Emergency Manicure Kit for the Traveling Gal

As many of you know, I travel quite a bit. Sometimes four to six days a month which leaves me with little time to book a wonderful, relaxing manicure at the salon to fix those pesky chipped nails. Which by the way, my nail polish always chips; I don’t care if the manicurist uses super, mega, ultra, “diamond-hard” and silk infused nail polish – it chips and it always chips before an important meeting or event – it’s not her fault or the brands of polish she uses. It’s me, really, it’s me: I have an un-canning ability to destroy a perfect manicure. Perhaps it’s the constant drumming of my fingers on my desk (after-effects of one too many cups of coffee), or too much time tapping away at the keyboard?

I’ve learned to travel with nail polish remover, emery board, a double duty base/top coat and two pale shades of nail polish (I like to alternate I bore easily, must have different colors…). All in the effort to have presentable hands. Here’s what’s in my “Emergency Manicure Kit” by brand:

• Belle Hop LA FRESH Towelette Series for Travel: Nail Polish Remover Wipes (package of 6 for $4)
• Ms. Manicure Purse Size Emery Boards, Medium to Fine Grit (12 matchstick size files, $2)
• Nailtiques Formula 1 Nail Protein – a recent addition which has replaced OPI for base and top coat ($10).
• Rescue Beauty Opaque Nude Nail Polish ($18) and Sally Hansen Salon Lacquer Peachful Breeze ($6)

All the above travel manicure items can be found at drugstores or drugstore.com with the exception of Rescue Beauty – order that online at rescuebeauty.com.