I recently spoke briefly about preventing nail damage from gel or shellac manicures on my Instagram Stories, and received a few questions asking what I meant by “not allowing technicians to scrape polish off,” so I want to explain that a little more. Manicures of any kind can weaken your nails, that’s just something to keep in mind no matter what. But, what I’m suggesting is hopefully a way to avoid more nail weakening than necessary. The major thing to know is that when you are having gel or shellac polish removed, the technician needs to allow you to soak your fingers in polish remover for a long time. Often, they have you soak for just a couple minutes and then try to rush you through the appointment by using harsh metal tools to scrape off the polish. Don’t let them do this! Make them wait until you’ve soaked a long enough period of time so that the gel/shellac peels off easily. If they’re having to scrape and file off the top layers of your nails, your nails haven’t soaked long enough. Further, if you do get gel manicures, make sure you always keep the area around your nails moisturized, as the soaking and curing process can be drying. If you’re really worried about your nails weakening, avoid back-to-back gel manicures and moisturize your nail beds in-between appointments.
Gel/Shellac Manicure Nail Damage Prevention
Let’s talk about FLATS, shall we? You know I’m a heel lover, but like any warm-blooded working girl, I know that everyone needs a strong supply of flats perfect for work and travel that do not lift you any higher off the ground than absolutely necessary. Heels (praise them) have their moments, but sometimes (often) you need something a little more grounded. If you’re a working woman, a solid line-up of chic, classic leather flats that can be worn with dresses, suits and jeans alike is essential.
After scouring the internet and doing tons of in-person testing, I believe I’ve finally succeeded in creating a master list of the very best flats on the planet, at all price points. To be clear, we’re talking ballet flats, pointy-toe flats, loafers and the like—no sneakers, sandals, flat boots or booties. I was thrilled to see that thousands of you confirmed many of the items on this list in my flats questionnaire last week on instastories. When it comes to picking the best shoes around, we clearly make a great team.
Without further ado, I give you the ultimate guide to the best classic flats, listed in no particular order… because when it comes to my favorite shoes, I believe playing favorites is just mean.
