Finally, a manicure that can survive a less-than-ladylike lifestyle

Getting a manicure is always the last thing on my list of beauty priorities: not because I don't think glossy, painted nails look pretty, but because I have such an unladylike lifestyle that I can't seem to keep polish on for longer than a day without ruining my manicure.

The last time I had my nail colour professionally applied, I managed to smear it when pawing in my handbag for my wallet.

So I was intrigued when I heard about Shellac, a nail treatment that promised to endure for at least two weeks without chipping, and better yet, that was totally dry and smudge-resistant directly after application.

At Medusa Claire prepped my nails by deftly shaping them into the short square shape I prefer, before applying the polish. After each coat the varnish was "cured" under a UV lamp – a clever little lightbox I simply slid my hand into for a couple of minutes. I opted for a French polish because I can't resist the clean healthy look of white tips and pale pink nail beds – no matter what might be lurking beneath (I told you I wasn't ladylike).

When Claire was finished with my nails she massaged some nourishing cream into my hands and I was good to go, and free to scrabble in my bag for my keys without ruining my gorgeous manicure.

So how did the treatment hold up? My nails remained pristine and beautifully shiny right up until day seven, when I managed to sustain a couple of chips while changing the weight plates on the barbell at the gym. The next casualty occurred when I was fixing the slipped chain on my bicycle, but the final blow was delivered on day nine while I was cleaning the inside of my oven – that'll teach me to wear rubber gloves for nasty household chores – like a proper lady. A week and a half is pretty darned good as far as these hard-working hands are concerned, so I was impressed!

A surprising bonus to the treatment was that my nails seemed to grow and grow.

Usually they are prone to flaking and tearing, and nail lacquer usually exacerbates the problem by taking a layer of nail with it as it chips off. However, not only did the Shellac do a great job of protecting my nails from wear and tear, it also left them in gorgeous condition. Pop back into the salon when you're ready to have your colour professionally removed and they'll do it for free.

Medusa, 26 Bread Street, Edinburgh (0131-622 7277, www.medusahair.co.uk)