Q: My sister recently got addicted to pedicures. Is it necessary to take a break between the sessions? Or is it sufficient to alternate between darker and lighter colours, as suggested by her friend?

A: According to Bridget Tan, a trainer from American beauty brand Sally Hansen, most nail polishes contain ingredients such as toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalates, which dry and cause yellowing of nail surfaces.

Thus, it is generally not advisable to have nail polish on for more than two weeks at one go.

She advises a break of one to three weeks.

To further ensure the healthy appearance of your nails, you can consider products such as Sally Hansen's Nail Quencher Hydrating Cuticle cream ($16.50, from major personal care stores) and Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Cuticle & Nail Refiner ($17.50), which helps to remove dead skin cells to keep nails looking neat. These should be applied weekly, regardless of whether you have polish on or not.

OPI's acetane-free nail polish remover ($17.15, from Metro Paragon) is a gentle and effective way to remove nail polish and the brand's Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Replenishing Oil ($42.80) is also a treat for dry, ragged cuticles.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.