Follow these tips from nail-care expert Deborah Lippmann, creator of the Lippmann Collection, for fabulous holiday nails.

Maintaining a Manicure
Your manicure can take a beating during this busy time of year, so it's important to properly maintain it.

Always use a base coat
As the nail color binds with the base coat for longer wear, you especially want to use a ridge-filler base coat to keep your manicure longer.

Always use a top coat
Use a normal top coat, not a quick-dry top coat. By letting polish dry at a natural rate, you allow the solvents to evaporate, which helps the polish last longer.

Hydrate your cuticles
Always make sure your cuticles stay hydrated during the cold months, but make sure to rub your moisturizer into the cuticles only, keeping the nail beds and especially the tips dry in order to maintain your manicure.

Wear gloves
Having holiday guests means you are constantly cleaning up your house. Always be sure to wear gloves whenever possible, especially when washing dishes.

Updating Your Manicure
Your nail shade can be the ultimate accessory. Try new, fun shades as an inexpensive way to complement any ensemble. A great way to update your manicure without spending money is to layer the polishes you have at home to create a new look. For example, take a metallic silver or gold and layer a red polish on top -- it creates a gorgeous shimmering candy-apple shade that is perfect for the holidays.

Nail Color Trends
One of the biggest trends in nails is dark colors, which are easier to pull off than you might think. They also look great on people with shorter nails. For some popular dark looks from the Lippmann Collection, try Maneater or Pump Up the Jam.

Resources
For more information about the Lippmann Collection, visit lippmanncollection.com.