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" Flaunting pretty fingernails makes just as much of a statement as your other beauty decisions. But you don&amp;#039;t need monthly appointments at the manicurists to keep that pearly luster. Heed these experts&amp;#039; at-home maintenance tips for pretty, healthy nails that let your fingertips do the talking.   1. Avoid metal nail files. &amp;quot;They can cause nails to split. Instead, shape nails with a medium-grit sandpaper file,&amp;quot; says Deborah Lippmann, owner of Deborah Lippmann Beauty.   2. File nails from the outer corners to the middle to prevent breakage. &amp;quot;Healthy nails can be filed every 10 days; brittle nails need about 14 days,&amp;quot; says Fahmida Mumith, a nail technician at Haven Soho in New York City.   3. Keep your nails clean. &amp;quot;Use a nail brush to scrub under nails, and dry them really well to ward off bacteria,&amp;quot; says Donna Perillo, owner of Sweet Lily Natural Nail Spa in New York City.   4. Never cut your cuticles. &amp;quot;They&amp;#039;ll only grow back thicker and faster,&amp;quot; explains Perillo.   5. Wait 2 minutes before applying a second coat of polish. &amp;quot;The trick to polishing at home: Keep your hands on a flat surface with the nails facing away from you while you paint,&amp;quot; says Essie Weingarten, president of Essie Cosmetics. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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