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Polish to the Rescue — Nails Are Accessory Chic

Professional Nail Expert Ji Baek tending to Supermodel Alek Wek's nails backstage at Fashion Week

Spring into summer with beautiful nails splashed with the season's hottest shades! Never has your manicure and pedicure been more important in the world of style and fashion than now. Nails are just as essential an accessory and status statement as Dior thong sandals and crystal or diamond hoop earrings. Brush on pretty pinks that show your ultra-feminine and playful sides or rev things up in courageous corals and roaring reds. A few, quick top-notch tips, techniques and trends from professional nail expert Ji Baek, a Korean woman of color who is owner of the celeb-fave Rescue Beauty Lounge nail oasis in New York servicing glamour girls' fabulous fashion forward fingers and toes.

CHiC: What are the most important steps to achieving the perfect manicure?

Ji Baek: I think everyone has a different view of what perfect is, like anything else in life perfection takes time and great care. To me, a perfect manicure is cleaned, groomed hands that are free of ragged cuticles, chipped polish and bitten nails. Always hydrate and apply hand cream to prevent dryness.

CHiC: What are the most important steps to achieving the perfect pedicure?

Ji Baek: Again, clean, neat and groomed nails. Exfoliate with body scrub and moisturize every day, especially when you have scaly, ashen feet due to dead skin build up. It's amazing you can exfoliate and moisturize everyday, as you would your body at the same time so it's not so time consuming. People just like to ignore or forget their feet.

CHiC: How can you maintain your manicure and pedicure so that it lasts longer?

Ji Baek: Apply fresh coat of top coat every three days, take caution when using nails as a tool, i.e., opening can of soda, peeling a sticker, etc.

CHiC: What are the trends in the nail industry that everyone seems to be following?

Ji Baek: Nail art is really over, I think they know it should lay to rest. Almost everyone knows by now that artificially long nails are not in trend; it's about short and dark nails.

CHiC: What's new at Rescue Beauty Lounge [nail spa]?

Ji Baek: We are launching a new color that's called "revamp" amazing black with deep ruby glitter. Dark color on short nails will be a must no matter what the season.

From colors that sparkle to tools that refine, here are some of the hottest products in the world of nails and on fashion runways:

A juicy dash of color that brightens Rescue Beauty Lounge's Coral Polish
($18, rescuebeautylounge.com)

Achieve knock-out nails with superior tools Sephora's Manicure Kit packed with nail clippers, cuticle nippers, metal file, nail scoop, nail cleaner, tweezers, and manicure scissors for a do-it-yourself, professional-looking manicure.
($30, sephora.com)

No matter how beautiful your nails look, hands must be soft and smooth to complete the effect. Use Barielle's Ultra Soft Hand Crème (SPF 15) infused with chamomile, allantoin and natural botanicals to delivers much needed moisture for silky, soft hands.
($15, barielle.com)

By Linda Ripoll

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