Skin & Nail Care

30 Nail Care Tips for Beautiful, Healthy, Fabulous Nails!

Can Your Nails Look More Beautiful? Yes!

It’s about nail care, people! Are you battling unattractive, brittle nails or trying to reverse some serious staining? Nails might be small, but they require a lot of mindful care. In fact, there’s a lot more to the health, growth, and strength of your nails than a simple nail file and bottle of polish remover.

These tips have got you covered, from base coat to top coat and everything in between.

Lock in moisture, protect your nails, and get into a healthy treatment regimen. With the right products and practices, healthy, happy nails are within reach.

Let’s perfect your lifestyle habits—and your next manicure—for spectacular long-term nail health and beauty.

30 Nail Care Tips That Will Keep Your Nails Looking Spectacular!

Nail Care Tip #30. Get Your Antioxidants

Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants to help to fight off free radicals and boost your overall immune system. A strong immune system is essential for healthy nails and a healthy body.

Colorful fruits like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are especially high in antioxidants. Eat them!

Nail Care Tip #29. Get Your Omega-3 Fatty Acids

This essential anti-inflammatory nutrient promotes healthy nails. Before you reach for a supplement, you can find omega-3 in salmon, walnuts, spinach, eggs, and wild rice.

Nail Care Tip #28. Stay Hydrated

Nails are about 18 percent water. So, like your skin and hair, they require constant hydration.

Hydrate from the inside-out by drinking plenty of water—especially in the winter, when we tend to get dehydrated without noticing.

Nail Care Tip #27. No More Hand Sanitizer

More often than not, hand sanitizers include alcohol to kill those “99% of germs.” But… alcohol dries out your skin, cuticles, and nails.

Wash your hands with lukewarm water and gentle soap, instead.

Nail Care Tip #26. Clean with Rubber Gloves

When you’re doing any hands-on housework, rubber gloves are absolutely necessary.

From washing dishes to cleaning bathrooms (hey, chemicals), constant contact with water and alcohol-based products will weaken your nails. Get into the habit of protecting your hands with rubber gloves, and your nails will thank you.

“Nails are made up of the same protein as hair—keratin—and when you learn that, you start to make the connection that, just like hair, nails need gentle loving care too.”
Michelle Saunders – essie celebrity manicurist

Nail Care Tip #25. Don’t Use Your Nails As A Tool

When it’s difficult to open a sealed package, an aluminum can, or any other material, reach for a tool instead of using your nails.

When you use your nails to apply too much pressure to open packages, you risk breaking and tearing them. It’s not worth it! Use a can opener.

Nail Care Tip #24. Take Warm Showers — Not Hot

Hot showers can feel great on your skin. But, steamy hot water also dries out your nails. Opt for warm and cool showers instead.

Nail Care Tip #23. Post-Shower Moisture

Lather your hands and nails with body butter after a shower. This will help to stimulate healthy nail growth.

Nail Care Tip #22. Start Fresh

When you’re prepping your nails for a new manicure or trim, always begin by cleaning your hands.

Gently scrub your nails and cuticles, too, to start with a fresh base. Keeping your hands clean pre-manicure will help to keep your tools clean, too.

Nail Care Tip #21. Frequent Tool Cleaning

Keep your nail care tools in tip-top shape with frequent cleanings. Simply soak metal tools in soapy water and wipe them down with rubbing alcohol.

As for nail buffers and files, toss those out every month or so to prevent bacteria buildup and keep your nail care game fresh and clean.

Nail Care Tip #20. Sharing Is Not Caring

When it comes to your at-home nail care tools, you shouldn’t share them with friends.

No matter how frequently you clean them, it’s a good idea to keep them for personal use. Bacteria will spread easily via shared beauty products.

So, keep your tools and your nails clean by keeping them to yourself.

Nail Care Tip #19. Trim Hangnails — Don’t Pull!

When you’re out and about, it can be tempting to give a hangnail a firm tug. But this can tear the skin around your nails.

Always resort to carefully trimming of your hangnail, instead.

If you need help to wait until you get home to solve the problem, just cover the hangnail with a band-aid.

