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STYLE MATTERS: Pros offer help for growing real nails

By Evelinda Urman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 12, 2008 at 6 p.m.

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Evelinda: A few weeks ago, we uncovered a trend in nail care: women removing nail enhancements and going with their natural nails. This week we spoke with nail experts to find out their secrets for growing out healthy, strong nails.

Professional tips

* Leigh Ann Post, owner of Leigh Ann's Color Studio and Day Spa (303-794-5060), cooks up a home-grown baked tomato and olive oil concoction that she swears rebuilds the protein in hair and nails and makes skin healthier. Make your own elixir at home, drink every other day and take a multivitamin. Leigh Ann's manicurist, Jana Deatherage, recommends also using OPI Nail Envy, a topical nail strengthener ($16.)

* Zenails owner Dina Bautista (303-202-6500) suggests to clients that they take multivitamins and amino acids, like garlic, to strengthen and improve nails. Garlic is key to her rapid nail-growth plan. Ready? Before going to bed, dig your nails into peeled garlic cloves and cover with gloves. Bautista also recommends the base coat Qtica natural nail-growth stimulator ($20).

* Coldwater Creek Spa (303-975-8736) director Karla Okala says the going-natural trend has picked up possibly due to the faltering economy and the fact that artificial nails don't hold up well in Colorado's dry climate. Mary Cook, the lead nail therapist at the spa, described the series of manicures they offer for the new nails. The "Grow Your Own" series of treatments starts off with the Ultimate Manicure: Hands are dipped in hot paraffin to hydrate the skin and nail bed. Then shea butter is massaged in for further hydration. Clients follow up with four more manicures every two weeks. Cook recommends using Creative Nail Design's Toughen Up Base coat ($7) and ridge filler ($7) to strengthen and smooth damaged nails.

* Stephanie Alley, nail technician at Pura Vida Nectar Spa (303-536- 5653), recommends using strengthener three times a week. She likes Nailtek products (nailtek.com) and the SpaRituals line of organic protein extracts and nonchemical strengtheners ($7-$10).

Judie: Nail technicians at Leigh Ann's Color Studio and Day Spa no longer do acrylics because of what they consider to be harmful toxins in the products as well as the damage these products can cause to the environment when disposed of.

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