The 15 Best Nail Care Tips For Stronger, Healthy & Beautiful Nails

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The Pro Guide.

Skincare, beard care and hair care tips shouldn’t be only thing in mind when it comes to looking awesomely-beautiful. Your nails needs some care too to keep it dazzling white, strong and healthy. Our nails can easily get damaged, either by poor hygiene, everyday bad habits and even bad manicure. But with few simple habits you can maintain a healthy-looking nails. Having said that, we’ve compiled some pro guide on the best nail care tips for a stronger, healthy and beautiful nails.

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Best nail care tips

Best Nail Care Tips – The Pro Guide.

1. Always Keep Your Nails Clean.

You should always keep your fingers nails clean and dirt-free to avoid the accumulation and breeding of bacteria. You can do this by simply applying soap (containing antimicrobial agent) to a soft toothbrush, then gently scrub it on your finger nails, focus more on the skin around your nails. This will remove dirt and exfoliate away dead skin cells.

2. Keep Your Nails Dry.

Soaking your nails in water for long duration can actually cause splits ends.
This usually occurs due to home chores such as washing the dishes, car, bathroom, etc. These exposes your nails to dirty water, foamy-water and oils from dishes. While washing dishes ensure you put on hand gloves, this will not only protect your nails from splits ends, brittles, flakes but also avoid the occurrence of nail discoloration.
Buy Anzoee Reusable Silicone Dishwashing Gloves. A silicone scrubbing gloves for dishes, bathing pets, washing kitchen, bathroom, car & more.

3. Cut Your Nails Properly.

Trimming your nails regularly will help reduce the accumulation of dirts which always stuck under your nails making it vulnerable to bacteria breeding which can trigger the occurrence of bacteria infection.
Keep a good manicure hygiene by cutting your nails on regular basis using a sharp manicure scissors or clippers. Trim your nails straight across, then round the tips in a gentle curve. Buy Tweezerman Combo Nail Clipper Set ($11 Ulta). A sharp combo nail clipper set to aid you cut your nails effortlessly with a nice finish cut.

4. Avoid Harsh Nail Polish.

In a research study, nail polishes containing ingredients like formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate weakens the nail. Furthermore constantly using bold pigmented colors can cause your nails to become yellowed or weakened. Opt for natural nail polishes that will moisturizes your nail with a smooth silky and shinny finish.

5. Use Gentle Nail Polish Remover.

When seeking for nail polish removers opt for Acetone-free nail polish remover as it’s great for gently removing nail polish without causing any complications.
Nail polishes contain ingredients like resins, plasticizers, film formers and color pigments. All these ingredients work to give you a nice even coat of polish that dries quickly and evenly. But the problem is, these ingredients aren’t so easy to remove.

An acetone-free polish remover removes nail polish effectively without drying out the skin and nails like acetone-based removers do. This is simply because acetone-free polish remover has an oily consistency which leaves nails feeling nourished and healthy. Buy ella+mila Soy Nail Polish Remover Lavender Scented ($11 Ulta). An acetone-free nail polish remover. Does the job neatly without drying out your skin and nails.

6. Apply A Base Coat For Protection.

Before polishing your nails, it’s advised you should apply a base coat, why? This is because a base coat forms a protective layer on your skin, prevents your nails from damaging effects and getting discoloured and stained. Furthermore it helps the polish stick to your nail more easily which makes the polish look better on your nails with more even texture.  Buy Seche Clear Crystal Clear Base Coat ($7 Ulta). Gives the skin around your nails a 100% protection.

7. Leverage Top Coats.

Top coat gives a high gloss and shine to applied nail polish and makes it feel smooth. It helps your manicure stay fresh and look younger for a longer time. In fact a good top coat can keep even cheap nail polish looking good for a few more days longer. Buy CND Vinylux Weekly Top Coat ($10 Ulta). Helps gives your polished nails an awesome smooth finish.

8. Avoid Bitting Your Nails.

70% of individuals exhibits this habit (sometimes subconsciously).
Bitting your finger nails not only makes it look awfully-pathetic but also creates room for the arrival of bacteria infection. By bitting your nails you can accidentally cut the skin around your nails allowing germs and bacteria to enter. Bacteria or fungi can cause paronychia, and common culprits are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, which causes swelling, tenderness, redness around the nail with puss-filled abscesses causing pains and discomfort.

