Avon’s new Dry Nail Enamel Strips promise a fast and perfect manicure that lasts 14 days. I tried this product and was pleased with the ease of application. It was quicker than speed-dry nail polishes and you can’t make a mistake or smudge the color; just choose the strip that fits your nail size and apply. Finishing off the edges was simple and required no special tools, the excess came away cleanly.

I was surprised that you get enough nail strips for just one application and decided they were worth the price only if they really lasted for 14 days. I can report that the color has remained shiny and there has been only a slight wearing away of the enamel at the ends of the nail. Taking into consideration that I have engaged in all my usual activities and housework, that’s not too shabby. The one problem is that in this time my nails have grown. There are ever-widening strips of unpolished nail near the cuticle and the sides of my fingernails, otherwise, I would not need to refresh my manicure as the polish itself still looks good. The nice thing is that none of my nails has split, torn or broken since I applied the dry nail enamel strips.

For ease and speed of application, I give these a high rating. They come in a variety of colors and there should be a shade to suit just about anyone. The regular price is $8.00 but look for sales. Available through Avon representatives or buy direct online.

Your manicure is perfect, your nails are uniformly shaped and shine with a new coat of polish. But those pesky hangnails ruin the look and make your fingertips look ragged and ill-kempt.

Hangnails aren’t really nails at all but hardened dead and dry skin that separates away from the side of your nail. Once the oil in the skin has dried out, these pieces just pull away. They then catch on things - clothing, paper edges, etc. - and can become painful or even infected if not dealt with promptly.

Women who have their hands in water and household chemicals such as cleaning solutions can find hangnails to be a common problem. But women who work primarily in office settings are just as prone, because paper absorbs oil from the skin and handling paper all day will quickly lead to dry and chapped hands and then hangnails.

Once you have a hangnail, the best thing to do is to clip it close to avoid it tearing further and the surrounding skin from becoming inflamed. Moisturizing the area prior to clipping makes it easier. But the best way to deal with hangnails is to avoid their developing at all.

The easiest way to stop hangnails before they start is to keep hands moisturized Take time to soak hands in an oil and water solution at least once a week and apply a good hand lotion daily, making sure to massage it into the skin surrounding the nails and the cuticles to keep them soft. This will help replenish the natural oils you lose doing everyday tasks.

A few minutes a day is all it takes to prevent hangnails and have younger-looking, more attractive hands.