Beauty Clinic: How do I make short nails look nice?

Q. How can I make short nails look prettier in general – and for summer months in particular?  I like the more natural ranges, if possible. A. This is one of our favourite topics, particularly as we have been signing our books a lot recently and you really don't want to try and hide scuzzy nails while writing your name in front of people…

So – to be honest Jo doesn't have so much of a problem as her nails look pretty fab most of the time, despite her gardening habit.

But Sarah who has horsey and gardening nails (which get flaky and muddy however many pairs of gloves she wears) keeps them short all the time and loves dark colours to make them look more significant.  On her recent travels round the (completely fab) Fenwick stores nationwide, she has been very grateful for TLC from the Nails Inc. manicurists.  Try Tate, a classic red, or Piccadilly Circus, deep cerise pink, which both come in a Mini-Polish size for £6, or full size for £11.  Do visit the website, www.nailsinc.com, to see the whole range and play with their 'Try It On' feature – which allows you to see the polish on different skin tones.

For summer fun, Margo Marrone, founder of The Organic Pharmacy’s Organic Glam range of super-gorgeous, more natural nail colours, suggests updating a French polish (usually pale pink with a white tip) by tipping nails with a different colour.

Margo says: ‘I love coloured-tip French manicures for summer. It’s basically the classic French manicure but instead of a white tip it’s a bright coloured tip, which can be any fabulous shade from Coral or New York blue, to Fuschia or Gold. For a more subtle look, pastel colours look gorgeous.

Browse the 40-plus gorgeous nail polishes on Margo’s website, www.theorganicpharmacy.com, to see the possibilities.  For the base coat, try French Mani Cream or French Mani Pink, then – as she says – be creative!  For pastels, we love Ice Blue or Aqua on French Mani Cream, and Baby Pink or Candy Floss on French Mani Pink.  All shades £10 for 11ml.

Nails Inc Nail Polishes from £6 at www.nailsinc.com - buy here

The Organic Pharmacy Nail Polishes/£10 at www.theorganicpharmacy.com - buy here