Spring is in full swing and so are frilly, feminine sundresses, and fresh looks for face, hair and even nails. This spring, uncover those nails and strip off the dark colors of fall and winter; we are going lighter - shimmering pastels to white, french manicure to barely-there pinks.

Some recommended products:

* Sally Hansen Star Opal Nail Glaze - wear alone or with a french manicure. Eight pastel shades that glide on shiny and smooth in just 1 coat. Real crushed opals to give that iridescent shimmer.

* Revlon’s Sweet Nothings Radiant Lacquer - pearls of pigment in luscious pastels that add shine and dazzle. Six pastel to sheer shades. DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free.

* L’oreal Bijou Facets collection. Pastel shades with optic fibers to create a dimensional and unique look. Try Hopeful, Pure, Innocent and Sweet shades for a girlish, spring look.

Nail polish can hide a multiple of nail imperfections such as discolorations and ridges or uneven surfaces. But nail polish is one of the main culprits in causing nails to yellow or stain and an uneven or rough nail surface will only lead to early chipping and peeling of your nail polish.

There are a few simple tricks that can make nails brighter and smoother, and you don’t need to go to a nail salon.

To whiten nail tips, try soaking in lemon juice. Some women swear by effervescent denture cleaner tablets and still others use a whitening toothpaste, rubbed onto the nail. All of these methods work, it’s a matter of preference. One method I don’t recommend is soaking nails in a mild bleach solution. The bleach smell is hard to get rid of and it can be damaging and drying to skin. If you use the lemon solution, just be careful you don’t have any open cuts around your fingertips or you can expect a bit of stinging. Cutting a lemon in half and sticking your fingertips directly into the lemon for a few minutes also works.

Buffing the nails will smooth out uneven spots and give nails a high shine. Use a buffer specifically designed for the task. A buffer block with 4 sides is an excellent tool. Buff nail from cuticle to tip. Remember you are buffing for shine and smoothness, not trying to remove layers of nail. That will only leave nails thinner and more vulnerable to breaking, chipping and staining.

After whitening and buffing, you can apply a couple of coats of a shiny, clear top coat or apply one coat of a sheer pink or peach and follow with top coat. You will have an instant French manicure and a healthy, shiny look for nails.

Even if you don’t go to a nail salon you can create a sparkling manicure (or pedicure) with this easy-to-use kit from Revlon.

Revlon Nail Jewels kit provides a generous 240 assorted rhinestone gems to fit your every mood or match any outfit. There are jewels for all twelve months and a gem chart to guide you. The kit includes a rhinestone applicator tool and a bottle of top coat to seal your works of art. A complete kit for anyone who wants to jazz up their manicure without the expense of a trip to the nail salon.

Nails can be difficult to keep in good shape. We use our hands all the time in little ways we don’t even think will damage the nail. But housework, daily chores, even opening soda cans can damage nails.

Keeping nails short or medium length makes them easier to protect. Don’t file the sides of the nails, this weakens them. Do file nails in a blunt or square shape.

And it’s important to give nails a break from polish. Keeping polish on all the time doesn’t allow the nail to breathe. Dark polishes can stain nails if left on for a long time, but even light polishes can yellow nails. Take nail polish off, use a cuticle cream and let your nails breathe for a few days before your next manicure. Your nails will thank you for it.