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"    Photo: Nina Werman   Long before Instagram manicures were more popular than Justin Bieber, Southern California native Nina Werman and her sister Julia opened Valley Nails on the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York. Nina, previously a comedian before opening the doors to her spa in 2006, has since moved her thriving nail-art and waxing biz to Nolita where the staff continues to break ground in creativity. ELLE.com caught up with her on ways to extend a gel manicure and how to get the most out of your nail-art dreams.     ELLE: What&amp;#039;s your favorite holiday nail look?  Nina Werman: I gravitate towards light ombr\u00E9 with really fine, delicate, hand-painted intricate designs. I like an almost nude nail with a holiday lace overlay in a vamp oxblood or black. The effect is more chic than gothic.  ELLE: How can clients get their most obscure nail art dreams realized? Is it best to bring in photos?  NW: The most helpful thing a first-time customer can do before visiting Valley is to save a photo [of the look you want]. Make sure to call before [to let us know if you want] nail art versus a simpler gel enhancement. A gel enhancement is anything that can be achieved with just gel: an ombr\u00E9, glitter gradient, or reverse French. If you want hand-painted art or 3-D art\u2014like crystal, stone or 3-D acrylic\u2014call to schedule an appointment (as opposed to booking online), so we can make sure to schedule you with the right person for the right amount of time. Think of nail art as being akin to a service you&amp;#039;d get at a tattoo parlor.  \u2028 ELLE: What do you recommend for the nail-art novice?  NW: You might want to test the nail-art waters with an accent nail to start on the ring finger. It&amp;#039;s simple, and it won&amp;#039;t break the bank.  ELLE: Two weeks of gel is quite a commitment. What are some of your favorite colors?  NW: For hand-painted art, stick to coppers and neutrals that go with your wardrobe. You want it to be worth the money; a shade you want to love looking at for a couple of weeks.  ELLE: Nail art has undergone a boom in the past two years. Have you noticed changes at Valley Nails?  NW: We&amp;#039;ve seen a development in the sophistication of our clients&amp;#039; nail art requests. For so long, it was kind of one note. Women are now thinking of nails as part of the fabric of fashion, and the nail-art scene has really evolved. Fabrics and the runway are influencing people&amp;#039;s choices and they&amp;#039;re coming in with ideas that are much more intricate.  ELLE: How can we prep our nails for a gel manicure?  NW: Make sure your nails are long enough. If you&amp;#039;re a nail-biter, you can&amp;#039;t really get a gel mani. Your nails need to be long enough so that there&amp;#039;s a bit of a free edge [at] the end of the finger. If they&amp;#039;re bitten down to little nubs, we&amp;#039;ll unfortunately have to turn you away until they&amp;#039;re long enough. You need a canvas for your art.  ELLE: What are some tips on how to maintain your manicure through the two weeks and beyond?  \u2028 NW: Make sure you have dish gloves at home. Overexposure to water will shorten the life of any manicure\u2014polish or gel. It&amp;#039;s really about maintaining a healthy relationship with gel, like hair dye or any foreign substance you put on your body. I advise clients take a week or two weeks off every two sets. Treat your nails well. This gives them a chance to re-moisturize.  ELLE: The one downfall of the extra long-lasting manicure is that your cuticles can look mangled after a few days. What do you suggest to keep them in tip-top condition?  NW: Cuticle oil is essential. It&amp;#039;s one of the things that start to look ragged before your manicure does. You can tell a fresh manicure from one that&amp;#039;s past its prime. Well hydrated skin extends the life of manicures and pedicures. We use and sell CND Solar Oil. The smell is amazing, and it makes such a difference. Similarly, the gel pedicure will stay on for months without chips, but remember to keep your nails clipped and your feet tended to.  ELLE: What&amp;#039;s your go-to nail shape?  NW: I encourage ladies to stay away from a square nail that looks Chiclet-y. I prefer an oval, or my favorite, which is a pointed-round nail. This look elongates the fingers.    "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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