Clean and healthy nails make hands look longer and more graceful. To find out how to maintain healthy nails, carefully read the instructions below.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Keeping Nails Healthy
Step 1. Don't bite, bite, or peel
. The first step to having healthy nails is not biting them. This is to increase the chances of having the nails you desire. In addition, if the nail bed is damaged, bacteria and fungi will easily enter and cause infection.
Step 2. Clean the nails
Using a nail brush is a gentle way of cleaning to remove dirt, dead skin, and bacteria from under your nails. This is especially important if you are used to biting your nails. You can also make a scrub using 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to exfoliate the skin of the hands as well as the matrix and cuticles. This will keep your hands clean and soft, as well as improve blood circulation.
Step 3. Take a biotin supplement
While there isn't much evidence to suggest that vitamin supplements will improve nail health, some research suggests that biotin can strengthen weak nails.
Step 4. Moisturize your hands
Get in the habit of using a moisturizer that helps moisturize your nails, prevents dry skin from forming at the nail bed, and softens your hands. Also, you can massage any type of oil like coconut oil or olive oil on your cuticles to hydrate and moisturize them so your nails grow faster.
Step 5. Don't pull the dry skin at the nail bed
This usually damages the healthy tissue in the nail bed making it unsightly and can lead to infection.
Step 6. Keep your nails dry
Excess moisture can make nails brittle and cracked. So, wear gloves when washing dishes and avoid soaking your hands in the tub.
Step 7. Wear gloves when using harsh chemicals
Strong cleaning agents such as bleach and detergents can weaken your nails.
Step 8. If your nails are brittle, use clear nail polish
This will help your nails retain their natural moisture. If you tend to have paper-thin nails, there are nail hardeners that have fibers in liquid form that are helpful.
Step 9. Consider lengthening your nails
Long and strong nails are coveted by women. Remember that when you lengthen your nails, it can take several months to achieve the desired results.
If you are looking for a quick solution, go for fake nails. Although acrylic nails don't damage natural nails, avoid using unhygienic tools or keeping them away from your natural nails, as both can invite infection
Method 2 of 2: Applying Nail Polish
Step 1. Wash hands with warm soapy water
Make sure your nails are clean by washing them for 30 seconds. Dry.
Step 2. Remove the previous polish with a soft cotton
Dampen the cotton as much as needed with the nail polish remover to remove the nail polish completely. If there is something you can't reach with a cotton swab, use a cotton swab. Or, tear a small piece of cotton, wrap it around the flat end of a cuticle-cleaning stick, soak it in nail polish remover, and use it to reach difficult areas.
To keep your nails healthy, use an acetone-free nail polish remover (acetone can dry out your nails) and don't use it more than once a week
Step 3. Clean the nails
Pay attention to the condition of your nails. Once the nail polish is removed, you can see dirt build up under the nail. Use a nail brush to clean the dirt. Again, if there are areas that cannot be reached, use a cuticle cleaning stick to reach them.
Step 4. Trim nails evenly
You should trim your fingernails following the natural curve of your finger. The round tip looks better to most people than the rectangular tip, making hands feel softer and smoother. Nails should be trimmed in preparation before filing.
- If you intend to lengthen your nails, trim all the nails to the same length beforehand so that they grow to an even length.
- While fingernails should be slightly rounded, toenails should be trimmed straight to avoid ingrown toenails.
Step 5. File nails with a fine-textured file
Like sandpaper for furniture, there are different types of particle files for different purposes. For a natural nail look, you need a file with fine particles. Gently rub the file along the edge of the nail in one direction only to prevent the nail from splitting and cracking.
Make sure you clean the grit particles that the file creates
Step 6. Apply a thin layer of nail hardener
There are some amazing nail hardening products that will keep your nails strong and healthy.
Step 7. Apply colored nail polish after the nails are completely dry
Stabilize your hands and color each nail one at a time, from one side and then to the other in three or four strokes. Take turns on one hand before the other so you don't touch the nail polish and damage it. If the nail polish sticks to the skin, remove it with a liquid remover.
- Don't make the mistake of using too much polish. For nail polish to look fresh and professional, each stroke should be nice and light. Thick nail polish takes longer to dry, is more likely to break, and creates puffy, uneven contours.
- If you're one of those people who can't stand still, color your nails one by one. Once that one nail is completely dry, color the next nail. The advantage is that, even if there are incidents, only one nail polish is damaged and not all of them.
Step 8. Apply a second coat if you wish after the first coat is completely dry
You can use the same color or other colors to create unique color shades.
Step 9. Once your nails are completely dry, apply a clear top coat
This will create a barrier over the colored nail polish which tends to be weaker.
Tips
- If the nails are too long, trim them. Otherwise, the nails will become brittle and break.
- Cutting the cuticles is not a great idea. You should only push it in with a blunt stick, but cutting will make it easier for bacteria to get under the nail and cause an infection.
- Apply olive oil and nail strengthening lotion on your fingernails and leave it on for about 5 minutes. Clean under the tip of the nail, then apply two coats of clear polish over the nail.
- Drink lots of water and milk. Scrub your nails daily with vitamin E oil. Eat fruits and vegetables.
- When there is dry skin at the nail bed, trim it with nail clips. If the skin around the nail is injured, wipe it with rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will clean and seal the wound quickly.
- Do not use hard nail polish. Hard materials can damage nails.
- Make sure your nails are always filed and trimmed. Nails that are consistently kept in shape will grow more evenly.
- If you have a habit of biting your nails, use clear polish or one that tastes disgusting. You can find it in many stores at a low price.
- Clean your nails every day. Nails will look cleaner and healthier.
- Wash hands with soap and water.
