8 Tips for Maintaining Healthy Fingernails
It doesn't matter how pretty your nail polish job is if your nails themselves aren't in good shape. To keep them strong, healthy, and shapely, check out these 10 awesome nail care tips.
Keyword(s): nail care
Are you constantly picking at stubborn hangnails? Do your cuticles look like they went through a shredder? Are you constantly daydreaming about how to get healthy nails?
If so, you might not be practicing the best routine nail care. Nail care isn't a set it and forget it sort of thing.
If you're wondering how to take care of your nails the right way, read on for our top ten tips on home fingernail care.
Take Care of Your Cuticles
Your cuticles are all that stand between your nails and an infection like nail fungus. If you're a chronic nail-biter, you're probably used to donning shredded cuticles.
The reality is that broken cuticles put your nails at risk for disease. They're there for a reason, so don't bite them!
You should also avoid pushing your cuticles back. They grow slightly atop your nail to create a seal between your nail and the outside world, so help your nails out by keeping that seal intact.
Regular Manicures
Life moves fast, and it's hard to maintain all aspects of our health at all times. That's why you should schedule regular manicures ahead of time to ensure they get put onto the calendar.
Do you know whether you're supposed to clip hangnails or not? How about the best shape to trim your nail into to minimize hangnails?
Professionals know exactly what to do to keep your nails healthy, so taking time to let them do their job will take the stress of maintaining healthy nails off you!
Biotin Supplements
Biotin supplements are packed full of B vitamins, which are essential for healthy nails and hair. That's because B vitamins support the growth and strengthening of keratin, which is the protein that makes up our nails and hair.
Here are some biotin-rich foods if you're into eating your vitamins:
- Egg yolks
- Seeds and nuts
- Nutritional yeast
- Sweet potatoes
- Salmon
- Avocado
- Cauliflower
If you're not a fan of these biotin-laden foods, you can always purchase a biotin supplement. Since biotin supplements have become pretty popular, they can be found at almost all grocery stores, drugstores, and vitamin shops.
Don't Use Nails as Tools
We're all guilty of using your thumbnail to pop a lid off of something, pull something up, or scrape a surface.
Despite your nails being such great little tools, you should avoid using them as such as much as possible. Using your nails like this can lead to breakage, and pull your nail away from your finger. That gap can lead to infection.
It's better to be safe than sorry. Grab a real tool, instead.
Clean Only with a Nail Brush
Just as using your nails as tools can pull your nail away from your finger, so can cleaning beneath your nails with a sharp tool.
Most people commonly clean beneath their nails with little "tools" like pins, pens, or toothpicks. Here's why this is dangerous.
These items are usually not sanitized, which means they're laden with bacteria. And when you stick them underneath your nail, it creates a gap where bacteria love to live and cause infection. Now, a gap's been created, and you've just shoved a dirty pin right into it.
Cue the infection.
Stick to a nail brush with soft bristles instead. Lather it up with soapy water and gently scrub the tips of your nails. This method gets the underneath of your nails cleaner, anyway!
Wear Gloves While Doing Chores
The best way to keep your nails strong and your cuticles from drying out and breaking off is to keep them moisturized. And the quickest way to dry out your hands is to wash a sinkful of hot dishes for half an hour.
That's why gloves are so important while doing chores. Most cleaning products also contain harsh chemicals that are terrible for your skin, so if you're cleaning with bleach, definitely don't skip the gloves.
It's a good idea to stock up on all natural cleaning products to make this process easier. Some dish soaps are even infused with lotion now to help nails and hands stay strong and soft through all of life's little (and big) messes.
Trim Regularly
Make sure you're trimming your nails regularly to avoid them breaking off or ripping. Not only can this be painful, but it can lead to infection as well. Depending on how fast your nails grow, this should be around every two weeks.
When trimming, trim straight across. This will help avoid ingrown fingernails by giving your nail plenty of room to grow out instead of in.
After every trim, give your nails a good file with an emory board, too. This'll smooth them out nicely in order to prevent them from snagging on anything throughout the day.
Regularly Disinfect Tools
It's easy to forget to disinfect your nail care tools. You probably don't use them that frequently, so it's routine to throw them back in the bathroom vanity drawer when you're done.
That's how infections happen. After every use, wash your clippers and hangnail scissors with warm, soapy water and then disinfect with rubbing alcohol. It only takes an extra minute or two, and your nails will thank you when they're primped and primed with fresh tools next time.
When it comes to emory boards, don't use them for too long. They're pretty inexpensive, so replace them frequently to keep them fresh and bacteria free. They can't really be washed without the water ruining the surface, either!
What's Your Nail Care Routine?
It's easy for nail care to fall to the bottom of the to-do list, but you'll be glad you took the time when your nails grow stronger and healthier than ever before. And now that you know how to take care of nails, you'll be on your way to magazine nails in no time!
Are you feeling inspired to book a manicure now? In addition to regular manicures, we also offer a hydration manicure for those whose hands and nails are really in need. Check out all our services here!