skin around the nail which becomes very sore and hurts. Is there anything that you could recommend?

Alison: Firstly it would be good to try to find out what is causing this. You haven't mentioned what your job is or if your hands are in and out of a lot of chemicals or irritants.

So, I'd recommend you use something really gentle, such as an A'kin Handwash as they don't contain ingredients that a lot of people can be allergic to. Then when your skin becomes irritated as you've described use L'Occitane 100% Shea Butter as this only contains one ingredient. That way we're lowering the amount of potential allergens that are on the skin.

Do bare in mind, however, that this skin irritation could have been triggered off by something. If you are really concerned about it then you must consult your doctor and he may be able to prescribe something for you that you can use alongside your beauty routine.

What's the best nail colour for toes this summer?

What's the best colour for your toes this year? I'm going away in three weeks time and would appreciate your advice.

Alison: If you're looking for the key fashion colours to be seen wearing this season, then you want metallics. Nails Inc and Leighton Denny both offer strong colours with a gorgeous metallic finish. OPI also have a stylish Designer Series Colour Duo, which fits this season's trends bang on.

However, if you want a colour that lasts the trends and flatters all tones and tans - I recommend a pink shade with a hint of lilac or blue. This is a top colour in nail bars and is both pretty and feminine. Pall Mall from Nails Inc is a fabulous example of this classic shade with its soft oyster pink shade with a slight luminescent shimmer.

  

For nails that split from the nail bed...

I have a problem with one nail - it splits down the length of the nail right into the nail bed. I've tried most of the problem solvers you sell, Trind, OPI etc. I'm sure there must be a solution, it's just I'm not finding it. Can you help?

Alison: If the nail is split all the way up from the nail bed then the nail bed is damaged. If this is the case then it will be something you won't be able to rid yourself of completely. It means that the nail has separated at the nail bed and it won't actually come together again.

However there are ways to try and help it in the short term. Whether it's permanently or temporarily damaged, the fix is the same and is basically some form of false nail enhancement. You can do this yourself and one of the easiest kits we have is the Nails Inc Survival Kit. It contains the silk mesh which you can put on to your nail, the glue, the buffer - everything you need. This set also offers you already shaped nail shapes which you can put on the whole nail, not just the split. As it grows out, buff it and fill in the base.

If this is only a temporary solution, as it grows out the split will grow out fixed so you won't have to worry about it again. If it's permanent, you'll see the split continuing from the nail bed. Either way, this solution should fix it enough to let it keep growing and hold itself together so it can be the same length as your other nails. It just might mean that the short term fix becomes your trick to keep your nail in the best condition.

For dry, splitting, peeling nails...

I have a nail peeling problem with my thumbs and the next two fingers on both hands. The other 2 fingers on both hands are strong, good nails. I have used OPI nail envy nail and strengthening & peeling which seals the split end but does not stop the splitting and peeling. I've had this problem for two years now. Have also used OPI hand and nail care. Any ideas to solve this dry splitting peeling problem would be great.

Alison: You've missed out a vital thing - your cuticles! Drying out of the nail area and nail peeling as you've described requires a product like OPI Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Oil on your cuticles three times a day. Once a week when you have removed your nail strengthener and varnish, I would advise leaving it off over night and soaking your nails in the Avoplex Oil so that it actually goes into the bare nail as well as the cuticle. Any peels or flakes can be buffed off with a nail file and you can then seal your nails with the OPI Nail Envy treatment you already have.

The one thing I would query is whether you do some sort of manual work or hobby that requires you using those two sets of fingers as maybe this is causing your nail peeling effect. Or maybe poor circulation could be causing it as those two fingers are fed by the same veins. It may be worth looking in to.

For achieving a smooth, non-bubbled finish on the nail...

I am having trouble with the end result of Nail Envy. I take the trouble to wash hands after removing the polish to remove any residue and I leave a day between the first coats of Nail Envy and the polish.  I then allow that to dry before applying the final coat of Nail Envy, but I still get a bubbled effect on the nail. Can you suggest anything to help me achieve a smooth finish?

Alison: Bubbling on the nail is either caused by oily nail plates or an allergy. If the latter is the case then I’d try ProStrong as they use different ingredients in their nail treatments. You'll know if it's an allergy because the top of the nail will have a stinging effect.

You don't need to leave a day in between your first coats of Nail Envy and the polish. You are, however, correct to wash your hands to remove any residue so that there is no oil left on the nail plate - that's one of my top tips! But if you naturally have an oily nail plate, then that can cause bubbling. So you want to use OPI Chipskip - put that on first and it will help to rectify the oil balance of the nail. Oily nail plates aren't common for everyone so I wouldn't necessarily need to recommend Chipskip to everyone - it's just a great problem solver for those who find their nail varnish peeling, lifting or bubbling up.