Winter nails

Today's post it dedicated to one of my favourite evening-couch activities: manicures! When it comes to nails I'm really high maintenance: pretty, well kept hands is something I always notice on people and I can't get by if mine are not up to standard. I'm always in search of the perfect manicurist and I've become more and more sophisticated in nail DIY. My tools+polishes vanity case has grown dramatically. I have summer and winter colours and have tried every possible hand cream, oil, treatment you can imagine.  Here I am with the uber-knowledgable Ashleigh our very own Beauty Assistant at Red talking about nails, see her amazing tips below, my can't-live-without essentials and the step-by-step regime I stick too.

MY REGIME

• Soak
nails in warm water
• Rub oil on nail
• Push down cuticules with oil pen
  
• Cut or trim dead skin
• Rest your hands in gloves slathered with hand cream and oil
• Wash your hands and use a scrub
• Clean nails with cotton wool soaked in nail varnish remover
• Apply coat 1
• Apply coat 2
• Apply Top coat
• Wait 5 min then apply quick dry drops and a splash of oil

MY FAVOURITE WINTER ESSENTIALS

1. Top Shop Nails in Gypsy Night £6.00
I love this jet black polish with a little sparkle injection!

2. UTILITY - CREME ROCOCO £12
Grey nails are perfect in the winter, I prefer lighter chalky shades like this rich Rococo one

3. Essie Chinchilly (grey) and Pouf Daddy (red)£9.50
These are my two favourite Essie reds and in the winter I alternate between the two (great for toes too)
 

4. Dr Hauschka Neem Nail Oil 30ml £24.95
I literally soak my nails in oil before pushing cuticles and then leave it on for added nail nutrition before putting on nail varnish

5. Cow Pat Manicure Maintenance Kit  For soft sumptuous pretty hands and nails £19.50 
I love getting manicures at the Cowshed spa in London and this cute set has all you need to do it yourself at home in front of the TV. great little gift too under £20

6.  J.Crew FACE Stockholm® nail polish
This is the colour of the season as seen on the J.Crew models in the catalogues. Who says pink is a summer shade only?
 

7. Bliss 'mend' a hand £30
I wore these gloves slathered in cream the day before my wedding and my hands were so soft the next day. I just love any excuse for a bit of pampering and Bliss knows how to deliver!

8. MAVALA Mavapen Nutritive Oil for Cuticles, 4.5ml £9
I prefer to push down my cuticules with a oil pen rather than a metal tool- it's gentler and moisturising at the same time

9. John Lewis Cuticle Trimmers £7.50
These are my essential tool to cut cuticles and  hard skin. Always wash and dry after each use and they will last forever

My favourite hand scrub
Kiehl's Gentle Exfoliating Grapefruit Body Scrub, 200ml £22.50

ASHLEIGH'S TIPS

Never skip base coat – it will make your polish last so much longer and protects colour from staining your nails. We love Orly's Bonder. http://www.boots.com/en/Orly-Bonder-Nail-Polish_1190742/?CAWELAID=784424801&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engines-_-Google%20Base-_---_-Orly%20Bonder%20Nail%20Polish 

Model's Own have an amazing selection of colours, from nudes to neons to special effects, and go days without chipping. http://www.modelsownit.com/ 

For a super-speedy mani, use Chanel's Mat Top Coat on bare nails for an instantly clean and buffed finish. http://www.boots.com/en/CHANEL-BEAUTE-DES-ONGLES-Mat-Top-Coat-13ml_1234410/ 

For non-toxic polishes, we love Butter London (http://www.butterlondon.com/), Zoya (http://www.zoyapolish.com/) and OPI (http://www.lenawhite.co.uk/). 

Make cuticle oil part of your nightly bedtime routine for healthy nails. There are loads out there, Leighton Denny's is a Red favourite. http://www.lookfantastic.com/leighton-denny-slick-tips-nail-cuticle-oil-12ml/10560268.html