Lifestyle 11 May 2022

How to Take Care of Your Nails and Keep them Beautiful: 7 Top Tips from Nail Care Experts

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Your hands are the first thing that most people notice about you. Beautiful, well-manicured nails leave a lasting impression and indicate that a woman loves to care for herself. For thousands of years, pretty nails were a symbol of royalty and social status; even Cleopatra used henna on her nails to enhance her famous beauty.

Today, women yearn for gorgeous nails because they are a hallmark of elegance and beauty. Everyone deserves the prettiest nails, and you, too, can have chic nails to add glam to your selfies and turn your friends green with envy!

If you are unhappy with your nails and have to tuck them away from the public gaze, look no further. We have assembled the best tips from nail care experts just for you.

Healthy Nails

We use our hands for every task and daily chores, putting them through dirt and strain. As a result, neglecting them usually leads to discolored, disfigured, or even infected nails.

Healthy nails should be smooth, strong, and have an even, consistent color. Vertical ridges may develop as we age, and the nails may become brittle, but this is normal and nothing to worry about.

However, your nails are unhealthy and need immediate care if you have the following;

• Unnatural shapes like curling or clubbing • Thickening or thinning of nails • Peeling and splitting nails • Dark spots, white streaks, and other discolorations • Nail separation from the skin • Pits or indentations • Pain or swelling, • Redness or bleeding

Some of these problems, such as pain, swelling, and redness, may indicate an injury or an underlying health issue that a dermatologist should examine. However, nail problems are often a sign of neglect, cuticle removal gone awry, wrong nail care products, or lousy nail care practices.

7 Tips from Nail Care Experts for Strong and Healthy Nails

Although nail care is a regular task, keeping your nails well-groomed does not require hard work.With daily care, your nails can enhance the femininity and beauty of your hands. Here are 7 top tips from nail experts to help you achieve stunning nails:

1. Keep Your Hands Squeaky Clean

Great nails start with good hygiene. Regularly washing your hands prevents the build-up of dirt and grime on your fingernails. Remove all the nail polish first with acetone-free remover, then apply soap on a toothbrush and gently scrub the fingernails.

Pay close attention to the outer edges and beneath the nails. Remove all dead skin, but do not use harsh exfoliating chemicals.

2. Clip Your Nails Regularly

Clip nails at least once every two weeks, depending on how fast they grow. Longer nails may be in fashion, but experts recommend keeping them shorter, especially if you struggle with broken and chipped nails.

Keep your nails short for a while until they strengthen before allowing them to grow longer. If you lead a busy lifestyle, then shorter nails with rounded edges look chic, are less likely to wear and tear, and are easier to manage.

It’s best to clip your nails after a shower when they are soft. Clipping dry nails can easily cause splitting and chipping.

Experts recommend leaving your cuticles alone because they serve to seal the nail to the skin. Biting or pulling at your cuticles will cause injury and infection. Instead, push your cuticles back every week with an orange wood stick.

3. Protect Your Nails

Nails are delicate and frequent exposure to water, and harsh chemicals will lead to nail splitting. Use cotton-lined gloves when gardening, doing dishes,working with harsh chemicals, or during heavy work that might damage your nails.

Additionally, protect your nails from nail polish and other chemicals by applying a base coat. This prevents staining and gives your nails a shiny hard protective coat that reinforces the nail tips to avoid damage.

Go a step further by adding a clear gloss between every layer of polish for added strength and protection.

4. Add a Top Coat Every Three Days

A top coat will add extra strength to your nails and protect them from damage. Applying a top coat every third day will seal your polish for that extra gloss and prevent chipping.

A top coat will make your nail color appear opaque and have better saturation for a healthier and prettier look. What’s more, this helps you get more bang out of every manicure by making the results last longer.

5. Moisturize Your Hand and Nails

Like your skin, your nails need moisture to stay healthy and strong. Dry nails are prone to cracking and chipping, so use an excellent moisturizer or nutrient-rich oil such as avocado and almond to keep your cuticles and nails hydrated.

Products with glycerin, fatty oils, and silicone are also suitable for your hands and nails. If you don’t have any of these, use lip balm. It’s great for your nails too!

6. Avoid Harsh Nail Products

Your nails are delicate and cannot withstand rough treatment from harsh exfoliators and nail polishes with toxic chemicals.

Read the labels on your nail products carefully, and steer clear of nail polishes that contain dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and toluene. Such chemicals cause cracking and splitting and increase the brittleness of your nails.

Also, remember to avoid using metallic tools under or around your fingernails because they may cause injury and infection as a result.

7. Watch What You Eat

Eating foods rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids will give you healthier and stronger nails. A diet with beans, oily fish, and nuts is great for your nails and skin too. You can also take a biotin supplement and increase your vitamin and mineral intake.

Vitamin A and C will make your nails glossy and hydrated, while Vitamin B will make nails grow stronger. Iron helps to prevent ridge formation, while zinc can eliminate white spots.

A Word of Caution

it is essential to give your nails a break to recover and repair. Moving from one strong nail polish to another without a break will weaken your nails, cause yellow discoloration and undermine the structure of your nails.

Apply a clear gloss and leave your nails free of polish for a few days, taking care to moisturize and protect them with gloves on cold or windy days. With regular care and maintenance, your nails will look healthy and pretty in no time.