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Have you ever opened a brand new jar of Nutty’s Peanut Butter at midnight only to end up chipping a nail? Clumsily manhandled your car keys badly enough to scrape off the topcoat of your freshly manicured pinkies? This madness must come to an end! We all suffer the cyclic trauma of desperately trying to maintain our nails, but are we really doing a smart job? Instead of splurging on pricey manis, let’s start with simple things we can do to stop mishaps in their tracks. After all, who doesn’t love a perfectly pretty set of nails?
Read on for some nail mistakes we make and some nail care tips to fix them:
15 Nail Care Tips
1. Hygiene
First things first; if your nails start developing ridges and turn perplexing hues of yellow it’s time to give your dermatologist a holler. However, we’d recommend a DIY manicure first. All you need to do is soak your hands in hot water and use a scrub to gently exfoliate dead cells and nail discolouration. Next, dry your hands and nails and slather on a dab of Vitamin E oil onto the cuticles. Next, apply a base coat to protect your nails.
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2. Moisturise
We moisturise our face and body so why not our nails too? Much like the rest of our body, our nails need hydration. If your nails look like they’re barely making it through a drought, you could use some help. Quench this thirst with your regular hand cream or use olive oil. Bonus tip: Massage the oil into your fingers just before sleeping. Then wear cotton or silicone gloves to lock in the moisture. You’ll have healthy nails overnight!
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3. Don’t Type With Your Nails
At work or play while you’re jabbing away at your keyboard or touchpad, stop for a second and think about your poor nails. The constant stress can damage your nails, causing minute chips and cracks. Instead, use your fingertips as far as possible for typing and writing.
4. Don’t Use Your Nails As Shovels
It’s common to see gals using their talons to scoop up objects or use them to pick apart a cumbersome thread or button. It’s a cardinal rule: leave picking to your hands and palms, and lifting to your muscles.
5. Eating With Your Hands
I know we love to eat with our fingers but that’s the best way to get food lodged under fingernails or staining nails with haldi. Use a fork and a spoon as far as possible, and if you do end up using your fingers, make sure to thoroughly soap your hands afterwards.
6. Short And Sweet
Feel like you can easily manage four-inch-long Lady Gaga nails? Be my guest. But for those of us who struggle to get up two minutes earlier to comb our hair, short and sweet nails are the way to go. They’re easier to maintain and you’re far less likely to snag them in zippers and Lycra pants.
7. If It Doesn’t Pop, Just Drop It
If there’s one thing we women occasionally need a man for, it’s to open those crazy tight pickle and jam jars. Can’t open it? Drop it. Seek help from someone around you. Your nails will thank you.
8. Spa
This step wouldn't be complete without the Nykaa Nail Care- 7-in-1 Nail Spa. Embarrassed by weak, bitten, or thin nails? Enriched with actives, this miraculous formula will take you a step closer to stronger, smoother and shinier nails. While Acetyl-Methionine adds to the natural Keratin of your nails, Amino Acids stimulate the growth and Vitamin E hydrates the nail bed. C’mon, woman, your nails deserve a spa sesh too!
9. Health Over Length
Even if you like your nails long, if you start seeing a little bit of damage, it’s time to clip them to get to a shorter length so you can maintain their health and avoid further damage. Clip them regularly to avoid breaking the nail from the bed itself.
10. Just Keep Filing
Unlike your taxes, your nails need to be filed regularly to avoid damage and breakage. It helps to always carry a small nail filer on you to shape your nails during long-hour travels to work or meet friends. You can try the VEGA Nail File With Cuticle Trimmer for on-the-go nail filing.
11. Disinfect Your Tools
Just like we wash makeup brushes and clean our styling tools, we also need to disinfect our nail tools to avoid bacterial infestation and dirt accumulation.
12. Look At Cuticles
Nail care is incomplete without cuticle care. Your cuticles ensure the base of your nail is secured and thus clipping them or cutting them off can damage your nail bed too. Apply cuticle oil to the area to make them stronger, you can try the Vaadi Herbal Nail & Cuticle Oil with Jojoba Oil.
13. Minimise False Nail Treatments
Let your nails breathe once in a while if you indulge in false nails all the time. Gel, acrylic, and fake extensions can damage your nail bed and limit the growth of new nails. Wear a clear coat once in a while to revive the nail strength.
14. Wear Gloves
If you do too much physical labour at home such as doing the dishes, gardening, or any other work that requires your hands to be submerged in water or soil then wear gloves while engaging in those activities.
15. Load Up On Protein
Our nails are also made of protein and they get their necessary nutrients from our diets more than anything else. Get your vitamins and minerals to nourish your nails.
Signs of Healthy Nails
- The colour of your nails will be pale pinkish-white colour.
- A slightly thick layer of cuticles will be present around the base of your nails.
- The nail tips are as long as the nail bed.
- A visible half-moon white section can be seen around the base.
Signs of Unhealthy Nails
- Nails split and break off because of a vitamin deficiency.
- You can see tiny white spots and lines on your nails
- Ridges and hooves appear on the nail bed, instead of a smooth nail.
- The skin around the nails appears red, swollen, and bitten.
Parting Thoughts
Once you follow these nail care tips religiously, we’re sure you’ll have nails as unbreakable as the Nokia Asha, and hands softer than a baby’s bottom! Read more about the best nail art ideas and fingernail care tips for all nail types: Nail Art By Nail TypeNail care 101 - 10.
FAQs
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How to maintain nail health?
Make sure to load up on your vitamins, minerals, and protein to keep your nails healthy and strong. Apply cuticle oil to strengthen your cuticles and a coat of nail hardener on your nail bed.
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How often should I trim my nails?
You should trim your nails once every week to avoid breakage or damage to the nails.
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How to protect my nails?
To protect your nails, wear gloves when working with water or soil. Let your nails breathe once in a while, so take a break from fake nail extensions. Apply cuticle oils and hand creams to moisturise your nails and nail bed.
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How to maintain long nails?
The cardinal rule of nail care or maintaining proper nail health is to always keep them clean, away from toxic chemicals, picking them, biting them, and pulling them. Use a nail hardener and cuticle oil to strengthen the nails and cuticle respectively.
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How can I promote nail growth?
You can promote nail health by taking care of it, trimming it regularly, applying cuticle oil, applying a hardening coat, and eating your proteins right.
