Rescue Your Nails a Do-It-Yourself Guide to Perfect fingers & Toes

by Ji Baek, Barbara Smullen (Illustrator), Deborah Ory (Photographer)

Skip the spa and give yourself an at home manicure—and here's the perfect author to show how. Ji Baek, the high-energy owner of New York's hottest nail salons, the Rescue Beauty Lounge—written about from  Vogue  to InStyle ,  Lucky  to  Harper's Bazaar , used by designers and stylists, patronized by actors, fashionistas, professionals, and more—presents the definitive guide to beautiful hands and feet. Emphasizing natural beauty, cleanliness, and simplicity, it covers the science of the nail, and why it's important to take vitamins, file regularly, and moisturize constantly; the care of the nail, with step-by-step illustrated directions to achieving professional-quality home manicures and pedicures, including tools, techniques, lotions, polishes; the dressing of the nail—shapes, colors, and styles; the health of the nail and the surrounding skin—how to heal split nails, brittle nails, and ingrown nails, and take care of common problems like calluses and sunspots.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, How To, Fashion

166 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2008

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great informant on taking care of your hands, feet, and nails. It had practical advice for how to do at-home manicures and pedicures, pro tips on applying nail polish, and the importance of sanitizing your tools even if you're the only one who uses them.

I have always loved nail polish and getting my nails done, but lately I've been trying to care for my natural nails and see how I can improve their health. This book had a section dedicated to nail care as well as a section to troubleshooting problems which I found helpful in dealing with my weak nails.

The author's Nail Biters Anonymous program is also in this book and while I don't bite my nails anymore, I wish I had known of this back in high school and could have used it to help with my nail biting addiction.

Unfortunately, the author's nail salon, Rescue Beauty Lounge, and product line of the same name has now shut its doors so I can't get some of the products she recommends or one day go to her salon and see the difference between salons I'm used to and her standards but that has nothing to do with the book and more to do with the author stating that she was ready for a change so she shut the doors.

Overall, I found this book very useful and would recommend to anyone who wants to learn how to better care for their nails.

[Danielle]

Nothing revolutionary - if you feel you give yourself a decent manicure there’s probably no need for you to get this book. Perhaps would recommend for nail-biters though, there’s a big chunk on quitting, healing, maintaining.

Later edit:

Maybe saying “nothing revolutionary” was undeserved - what kind of revolution was I looking for in a nail care book? While staring at my nails today I recalled the author’s suggestion to use off-white instead of bright white for a French manicure. That’s helpful and worth trying. I don’t really do white tips now but if I did I would give off-white a try.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

be sure to sterilize all your nail equipment; don't shake your nail polish, rather roll in your hands to warm it; includes care of hands when cutting, chopping, gardening. Also includes troubleshooting for imperfect nails, foot therapy sections. And a whole final section on NBA (nail-biters anonymous) that includes 12 week program to quit biting your nails.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

She does a good job of explaining how to do a manicure or pedicure, but has a bit too much of an emphasis on her own products.

Interesting book about a woman who worked as a chef who then opens a nail salon and uses skills learned in the first in the second. She believes in cleaning and in having your mise-en-scene ready before getting going with your tasks and details this as she goes, is quite interesting about moisturisers and using what you have to do the work. Worth reading if you want a down-to-earth guide, the ad for her polishes and the colours is interesting but feels slightly out-of-place.

The Rescue your nails things is a slight misnomer, it's named after her spa, Rescue Spa, rather than how to fix problem nails, there is a chapter on fixing some problems but it isn't really in-depth.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a nail polish junkie. I just love looking down and seeing color on my nails! I rarely go out and get manicures and do my polishing at home though, so the art of the manicure was rather mysterious to me. This book answered all of my questions about doing manicures-- from history to how-to and (most importantly for me) why. It was a very interesting read is a great visual resource as well. It has become my go-to source for all of my manicure/pedicure questions. My only qualm is that it doesn't really discuss products/ingredients (e.g., acetone vs. non-acetone; what it means to be 3- or 4-free, etc.), not does she offer much in the way of suggestions for products other than her own brand of polishes. So I will just have to keep experimenting with that.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great little book! After having two manicures in my life (both of 'em pretty lousy) I have always enjoyed taking care of my own nails... It's relaxing and they always look better than when done by a manicurist. This book has the basics of taking care of your hands, feet and nails. Moisturize! (Apparently this is the key to it all.) I've always been afraid of the cuticle issue but she made it simple and nonthreatening. She also talked a bit about different disorders and health concerns that show up in your nails. Hooray for nice, strong nails!

[Falcon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute, fun book! Great for anyone who loves at home mani and pedi's. There are tons of tips and tricks, the advice and results are spot on.

If you're ever in NYC, Rescue Beauty Lounge in the Meatpacking District is a must! One of the best nail salons in NYC. Ji Baek really knows her stuff and models the polish off the hottest runway trends. I own a RBL polish and it's amazing. Made with the good stuff :)

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic book on manicures and pedicures, including some info on tools (but no brand recommendations) and keeping everything sterile. Baek owns a nail spa in NYC and has her own line of nail polish, but this isn't a vehicle for sales.

Informative and user-friendly. Basically: keep tools clean & moisturize. Seriously, lotion, all the time, can't do it enough.

[jiitter.bug24reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book, I refer back to it a lot. I did the Nail Biters Anonymous 12 week program just under 2 years ago and I still haven't bitten my nails, and I was a chronic nail biter, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has trouble with biting or picking, and would even just say own a copy for how-to guides at home for manicures and pedicures.

[Margaret Heller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things I learned: you should sterilize your tools, it's ok to use metal tools, and yes you really kind of look like a slob with your current lack of any manicure at all.

Plus use hand lotion a bunch.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, the steps were very simple, the author makes it easy to follow, and shows that spending 15-20 for a manicure and pedicure isn't necessary every month. Although, I enjoy going to spa salons, when I can't I go to this book:-)

[Lee Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, basic manicure/pedicure tips from a "celebrity" manicurist. I love a book I can read in one day!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK. So I am nail/skincare geek. This was an easy to read useful book, with a strong focus on sterilizing your clippers, nailfiles, etc.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Direct and thorough approach to nail care. Unfortunately, I already do everything suggested in this book so I didn't learn anything. However, this book validates what I perceived as my vanity.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful information for someone like me who didn't know anything about nail or hand care. I don't think she has the only correct answers, however, as I've also learned a lot watching youtube videos and reading an online forum.