Whether taking care of your nails is considered ‘self-care’ or an indulgence, it leads to general good hygiene and can help detect certain underlying health conditions. You can achieve and maintain strong healthy nails by making easy lifestyle changes without spending tons of money.
Invest your time, kick a few bad habits and you’ll have strong healthy nails.
Extra care during winter
Winter can be a rough time for skin, hair, and nails alike. Cool, dry weather can cause brittle nails and the shift from a heated home or car to chilly outside air can cause nail cells to contract and expand resulting in a weak nail structure. Wear gloves in winter and moisturize to protect your nails and skin.
Give your nails time to grow
Nail biters know the victory of having the discipline to grow your nails past your fingertips. Beyond making them grow, you'll need to make them stronger due to the trauma to the nail bed caused by constant biting and chewing. Keep your nails clipped short until they show signs of being stronger.
Avoid prolonged contact with water
Reduce the amount of time your nails spend in water by wearing gloves whenever you are cleaning or washing dishes. Excessive exposure to water and cleaning products can weaken the structure of your nails causing peeling, brittleness, and breakage.
- Keep your nails clean and dry.
- Cut nails straight across. Use sharp nail scissors or clippers. Round the nails slightly at the tips for maximum strength.
- Keep nails free of snags by filing with an emery board.
- Do not bite fingernails or remove the cuticle.
- Do not use your nails as a tool for opening soda cans.
- Trim your toenails regularly. Keep them short to minimize the risk of trauma and injury.
- If toenails are thick and difficult to cut, soak your feet in warm salt water. Mix one teaspoon of salt per pint of water and soak for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Avoid “digging out” ingrown toenails if they are infected and sore. If you are suffering from an ingrown toenail, see a dermatologist for treatment.
- Wear shoes that fit properly. Alternate the shoes you wear each day.
*Top Tip – Never soak your nails before a manicure. Not only does soaking make your nails more vulnerable to infection, it also doesn’t allow nail polish to adhere properly. It may also lead to nail fungus and you may need a nail fungus treatment to restore the appearance of your nails.
