Last Friday was The Look photo shoot at Milk Studios NYC for our January issue of The Hair Book. We got the chance to speak with manicurist Rica Romain to discuss colors, trends and tips for all things nails. Here’s what she had to say:

Should your manicure and pedicure match?
That’s a matter of personal opinion but I’d say no. I recommend you do colors that compliment each other with the lighter of the two on your fingernails. The exception to choosing complimentary colors is if you’re wearing a nude color on your fingers, then anything goes for your toes.

What’s the quickest way to healthy nails?
Your hair, nails and skin are all made of the same thing (keratin), which means that anything that you use for healthy hair—like conditioner—can be used on your nails, as well. But a little trick that I like to do is fill a bowl with cold, whole milk and soak your nails for 15 minutes, once a week. Your nails will absorb the Vitamin D and, if you keep up with it, you’ll see a difference in four weeks.

Any other cool tips or tricks for readers?
Here’s a good one: the dark fall colors or shellac that’s on trend right now can stain your nails. Buy some Efferdent (yep, the denture cleaner) and soak your nails for 5-10 minutes. It will clean your nails just like it makes dentures sparkly white! Haha!

How do you make a manicure last longer than a couple of days without chipping?
Whether you have nail polish on or not, the key to healthy nails is to keep your hands moisturized. When your nails dry out, especially around the cuticle area, they tend to peel. It sounds silly, but use gloves if you’re doing any cleaning or activities that may dry out your nails. To maintain a manicure, put a top coat on every other day to protect the polish and seal it in.

What colors or nail art trends will be big next season?
Nail art will get one more go around next season. In general, it’s more acceptable to sport nail art in the spring than the fall. However, I see it becoming more of an accessory rather than the statement it was this past season.
As far as colors, pastels will be big, like lilac or pale blue. Grey will also be the base for a lot of colors. I love shimmer, as well—a clear topcoat with a little bit of shimmer in it is perfect for adding dimension to flat color.

How far should you take embellished nails?
It honestly depends on your lifestyle. If you’re on Wall Street, you cannot get away with crazy nail art. Stick to a light signature nail or a reverse French (they’re very on trend) but keep it to two colors. Nail art should be an accessory to the nail.