Our hands interact with a multitude of activities as we go about our day, from using computer keyboards, washing utensils, and controlling a car, our hands endure a lot of repetitive motion.
Considering the amount of use our hands endure, it is understandable that our nails may become chipped, broken, or susceptible to painful breaks. Despite the stereotype that the quality of nails is genetically determined, there are multiple factors in our daily routine that influence the strength of our nails.
You don’t need a complicated, ten-step ritual to fix this. Often, the solution is as simple as adding a hydrating cuticle oil to your nightstand or tweaking how you file your tips. Small, consistent changes can make a massive difference in how your hands look and feel. If you are ready to ditch the breakage and grow the nails you’ve always wanted, here is exactly where to start.
Stop Using Your Nails as Tools
Using your nails for tasks is common among most people. Using tape to seal parcels and then using your nails to rip them is one example. These behaviors happen because of impatience and lack of proper equipment. Every time one of your nails is used to do something other than paint them, you damage your nail plate. Micro fractures develop and then eventually lead to bigger and more visible issues. By keeping boxes closed and using nails, you do not just endanger your manicure.
Therefore, do not use your nails to open boxes. Use scissors. Your hands will appreciate no broken nails the next time you are removing box lids.
Hydration is More Than Just Hand Cream
Hand lotion is readily available for easy access to keep hands soft especially during dry seasons. Hand lotion, however, does not provide relief to the nails. Nails and skin are different. Hand lotion can help keep moisture locked in, but does not help the moisture locked in take care of the nails.
- Brittle and dry nails increase the likelihood of nail breakage and work to decrease the beauty of nails.
- To keep nails in their best condition, and to allow the moisturizer to absorb and not be washed off, apply the specified moisturizer right before going to bed.
Hands should be especially hydrated at night after a day full of washing, because the soap and water dry out the skin and hands.
Master the Art of Filing
Your technique when shaping your nails is just as important as the products you use to take care of your nails. Most of us learned to use an emery board by going back and forth. This technique creates a lot of heat and friction which damages the edge of the nails. Damaged edges turn into weak spots which will eventually cause a nail to peel. To avoid damages on your nails, file in only one direction. Start at the edge of the nail, and then slowly curve to the center of the nail. This technique will take longer than an aggressive sawing technique, but the end result is a lot better because you will have a smooth nail.
If a nail file is too rough for your natural nails, it is better to use a nail file that is a lot gentler and is more suited for acrylic nails. An example is the one by beauty experts at InStyle, opting for a glass or crystal file is a safer bet.
Watch Your Diet and Water Intake
No amount of topical nail product application will improve nails in poor condition without proper nutrition. One way to improve the condition of your nails is to drink water. Also, nails are made of the protein, keratin, so it is important to have adequate protein in your diet. Changes in nails, such as a sudden change in texture, ridges, or a change in color is a sign of a problem in your body.
As noted in a health feature by Vogue, a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals is foundational for beauty from the inside out. If you struggle to get enough nutrients from food alone, talk to a doctor about supplements, but remember that whole foods are usually the best source.
Give Your Nails a Break from Chemicals
Well-maintained nails are a lovely feature, but the process to remove polish can be damaging. Acetone, a damaging, oil-stripping, and rapid-dry remover, is used to take off polish. If you do a manicure weekly, or more often, your nails can become weak and chalky from the routine exposure.When possible, switch to a polish remover that does not contain acetone. These remove polish more gently, and require a bit more scrubbing to get the color off.
Also be careful of what your cleaning supplies do. Dish soap and bathroom cleaners may sound harmless, but are designed to cut through oils, and do not know to leave the oils on your nails alone. Wear rubber gloves floating in water to protect your hands from the bite of cleaning chemicals and to protect your nails from becoming soft and over soaked, as a barrier to water.
The Bottom Line
If you take care of your beautiful and finely decorated nails, pay attention to primal aesthetics of hand health as well, and to the nails health as well. Applications of acrylics and gel nails, along with the painting of the nails, can cause long term effects on the health of the nails. Chemicals in these types of applications can make the nails moistureless, which causes the nails to be prone to splitting, which can as well cause the nails to weak, brittle, and can cause discoloration of the nails. This long term exposure to the chemicals in the applications can also make the surrounding and bordering skin weaker and worse. After a couple of weeks of these types of chemicals, the nails can and will begin to repair themselves. To better the repair that is occurring, take care of the nails and hands by using gloves when necessary, and to put on rich hand creams when needed, and to put on cuticle oil to use when the nails need to be in the revitalizing state and need to be hydrated. Also, during the repair it is important to not do things like, nail biting, harsh filing of the nails, and fiddle with the nails.Nail health isn’t only about caring for nails from the outside.
