Nail care is something a lot of us tend to neglect. I know, because I have done that myself for many years. But now after doing a lot of reading and watching videos, I have figured out how to properly care for my nails. Everyone is different, but these tips and tricks are what I found to be helpful for me. Try them out and see what works for you!
1. Do not bite or pick at them!
This is probably the hardest thing for most of us to overcome. It sure is for me! I used to bite my nails all the time. I since have stopped doing that, but I still do pick at them occasionally. Having my nails nails constantly painted is what helped me the most to leave them alone. After spending a good amount of time painting them to look nice, I don't want to mess them up!
2. Use a base coat nail polish.
For those of you who apply nail polish often, you may have noticed that the polish is staining your nails. If you have a little brush laying around, you can take that and put toothpaste on it, and then scrub your nails with it. This will clear up most of the stains. To help prevent the staining from happening in the first place, though, you can apply a clear base coat every time before you apply your colored nail polish.
3. Do not cut your cuticles.
I used to do this for a long time, too, until I realized that it was not good for you. The trick instead is to soak your nails in warm, soapy water for about a minute, and then gently push your cuticles back with a cuticle tool.
4. Buff your nails.
Find a nail file that has a buffer side and a shine side. You rub this over your nails to help smooth them over and add shine. They really do work! There are also a lot of these nail tools in a electronic device that makes things even simpler.
5. Wear gloves when doing the dishes.
If you frequently do dishes, you may have noticed that all the water makes your nails very brittle and prone to breakage. Consider buying some of those yellow rubber gloves, and put them on each time before you do dishes to protect your nails. This will also help keep your nail polish from chipping.
6. Moisturize.
Every night, apply a moisturizer or cuticle cream to your entire hand, with a special focus on your cuticle. Keeping the cuticles moisturized will help prevent that dry, rugged look and provide your cuticles with all the nourishment that they need.