Nail Care Tip #18. Never Try To Trim Your Cuticles By Yourself

It’s OK to push cuticles back if they’re creeping up on your manicure. But avoid trimming them yourself — leave that to the nail technicians.

Trimming cuticles improperly can cause them to grow back even thicker and to look more rachet. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Nail Care Tip #17. Soak Your Nails

Before you push back your cuticles, soak your hands in warm water to begin to soften and relax the cuticles.

Nail Care Tip #16. Cuticle Oil Makes A Difference

Since the cuticle protects the base of your nail, it’s important to maintain healthy cuticles.

After you soak your hands and before you push back your cuticles, gloss them over with a bit of cuticle oil to soften them.

Nail Care Tip #15. Cut Straight Across

When trimming your nails, cut them straight-across so that they’re squared off. This will help them to grow out evenly and prevent in-grown nails.

Shape them with a nail file if you prefer a rounded shape.

Nail Care Tip #14. Buff Up

You can pick up a nail buffer (different from a file) at any drug store. A nail buffer can shape, smooth, and shine your nails, all at once.

A word of caution: Use a nail buffer every now and then, but not every day.

Nail Care Tip #13. Check Labels

Some nail products and polishes include formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and other toxins. Check ingredient labels so that you know what you’re putting on your body.

Nail Care Tip #12. Minimal Acetone

Acetone nail polish removers typically work the best. Acetone is incredibly strong, so it’s ideal for wiping away dark colors.

However, it can strip your nails of their natural oils and dry them out.

The bottomline: It’s okay to use acetone now and then. But, avoid frequent use.

Nail Care Tip #11. Use Cotton

Reach for cotton balls or a piece of 100% cotton to remove nail polish.

And you don’t need to apply much pressure. A good nail polish remover solution will require just a few gentle swipes to take it all off.

Nail Care Tip #10. Strengthen With Clear Polish

Even when you’re not going for a bold color, a simple layer of clear nail polish can strengthen brittle nails and lock in moisture.

Wear it for two to three days with a day off in between to allow your nails to breathe.

Nail Care Tip #9. Avoid Acrylic

Acrylic nails might give you that length you’re looking for. But they prevent your nails from breathing and weaken them over time.

In fact, the routine removal of acrylic nails can cause long-term damage.

Nail Care Tip #8. Try A Nail Hardener

Nail hardener looks a lot like clear nail polish. It helps your nails become more resistant to breakage.

You don’t need to paint it on every day; a once-a-week treatment is enough for noticeable improvement.

Nail Care Tip #7. Begin With Base

When painting your nails, always start with a base coat. This protective layer serves as a barrier between the surface of your nails and the brilliant color to follow.

You’ll especially want to include a base coat to prevent staining your nails if you plan to go for a bold red or dark blue.

Nail Care Tip #6. Limit Gel Use

Gel usually lasts much longer than your average nail polish. But it is particularly harsh on nails.

Limit your gel use to special occasions, and go easy on your nails in the meantime.

Nail Care Tip #5. Avoid UV Light

Some nail salons use UV light in the drying devices, particularly for gel manicures. This can harm the skin around the nail, and even lead to cancer. Opt to air-dry instead.

Nail Care Tip #4. Give Your Nails A Rest

Your nails need time to breathe and repair themselves in between manicures. Give your nails two to three days in between polish changes for long-term strength.

Nail Care Tip #3. No Nail Growth? Try Biotin

If you have brittle nails that refuse to grow, then talk to you doctor about taking a biotin supplement.

Nail Care Tip #2. Tobacco No-No

Smoking cigarettes can lead to unhealthy, cracked nails. It can even stain them yellow.

Don’t start smoking. Your nails will thank you for it. If you’re in the process of quitting, your nails can recover naturally, with time.

Nail Care Tip #1. Layer up

In the winter months, keep a pair of gloves or mittens with you at all times. Cold, winter air can dry out your nails just as much as it does your skin. Protect those little guys with weatherproof coverage.

So…

Feeling fierce already? Spectacular nails begin with healthy nail care habits. Luckily, you’re already on the right track. Follow these tips, connect with a nail pro if you wish, and you will achieve the most beautiful nails you’ve ever thought possible. Healthy, strong, and spectacular? Now you can say yes to all of the above.

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