I’m always keeping my ear to the ground for the latest in nail-related celebrity news. Here’s a round-up of some of the latest items that have come my way.

• ·         Birmingham, Ala.-based tech Arnisha “Phyne’sse” Morrow was featured in the Birmingham News for her nail expertise. She offered tips to readers including advising them to reapply top coat in the days after a manicure and incorporate hand and feet scrubs into their daily routines.

• ·         Be! Products Inc. was the exclusive nail care gift line in celebrity swag bags at the 50^th anniversary of the Grammy Awards. The company’s Strikin’ Gold polish was selected by Be! as the perfect commemorative color for the event.

• ·         Celebrity manicurist Jenna Hipp described her experience doing actress Hilary Duff’s nails for an InStyle photo shoot.

• ·         Mobile salon company Nail Taxi was recently featured on an episode of CNBC’s “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch;” plus, the company was featured in articles in Family Circle and The Washington Post.

• ·         Haken USA’s Whipped Body Butters were touted in a Newsweek magazine Tip Sheet story about perfect Mother’s Day gifts.

• ·         CND’s Liza Smith did the nails of Sarah Jessica Parker for the London premier of the Sex & The City movie. Smith says, “She wears her nails uber short and buffed!  I massaged with Birch and Mint Scentsations, used Cuticle Remover, Cuticle Eraser and SolarOil. I buffed the nails to a high shine with a Glossing Buffer.”

• ·         Blake Lively, star of CW Television's hot drama "Gossip Girl," wore Minx Silver Lightning nails to the Nina Ricci After Party for the Met Ball in New York City.  

• ·         NSI Africa scored a big celebrity for the face and brand ambassador of the company. NSI Africa snagged 23-year-old Tansey Coetzee, a Johannesburg native, who was crowned Miss South Africa for 2008.

• ·         Vegan polish brand Sparitualis heating up the presses with its recent appearances in OK, CosmoGirl, Shape, and Life and Style.

• ·         Cate Blanchett was seen donning OPI's Privacy Pleasepolish on her fingertips at the 2008 Oscars and the Independent Spirit Awards.

• ·         Brides magazine recommended Poshe’s Super-Fast Drying Topcoat as a wedding day winner.

• ·         InStyle’s “Green Scene” pages noted that Scarlett Johansson wears DPB-, toluene- and formaldehyde-free Nubarpolish.

• ·         San Diego-based nail tech Moni Leiper was recently featured on her local Fox station’s “San Diego Living” show about at-home services to share with your sweetie.

• ·         Celebrities including Fergie, James Blunt, Sheryl Crow, Carole King, and Rene Russo received Nordic Care gift sets when the company participated in the 9^th annual “A Home for the Holidays” Gift Lounge, a CBS special on. the benefits of adoption and foster care.

Did you or your salon or company recently have its 15 minutes of fame? Drop me a line in the Feedback section and you could be included in the next Seen & Heard round-up either online, in the print magazine, or both.

Photo: Celebrity manicurist Elle Gelle did Blake Lively’s nails with Minx for an after party for the Met Ball.

—Sree