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Gel manicures have been all the rage these days, with countless brands coming out with their own versions of the long-lasting polish. But, just like any other salon service, it's always good to do your research before paying a visit to the nail salon. Cleveland's 5 On Your Side news team recently went undercover, sending 10 women with hidden cameras to get gel manicures, specifically CND's Shellac. They found that not all of the salons followed the manufacturers' recommended procedures correctly.

For instance, two women observed that different brands other than CND were also used in their manicures, and others saw an inconsistency in number of layers put on as well as technique. "Application is paramount to get the polish to stay on," explained Barbara Brussee, a licensed cosmetology instructor. (Note: We tried the service and loved it.) But to see how you can establish safeguards, just keep reading.

You have to love the clever concepts designers and beauty teams come up with (Elizabeth Taylor at the gym, anyone?) during Fashion Week. And for Jen Kao's Spring 2012 runway, the nail art inspiration did not fail to disappoint on the quirky factor. Models sported nail art that complemented the designer's "track-girl-meets-Romeo-and-Juliet" theme. "It's a very dangerous, lethal person with a feminine, soft side," explained manicurist Wanda Ruiz for CND. To get these ombré-style nails at home, Ruiz recommends you paint the brand's Inkwell or Oil Slick polish as a base, starting from the cuticle and blending out toward the center. Next apply a saturated color, such as Anchor Blue, Green Scene, Rouge Red, or Midnight Sapphire (which are the exact shades featured at the show), and immediately finish with a topcoat to diffuse the colors together. What happens next is up to you.

Jason Wu and CND have come out with a color collection full of subtle delights, including a shade in his signature gray, Miss Wu, and a delectable red the hue of Bing cherries called Veronica (above). But the most exciting shade in the collection isn't a color at all; it's a new special effect polish. The effect, called Anna (also pictured), is supposed to mimic the appearance of tweed wool. It's a cool idea, but does the reality match the ambition of the concept? I got to try it out before the collection's May 1 debut, so to see the tweed effect in action, just keep reading.

Designer Jason Wu is known for his impeccable tailoring and playful, elegant use of color. His capsule collection of nail polish for CND ($47), features four of Wu's staple colors: Brigitte (a dirty rose), Veronica (a blood red), Miss Wu (a limestone gray), and Sophia (a dark mushroom). The set also includes a silk-infused topcoat that adds depth and texture to manicures. The limited-edition collection isn't available until May 1, but if you nail yourself on the waitlist at GoIndulge, you'll receive free shipping and a mini bottle of CND base or top coat with your order.

Photo courtesy of Greg Kessler