Nails are a fascinating and complicated subject — I’m not sure that I can ever learn how to properly care for them. I find myself always letting my little, delicate manicures fail, year after year. I’ve gotten off on the wrong foot with doing clean up, both literally and figuratively. I let things slide. And I tend to take a lot of the blame for this myself. Why on earth would I let someone else just do my nails for me?

And I certainly don’t want to be the nail-lover that everyone looks at with disdain because I allow them to get away with doing me’s nails — or at least most of them. No, I want to stand up for myself when it comes to how I want my nails done. I wouldn’t let someone else do it, so why would I let it happen to me?

See the best summer nail colors — some new, some tried and true — and learn how to care for your toes right now.

#1: Great cuticle care can save your manicure — and your skin! pic.twitter.com/TduPLhLlnr — Good Housekeeping (@goodhouse) October 5, 2018