I love all the fabulous nail art that has been featured on all the Spring/Summer 2014 catwalks, as well as all over the likes of Instagram and Tumblr from talented ladies creating their own nail art masterpieces. Instead of inspiring me, it just makes me feel jealous and angry, as I am diabolical at applying nail varnish – anything other than applying a single shade seems like witchcraft to me.

I am so shaky handed and have a lack of patience, as well as the short temper of a comic book villain that loses control with a little mistake with the nail varnish. The left hand usually goes fine, but when it comes to doing the right hand, I would probably get better results if I threw the bottle of nail varnish at it. Then after all that hard work, effort and concentration, one little knock and you have a chip in the polish – something I can’t stop noticing with increasing frustration.

So I have been considering experimenting with false nails for a while now, to get quick and effective results. Step on in Elegant Touch – their new Express Colletion, fronted by the stunning BBC Radio One presenter Jameela Jamil, is set to be the hottest piece of hand candy this coming season.

Perfect for us girls who want to look fabulous, but don’t want to take an age to do so, the new Elegant Touch Express collection comes in 24 styles, from classic neon, to polka dots to outrageous nail art designs. There really is a style for every mood and occasion that will have you tempted to ditch the nail varnish for good.

With prices starting at just £7.99, you can have a super polished manicure that can last up to 7 days, when applied correctly. So how are they to apply, are they really idiot (i.e. me) proof?

Instant Hotness – Applying Your Elegant Touch Express Nails

I’m someone who likes to be prepared and organised, so I find it easier to get everything out that I need, so I’m not rooting around for stuff at the crucial moment, so here is what you will need…

The Manicure Essentials: 1) Elegant Touch Professional Buffer; 2) You Choice of Express Nails, I Chose Bright Marble; 3) Elegant Touch Professional Cuticle Clipper; 4) Elegant Touch Professional Cuticle Pusher and Nail Cleaner; 5) Elegant Touch Professional Nail Files.

Now you have all the essentials sorted and within reach, it is time to get your nails all ready for their new look – the better the surface, the better the nails will adhere.

1. Remove any mail varnish that may be left on your nails.
2. Soak your hands in warm soapy water until the cuticles soften and using your cuticle pusher, push the cuticles into the nail bed. Any long cuticles can be cut away using your cuticle trimmer.
3. Buff away any ridges with your Elegant Touch Professional Buffer for a nice smooth surface.
4. With your nail file, smooth the tips of your nails to a short length using long strokes – smaller quick strokes can cause the nails to weaken and split, you don’t want that.

Now you have the perfect canvas you can create your work of art. Inside the Express Manicure kit you have all you need to create your masterpiece – Instruction leaflet, nail prep wipe, small nail file and 24 press-on nails in various sizes.

1. Get out the instruction leaflet and give it a quick read – it’s better to not to assume you know best in these matters.
2. Give your nails another clean with soapy water and dry thoroughly. Wipe your nails with the enclosed prep wipe; you have to prep your nails properly to keep them happy and healthy.
3. Select the correct size press-on nail for each finger and lay out ready to use with the end of the seal of the sticky tab at the cuticle.

It is now time to go and get stuck in and apply the nails to your finger tips – it may be the nerve-wracking part, but if you follow the instructions it will be easy and pain free, I promise you.

1. Ensure the nails are the right way round with the thinner end sitting at the base of your natural nail near the cuticle.
2. Peel of the protective film and place the press-on nail up to, but not touching the cuticle and apply at a 45 degree angle. To ensure it sticks strongly press firmly on the centre of the nail and then down each side. Repeat for all your nails.
3. Using your professional Elegant Touch file, smooth away any rough edges, or file to a shorter length like I did, if you don’t like something too long. If you are going to file them, wait 30 minutes after application, you want to give them a chance to get comfortable before you start attacking them.

Now there is nothing left to do but enjoy them and show them off to anyone and everyone, like I did because I loved them so much. Don’t forget to pop some spares in your bag in case you do have a little accident and you lose one. If you can recover the nail , but it has lost a bit of it’s stickiness, you can use an Elegant Touch Super Adhesive Tab to bond it fast once again – clever stuff.

After washing your hands (stay away from water 30 minutes after applying) they glue may loosen, you can remedy this by drying them under a hair dryer on a low heat and press firmly to re-bond – simples.

So How Was The Elegant Touch Experience?

Being a false nail virgin I was a little bit worried that it would be a disaster and I would have false nails permanently bonded to my hair or face. But, the whole process was incredibly simple and easy, and including all the prep time, was complete within 20 minutes.

