Nataly Tornel
Just like any other part of the body our nails also required special care. Everyone wants healthy and strong nails so that they can carry different shades of nail colors and can do nail art.
Here are some important tips for healthy and strong nails.
DO:
- Keep nails dry and clean. This helps protect them from fungi and bacteria. Don’t fall for the labels on dishwashing soap claiming they are good for your nails. Hot water and soap can be a damaging combination. Get yourself some cute gloves to wear when you tackle that looming pile of dishes in your sink.
- Keep nails shaped and trimmed. Unlike tanning, waxing and the many other tortures women endure to keep up society’s standards of beauty, keeping nails attractive helps keep them healthy. As a bonus, it protects your wardrobe, preventing nails from tearing or catching on clothes and other items.
- Sterilize nail tools. Don’t let your inner penny pincher convince you that the leopard print nail file you used in college is still an acceptable tool. It’s not! Nail tools should be meticulously cleaned and sterilized and nail files should be replaced regularly to prevent bacteria and microbes from colonizing.
- Moisturize the cuticle area. The cuticles are the only line of protection between the nail bed and the bacteria and fungi of the world. Moisturizing them prevents cracking and peeling, which can cause damage to the nail bed.
- Treat ingrown and torn nails as soon as possible. Unsightly and painful, ingrown nails and torn nails should be treated immediately to avoid infection. Most respond well to home remedies including antibacterial ointment and some TLC. In rare cases, these conditions may need to be seen by a dermatologist.
DON’T
- Bite nails. Not only can biting cause damage to the nail beds, but it also exposes your mouth to all manner of dirt and bacteria. Work out that nervous energy on a yoga mat or find a quiet place and meditate instead.
- Overuse polish remover. While the urge to remove the electric blue polish from your nails and switch to neon green may be overwhelming, try to squelch it. Using too much polish remover can dry out and damage the nails. Consider using acetone-free polish remover no more than once a week.
- Peel off your polish. A nervous habit much like nail-biting, polish peeling doesn’t just remove polish. It also removes layers of the actual nail. Stick to polish remover for removing polish and find somewhere else to expel that nervous energy
- Share your nail file. Do you know that leopard print nail file from college? Keep it to yourself. Bacteria and other microbes make their homes on nail files, so using someone else’s tools is a surefire way to transfer these nasty critters from the file to your body. Toss the old file and buy a new one to keep in your purse.
Push the cuticle back too far. Nail enthusiasts tend to get a little overzealous with cuticle care, but it must be left alone as much as possible, as this skin protects the nail. Trim only the part that has started to lift away with sharp, clean cuticle trimmers