9. Pamper Your cuticles. (Don’t Cut or Pick It)

The cuticles serves a purpose, it helps seals and protect the area at the base of your nail. When you cut off your cuticles it breaks that seal of protection, leaving your nails vulnerable to bacteria and the possibility of infection. Pamper and take care of your cuticles and your nails will thank you for it.
Moisturize your cuticles by applying coconut oil or almond oil to keep nourished and hydrated. Do not bite or pick your cuticles. When getting manicure and pedicure treatments tell your nail technician to leave your cuticles untouched.

10. Use The Right Tools & Right Practice.

Using the right tool suitable your nails should be a must. Example: using the wrong file.
Not only does the file have to be new, but it has to be the right one. Like sandpaper, files come in various grits ranging from ultra-fine (the best choice for natural nails) to super coarse (only okay for artificials). Using a generic file for everything, (especially one that’s too coarse) can damage natural nails.

Regardless of using the right nail file and it’s new, you should as well ensure you use the right technique by filling the right way. Filing back and forth causes microscopic splits in the nail, which can lead to chipped polish and dry, peeling nails. Use the right technique by filing from the outside corners in towards the center as filing towards the middle of the nail prevents splitting. Use should as well let your manicurist know this if she’s doing it wrongly on your nails.

11. Moisturize Your Nails.

Just like your skin and hair, your nails need some touch of hydration to keep it well moisturized and nourished. Before retiring to bed try dabbing almond or coconut oil onto your nail beds and cuticles to stop them from getting dry, brittle, or flaky. (Make this a routine). You’ll always wake up with a strong and healthy-looking  nails. You can buy ProSpa Nail & Cuticle Oil ($15 Ulta) Richly infused with almond, grapeseed and castor seed oil to give your nails and cuticle the optimum hydration it deserves.

12. Give Your Nails Some Break.

Sometimes you need to cut back on topicals you apply to your nails. Giving your nails some break to breath and repair itself. Without giving your nails a break can dry them out, turn them yellow, and over time, even weaken the structure of the nail

13. Take Care Of Your Nails Tools.

Just like cleaning your make-up brushes you should as well disinfect your tools using hospital-grade disinfectant or a rubbing alcohol after use to keep bacteria away from breeding on your tools and as well keep your nails infection-free. And don’t forget to regularly discard old-weary and blunt nail tools (like emery boards) and replace them with a new one.

14. Read The Labels On Your Polish.

I think if you actually love your nails, and also regard your nail-health you should read labels (ingredients list) before making your purchase. Why? Thousands of nail polishes and nail polish removers contains ingredients which can actually damage your nails. Make them look weak, weary and discoloured. Stay away of polishes containing toxic chemicals like dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and toluene, as these toxins can contribute to brittleness, splitting, and cracking.

15. Eat Healthy.

Eating right is one of the major best nail care tips you should consider. Build a healthy nail from inside out. A healthy diet determines healthy well-being.
Load more on protein and omega-3 fatty acids rich foods.

Your nails are made up with Keratin — the protein that makes up your nails. Consuming more foods rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acid like fish, meat, beans, nuts, whole grains and dairy will stimulate the keratin production and strengthen your finger nails. You can also try taking daily supplements like biotin and fish oil, which can be found at your local grocery or health food store. You can also buy biotin and Omega-3 (fish oil) supplements online.

When To See A dermatologist.

A healthy nail looks spotless and strong. if you notice any form of discoloration and splitting, then you should see a dermatologist as soon as possible.

Wrapping It Up.

Having read the best nail care tips, now it’s over to you to put them into practice. The take away is to maintain a good nail hygiene to keep those nails of yours healthy and look awesome. Avoid all unnecessary bad habits that can deplete your nail-health and don’t forget to see a board-certified dermatologist If you’re concerned about your nail health.

Possible Questions & Answers.

Q: What are the signs of healthy & unhealthy nails.

A: Signs of Healthy Nails:
  • Nail plates are a pinkish-white color.
  • Healthy-looking cuticles.
  • Nails and white tips are even lengths.
  • Prominent half-moon shaped white section (called the lunula) at nail base.
Signs of Unhealthy Nails:
  • Peeling or splitting nails (mostly caused by dryness or the result of vitamin deficiency).
  • Tiny white spots (which usually mean you’re biting your nails or painting them too often).
  • Red, swollen skin around nails (could be nail infection or caused from removing or biting cuticles). See a dermatologist.
  • Spoon-shaped nails could be a sign of iron deficiency or anemia.

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