Basic nail care tips

Your nails protect the tips of your fingers and keeping them healthy makes them strong and effective for this function. Whether you prefer your nails short or long, either decorated with creative designs or with stylish faux tips, you should always take the time to look after them.

For great looking and healthy nails, try out these easy tips:

Trim or clean them

Cutting or trimming your nails and keeping them short rids them of any build-up that will occur underneath. This will decrease the accumulation of germs and other lurking microbes on surfaces you may touch throughout the day.

If, however, you like your nails long, you should regularly clean them. All you need to do is wash your hands with soap and water, and use a toothpick or cuticle stick to remove any debris that has built up underneath your nails. Make sure that the length is also maintainable, for a neat and fashionable look.

Give them a break from acrylic treatments

A set of freshly done nails is always a happy place – but the continuous application of products like acrylic can leave your nails damaged and brittle. This is because a thin layer of your nail may be removed from the acetone soak-off. You can prevent repeated damage by opting for normal nail polish the next time you have your acrylics removed at the salon. Continue with nail polish application for about 2-3 weeks before an acrylic overlay. This will give your nails sufficient time to recover.

Moisturise your cuticles

Your cuticle area is the arched curve at the root of your nail. Cuticles protect your nails from infections and should always be looked after. To keep your cuticles moisturised, regularly apply cuticle oil and lotion.

Stop biting your fingernails

Most people bite their nails when they are either anxious, bored or just out of habit. Nail-biting leaves the skin around your nail damaged which increases the risk of getting an infection. It can also be detrimental to your overall health because you end up swallowing germs that your hands have picked up – especially in this COVID-19 environment we are living in.

Wear shoes to protect your toenails

Shoes do not just accessorise your outfit, they protect your feet. Avoid walking barefoot as this may expose your nails to harmful objects which could be lying around the house or outdoors. Closed-toe shoes such as sneakers and pumps are ideal for nail protection as compared to open-toe shoes like sandals and flip flops.

Your nails are important no matter how much or little attention you pay to them. Try out some of the simple tips mentioned above to keep your nails healthy and neat.