The nails felt incredibly secure and there are no dangers of annoying nail varnish chips – they looked perfect all day long and I caught many a girl eyeing them enviously. When it came time to remove them, they came away without any pain or sticky residue.

So am I an Elegant Touch Express convert? Absolutely – nail varnish may be a thing of the past for me, check out some of my favourites from the new collection that I cant wait to get my hands (or nails) on…

Elegant Touch Express Spring/Summer 2014: 1) Peach Ombre; 2) Neon Yellow; 3) Alice; 4) Bright Purple; 5) French Triangle.

Be sure to also check out Elegant Touch’s new Candy Dip, available exclusively in store and online at Superdrug. You simple apply the sticky wrap to your nail, file of the excess and pop your finger in a range of glitters and voilà, sparkly nail perfection.

Nail Cutters to Get the Perfect Cut

Before you start painting, you need to make sure your nails are ready. Cut them to a manageable length; you know the length that suits you.

Try to cut them in a straight line across to avoid ingrown nail problems. If you want rounded edges, you need the next item.

Nail Files for Shaping Your Nails

Get rid of the sharp edges and chips with a nail file. Metal ones are great for this stage as they work quicker and easier. Shape your nails in the way that you prefer.

Make sure all your nails are still manageable to avoid chipping anything. If you have a bad habit of catching your nails or chipping them, consider rounding the edges off.

Emery Boards for Prepping Your Nails

Have an emery board or two or three—they break easily! These are perfect for carrying around in your bag and you can take them on an aeroplane (if you need to), which you can’t do with a metal file.

The emery board is also perfect for prepping your nails. Use it on the face of your nails to roughen them. It helps the nail polish stick better.

Cuticle Devices

You can get small metal devices that push your cuticles back. This exposes more nail and will stop your cuticles getting in the way.

Make sure you do this for every nail. You will need to be quite forceful on some nails, depending on how your cuticles sit.

Mistake Eraser

Unfortunately this isn’t to go over bits of nail varnish that have gone wrong. The idea is to place it on your nails before you start on your manicure.

You can then remove it completely afterwards so it looks like you never made a mistake with your brush. Think of it as masking tape that you would place on skirting boards and light switches when painting a room.

Tip Liners

If you’re doing a French manicure, make sure you have some tip liners. These act a little like the Mistake Eraser, except they sit underneath the white tips of your nails once you’ve applied the base colour for your nails.

They make sure you have the perfect white line on the tips of your nails.

Time!

All women need time when it comes to doing their nails. This isn’t just getting the polish job right; it needs time to dry.

Don’t try to do your nails the hour before you go out when you still have tights to put on and makeup to do. It takes about 24 hours for nail polish to fully dry.

How to Represent Your Personality

When you’re getting a new design on your nails you don’t necessarily have to follow the latest trends. You should feel free to do whatever makes you happy and whatever represents your personality.

We are all different and we all have cool designs we may love but if you’re looking for something trendy you may want to consider these options!

Styles That Are Hot Right Now

Right now there are a few trendy patterns that most women and teens go for and that’s the floral design.

It can be as detailed or as intricate as you’d like and you should feel free to use various colors that represent who you are! You’ve heard of the Bedazzler right?

You can do this for your nails as well. You can go with stickers or even fake jewels to create a trendy look.

What Your Nails Say About You?

You probably won’t be too surprised to know that your nails can say a lot about your personality without you even opening your mouth.

The color or the design can help describe the type of person you are and it can even show that you care about your appearance or you’re artsy and creative.

What Colors Work Best?

This is something that’s extremely personal and dependent on your personality.

You should go with colors that you like and ones that may match your clothing.

If you work in a professional setting you shouldn’t do anything that’s loud or that might draw attention to you.

Should You Create The Latest Trends Yourself?

This is a question that most women probably ask themselves often. Should you spend the money to get them done or do them yourself?

If you’re artsy then you can do them yourself and if you’re not you can test them out a few times to get the hang of how to do it.

Enlist the help of friends and even make a fun evening out of it with good wine, friends and laughter!

Where to Find Tips and Tricks?

• You can find tips and tricks on the internet. If you log on and do a quick search you should be able to come across quite a few cool and trendy designs.

• Ask your friends for advice. If they do their nails often they may have some tips and tricks for you.

• Pay attention at the salon. Watch what the stylist does the next time you get your nails done and try to keep a few ideas in mind.

Do the Trends Change Often?

Just like with everything else in life the nail trends will change from time to time. To stay current check out the Web or ask advice at the salon!