What is a sculptured nail

asks Kaister:

A. It's a new way to achieve perfect, natural-looking nails which last for weeks.

Q. It is like a false nail
A. No. For a start, there's no glue involved, and it won't ping off on a night out, leaving you with four perfect talons and a sad, bitten old stub.

Q. How does it work, then
A. First, your nails are etched then primed to remove any surface moisture. Then a little platform is placed under the nail to hold the new nail in place while it sets. Next, acrylic powder and liquid is brushed into the right shape and length to form nails. The manicurist takes the length of your fingers, your nail bed and the shape of your hands into account, and then file the nails accordingly. The whole process takes around an hour.

Q. Does it harm your nail
A. Not much because no glue is used.

Q. How long does it last
A. You need infills every two weeks because of the nail growth, and the nails will be 'rebalanced' at the same time.

Q. How tough are sculptured nails
A. They need looking after because they're designed to break on impact, but they are stronger than the real thing.

Q. Is it expensive
A. A set of nails costs from 30, and infills from 15, at nail bars and department stores.

Q. How can I improve my own nails
A. Hands and nails are exposed to the elements as much as your face and need as much care. Here are a few ways to keep them young-looking:

• Buy a dishwasher.
• Wear gloves - plastic for chores, garden for outdoors, wool or leather when the weather's cold.
• Carry a small tube of hand cream around with you and use it frequently.
• Buy almond oil from pharmacies and health food shops, and rub it into your nails morning and night to condition them.
• Give your hands an intensive treatment by applying hand cream, covering them in cling film and then wrapping them in a hot towel.
• Find a beauty salon that does hand smoothing treatments.

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By Sheena Miller