Journal

Neon pink over white, turquoise with coral, gold on a tan or a lemon on one nail: 20 summer nail ideas to paint in gel, with the shade, steps and skin tones for each.

Workstation, hygiene, tools, lamp, e-file, prep, bases, colours and top coat: the complete equipment list for new nail technicians, and what can wait.

Speckled eggs, pastel French tips, a single pearl or tiny bunny ears: 12 Easter nail ideas, each with its shades, its method and who it suits.

Pastel French tips, tiny daisies, a lavender cat eye or coral for May: 15 spring nail ideas to paint in gel, plus the tricks that stop pale shades from streaking.

Find the coral, salmon or peach that suits your skin tone, then pick from ten ideas, from short glossy nails and coral French tips to a peach aura, navy accents and pearl chrome.

From terracotta with gold to coral French tips and orange chrome: ten orange nail designs by season, plus how to choose your orange and paint it without streaks.

Yellow is one of the hardest colours to paint evenly and to match to your skin. Find your shade, from butter yellow to mustard, then choose from 10 designs, from daisies to gingham.

Pastels show every brush stroke, so start with the method for an even finish, then pick from 12 ideas: lilac and mint, skittle nails, a gold line or pastel French tips.

Dot daisies, brush-stroke petals and line-art outlines sit behind most floral nail art. Learn all three in gel, then try 15 designs, from sunflowers to pressed flowers.

Gel polish often lasts several weeks on toes. Learn how to do a gel pedicure at home, from straight-across shaping to curing your feet under the lamp, plus colours and designs to try.

A drop of cuticle oil each evening and gentle pushing back once a week keep cuticles neat, as long as you know which skin to remove and which to leave alone.

Milky pink, ivory pearl or a single crystal: eight bridal nail ideas made for ring close-ups, when to book the trial and final manicure, and six colours for wedding guests.

Droplets, swirls and flowers you can feel with a fingertip: how to sculpt raised designs in builder gel, cure them in stages and keep them from catching on hair and clothes.

Even polka dots depend on the right ball size, a fresh dip for each dot and a cure every few nails. Learn the method, then try 10 designs, from black and white to gold.

Jelly nails are sheer and glossy, like boiled sweets or coloured glass. See two ways to build them in gel, how to keep bubbles out, and ten designs from pink jelly to stained glass.

Salons often airbrush aura nails, but gel polish and a small piece of make-up sponge give a very similar glow at home. Learn the method, then pick from ten designs, from pink to chrome.

Each leopard spot is just two marks: a warm brown patch and a few broken black strokes. Learn to paint leopard print nails in gel polish, then try 10 designs, from French tips to cheetah dots.

Most rhinestones fall off because of a gap under the stone or a bare edge. How to set nail gems in gel so they stay on, plus a size chart and eight designs, from the office to New Year's Eve.