Whether you’re the type of person who religiously paints their nails as a form of self-care or someone who’s constantly picking and biting at their cuticles, we all yearn for healthy, perfectly manicured nails. Well-groomed nails make you look instantly polished and can even make your hands appear more youthful.
What you should be doing for your nails
Keep your hands very clean
After you wash your hands, make sure nails are thoroughly grime-free by first removing all traces of polish with an acetone-free remover, which won’t dry out nails. Apply soap to a clean toothbrush, then gently scrub nails and surrounding skin to remove dirt and exfoliate any dead skin without harsh, drying chemicals.
Be gentle on your nails
Your nails are delicate, so treat them that way. Avoid using metal tools under nails, as too much digging can cause the nail plate to separate from the skin (a condition called onycholysis), common for people over 50. Cleaning with chemicals and washing dishes by hand can also weaken nails. Guard them by wearing rubber, vinyl, nitrile, or plastic gloves.
Clip your nails regularly
Consistent trims are as important to your nails as they are to your hair and make nails less prone to snags and breakage. So aim to clip them every two weeks, adjusting frequency as needed once you see how your nails respond.
Prioritize nail health over length
Long nails are elegant, but if you’re someone who has struggled with hangnails or breakage, keep your nails short — at least for a period as you allow them to grow stronger. A shorter style with rounded edges looks neat and tends to be easier to manage, so you won’t have to subject your nails to extra wear and tear.
Always keep a nail file on hand
If your job or workout routine exposes your nails to potential damage, keep a nail file handy for on-the-spot buffing of any rough edges. For the smoothest finish, work in one direction with the grain of your nail. Instead of an emory board, which can cause nails to peel and snag, try a glass (also called crystal) nail file. A glass file will create an even edge to the nail and can be used on the weakest, brittle, and damaged nails.
Don’t forget to take care of your nail tools, too
Disinfecting your nail tools between uses is just as important as regularly cleaning your makeup brushes and for the same reason — bacteria. To keep your nails infection-free, wash metal tools with soap and water and then wipe down with rubbing alcohol. And don’t forget to regularly replace disposable tools like emery boards. There’s no reason to continue using a tattered tool when it’s so easy to rotate in a new one for a few bucks.
Leave your cuticles alone
The cuticle has a very important purpose to serve: It seals the area at the base of the nail. So think twice about cutting or removing the cuticle, because it can break that seal of protection, leaving you vulnerable to bacteria and the possibility of infection. Taking care of your cuticles also helps minimize those dreaded hangnails.
If you need to push back your cuticles, do so once per week after you shower (when the skin is soft) using a wooden orange stick. Finish by massaging cuticles and nails with a cuticle oil or treatment. Serum-like strengtheners are absorbed quickly and typically contain moisturizers to rehydrate dry, brittle nails.
Protect your nails with a base coat
When you’re painting your nails at home, don’t skip the base coat. This step both shields the nails from being stained by polish and helps the color look more saturated and opaque with just one coat. Even without color, strengthening varnishes leave a shiny hard coating on nails; reinforce tips, making them appear thicker; and can protect against damage.
Read the labels on your polish
Just as with makeup and skincare, not all nail polish brands are created equal, so make sure you’re buying or using a good product. Steer clear of polishes containing toxic chemicals like dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and toluene, as these toxins can contribute to brittleness, splitting, and cracking.
Use a top coat to prevent nail chips
Don’t think you can skip a top coat, either. This step is just as important, as the top coat seals in the polish’s color and adds a much-needed gloss finish to your digits. By adding another top coat layer every three days to decrease chipping, so you’ll get the most out of your manicure.
Indulge in acrylic or gel treatments sparingly
Any nail expert you talk to is going to do their best to steer you away from acrylic or gel manicures — as long-lasting and convenient as they are because they’re very hard on the nail. But if you’re keen on getting them, there are some ways to minimize the damage to your hands and nails.
The main issue with a gel manicure is the exposure to UV light in the drying device, which can damage the skin below and around the nail, leading to an increased risk of cancer. To help reduce that risk, apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50 before the procedure to help block the damage, or you can try special gloves that expose only the nails themselves, shielding the rest of your hands from the harmful UV rays.
Give your nails a break
Save the elaborate nail art and those bold colors with lots of pigment for the weekend, and during the rest of the week, give your nails time to rest and repair with a clear gloss. Going from one strong polish color to another without giving your nails a break can dry them out, turn them yellow, and over time, even weaken the structure of the nail.
Moisturize your hands and nails regularly
You moisturize your face before bed, so do the same for your nails. You can use a mix of almond and avocado oils to keep cuticles and nails hydrated while getting some shut-eye, but any nutrient-rich oil or moisturizer will do.
Wear gloves when doing dishes
Whenever you’re cleaning with harsh chemicals, gardening, or doing anything that involves soaking or dirtying your hands, you need to wear rubber, vinyl, nitrile, or plastic gloves — some of which have a cotton liner. Cleaning dishes in hot, soapy water sans gloves can weaken the nails, while getting them caked with dirt from gardening will require a level of cleaning that you want to avoid wherever possible. Similarly, when the weather is chilly, remember to wear a pair of mittens or gloves so that the cold air and wind don’t undo the hard work you did moisturizing, leaving you with dry, flaky, scaly skin.
Load up on protein-rich food
Your fingernails are made of a protein called keratin, so just as with the clarity of your skin or the shine of your hair, you can improve your nails by tweaking your diet. Adding vitamins and supplements like biotin, Vitamin E, and fish oil to your daily regimen, and protein-rich foods like beans, fish, and nuts. Once you hit on the combination that works for you, you’ll be rewarded with stronger, clearer nails.