Having healthy, well-groomed nails makes your hands instantly look flawless and polished. Nail plates are pinkish-white in colour, cuticles are existent, nails and white tips are even in lengths, and half-moon-shaped lunula or white section at the base are prominent are the signs of healthy nails. So how can you prevent your nails from peeling, splitting, breaking, or developing tiny white spots? Here are dos and don’ts to keep your nails strong and healthy:
Don’t: Be harsh on your nails.
Your nails are delicate so treat them gently. Make sure to use mild products and avoid nail polishes containing harsh chemicals that can make your nails brittle, split, or crack such as dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and toluene. Too much digging can cause the nail plate to separate from the skin, so do not use metal tools under your nails. When washing the dishes or cleaning using harsh chemicals, protect your nails by wearing protective gloves.
Do: Keep your nails clean.
While you should steer clear of harsh ingredients, it doesn’t mean you can’t keep your nails clean anymore. Keep your nails grime-free by removing all traces of nail polish. Use an acetone-free nail polish remover to avoid drying out your nails. While washing your hands, apply mild soap to a clean brush and gently scrub your nails and the surrounding skin to remove dirt and dead skin.
Don’t forget to keep your nail tools clean after every use as well to prevent bacterial infections. Regularly replace disposable tools. Make sure to disinfect metal tools by washing them with soap and water then wipe them down with rubbing alcohol.
Don’t: Prioritise nail length over health.
While long nails can look posh and elegant, they can also be prone to hangnails and breakage. Until they grow stronger, opt for a shorter style with rounded edges that looks neat and is easier to manage. Keep them uniform in length especially if your job or routine exposes your nails to wear and tear.
Do: Clip your nails regularly.
To protect nails from snags and breakage, clip them regularly. Try trimming your nails every two weeks then adjust the frequency depending on how fast your nails grow.
Don’t: Skip nail polish breaks.
Allow your nails to refresh and rejuvenate with nail polish breaks. Immediately painting your nails a strong polish colour right after another without breaks in between can dry them out, turn them yellow, and weaken their structure. Exposure to UV light when drying acrylic or gel manicures can damage the skin below and around the nail. Nail polish removers can also weaken your nails. So save bold, pigmented colours and elaborate nail art for special occasions and go all-natural the rest of the time.
Do: Protect your nails with a base and top coat.
Shield your nails from being stained by nail polish with a layer of base coat first. The base coat also helps the colour look more opaque and saturated with just one coat. Seal in the nail polish with a top coat for a gloss finish. It also helps the colour last longer. Adding a new top coat layer every three days can help prevent chipping so you don’t have to keep reapplying nail polish.
Don’t: Remove your cuticles.
The cuticle seals the area at the nail base so don’t cut or remove it. Breaking the seal of protection can make your nails prone and vulnerable to bacterial infection, hangnails, and painful, unpleasant tears.
Do: Moisturise your nails.
Get stronger, healthier-looking nails by moisturising your cuticles. You can regrow nails that were ruined by biting or harden soft, peeling nails with an intensive cuticle treatment like CanGro’s Nourished Nails Cuticle Pen. It has a special formula which is a vegan blend of nano-encapsulated essential oils that helps restore and strengthen your nails and moisturises the cuticles to promote healthy nail growth.
Do: Load up on needed nutrients.
Improve your nails by tweaking your diet and consuming food that’s rich in vitamins and supplements such as Biotin, Vitamin E, and fish oil. Collagen also helps keep nails strong, among its many benefits. Taking collagen supplements can support not just your nails, but also your skin, hair, and even your joints! For best results, try CanGro’s beauty collagen powder, our best collagen powder in Australia.
You don’t need an elaborate and complicated routine to achieve beautiful nails. Going all-natural is the secret to stronger, healthier nails so make sure to gently clean and groom your nails regularly, moisturise your cuticles, and get proper nutrition. Follow these tips for nails that instantly make your hands look polished and well-groomed.
