Taking good care of your nails is essential to ensure they’re healthy and strong. After all, your hands do a lot for you, so taking a few minutes each day to look after them will go a long way! This article will give you an introductory guide on the basics of nail care, so you can treat your nails right and make them look their best. Read on for some top tips on how to keep your nails well maintained!
1. Nail Care: The Basics
Nail care is a major part of looking and feeling our best and often falls by the wayside over the course of a week. Taking a few minutes to tend to your nails now and again can make a world of difference in the overall health and appearance of your hands. Here are the basics of nail care to get you started!
Filing: Regularly filing your nails keeps them looking neat and helps to prevent them from splitting or breaking. Use a nail file to shape your nails into a desired shape; most commonly an oval or rounded shape is favoured. File each nail in one single direction only, then buff the edges to smooth away any jaggedness. Never use metal files, always opt for a glass or crystal file as they’re better for your nails.
Trimming: Cut your nails when they reach a length you’re comfortable with, usually two-three millimetres from the tip of the finger. To avoid any painful snipping, ensure your nail clippers are free of any oil or residue, as this can cause them to slip and cause tears and breaks in the nail.
Shaping: An important aspect of nail shaping is filing the nail’s free edge in a shape that follows the curvature of your cuticle. Different shapes can flatter different hands, so experiment and see what you can find that best fits yours. The most flattering shapes tend to be an almond, oval, or squoval. To clip the free edge, keep your scissors parallel and straight up-and-down, then use a file to smooth away any rough edges.
Moisturising: To prevent nails from becoming dry and brittle, make sure to regularly apply nail moisturiser. An oil- or beeswax-based moisturiser is best, and massaging it into the cuticles provides extra nourishment. For an extra soothing treatment, give your nails a warm bath in a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice. Finish off your regime with a cuticle cream to deeply nourish those little areas.
Polishing: Before you start painting your nails, make sure to smoothen them with a buffer and also to apply a basecoat. This helps protect your nails from strong nail polishes and avoids your nails becoming stained. If applying a darker colour, use a basecoat that is the same colour as the polish to help it pop more. When applying the colour, start from the center of your nail, and paint outwards creating a thin and even layer. Finally, seal with a topcoat and you’ll be protecting your nails by keeping the colour glossy and vibrant.
2. Your Guide to Healthy and Strong Nails
Having strong, healthy nails is a great goal to strive for! With the right practices, it’s easy to bring your nails into fighting shape. Here’s how you can get healthy, strong nails!
- Focus on the Basics: Keeping your nails regularly trimmed will improve their overall health. Using a nail file rather than clippers helps reduce the risk of splitting the nails. Additionally, it’s important to keep your hands and nails moisturized – use a nourishing cream throughout the day, particularly after washing your hands.
- Eat for Healthy Nails: Eating quality, nutrient-rich foods is important for overall good health and keeping your nails strong. Some specific foods that do wonders for healthy nails include walnuts, which are rich in biotin and omega-3 fatty acids, and spinach, which is packed with zinc, vitamins, and proteins.
- Protect Your Nails: It’s important to be careful and watchful when handling your nails. Avoid biting, picking, or pushing your cuticles back too hard as these activities can weaken your nails or even cause an infection. Additionally, consider using gloves when washing dishes to help protect your hands and nails from drying out.
Give Your Nails a Treatment: You can also give your nails a treatment by soaking them in a solution of water and olive or coconut oil. Doing this once or twice a week can help keep nails healthy and strong. Be sure to moisturize afterward by massaging cuticle oil, into the nail bed.
Speak to Your Doctor: If you’re having any unusual or persistent nail problems, see your physician. They may be able to diagnose any underlying issues or suggest treatments to help get your nails healthy and strong.
3. Five Simple Tips to Strengthen Your Nails
Healthy Diet
A nutritious diet is key to having strong nails. Meal plan including lean proteins, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and healthy whole grains. Incorporate foods that are rich in biotin, calcium and vitamin C into your diet as they can promote nail health. Add more healthy fats like avocado and olive oil in your diet. These healthy foods provide essential vitamins and minerals that can make nails flexible, thick and strong.
Moisturize Nails and Cuticles
Keeping nails and cuticles moisturized is very important. Invest in a nourishing cuticle cream that has essential ingredients such as vitamin E, almond oil, shea butter and avocado oil. After showering or doing the dishes, apply the cream directly onto the cuticles. Massage it gently into the cuticles and nails it to rehydrate and strengthen them.
Wear Gloves When Doing Chores
Your hands are subject to harsh conditions when involved in chores such as washing dishes. Wear gloves during such activities and also when using harsh chemicals. Your hands and nails are can get damaged wearing gloves regularly especially when using bleach, and other cleaning chemicals. Choose light protective gloves.
Shield Nails from Breakage
Avoid activities that may break your nails such as opening packages with your nails. Make sure to use tools such as an opener for opening container lids or packages. Too much clipping the corners of the nails and filing them in the wrong direction can make them break or cause them to split.
Be Gentle With Nails
When clipping your nails, use sharp nail clippers and cut in the same direction. Keep your nails short and shaped to minimize the risk of breakage. Filing should be done a few times a week if needed. Move the file from one corner to the other in one direction and don’t push hard with the file as this can damage the delicate nail bed.
4. All You Need to Know About Caring for Your Nails
Keeping your nails in good health begins with proper hygiene. Regularly washing your hands using a mild soap to get rid of bacteria and dirt can help prevent diseases and other infections. Taking some extra effort to clean and trim your nails regularly will ensure your overall nail health.
Moisturizing: Keeping your nails moisturized is essential for healthy nails. To properly moisturize your nails and surrounding skin, invest in a good quality, oil-based or water-based hand cream. Gently applying it on your nails and cuticles will lock in moisture and prevent the skin from becoming dry and cracking. Don’t forget to do this after coming in contact with harsh chemicals like cleaners and detergents.
Eliminating Typical Nail Problems: Your fingernails and toenails can become fungus-ridden, discolored, rough, and brittle over time. Eating healthy and exercising regularly helps maintain strong nails with a natural shine. Quitting smoking and avoiding nail treatments like gel manicures and acrylics can also help prevent long-term, serious nail damage.
Next Steps: Aside from the above steps, the following tips can keep your nails looking good:
- Keep your nails dry and clean.
- Be gentle with your hands, and use moisturizer.
- Wear protective gloves to guard against dirt and chemical exposure.
- Trim your nails straight across and at a slight angle at the corners.
- Avoid contact with harsh detergents and cleaning solutions.
Ultimately, nail health depends on practicing the right habits. If you follow these tips, then you can be sure to get the most out of your hands and feet, ensuring beautiful and healthy nails!
These are the basics of nail care and with these tips you can achieve healthy and strong nails. With a little bit of knowledge and effort, you can maintain lovely, attractive nails and have a radiance that is sure to help you shine.
