Tips To Have Strengthen Nails: Whether you’re the type of person who religiously paints their nails as a form of self-care or someone who’s constantly picking and biting at their cuticles, we all yearn for healthy, perfectly manicured nails. Well-groomed nails make you look instantly polished (pun intended!) and can even make hands appear more youthful.
To counteract the effects of extra hand-washing and skipped salon visits, we talked to nail-care experts to find out exactly what you should be doing for your nails — but first, how can you tell if your nails are healthy? Here’s what to look for.
If you’re concerned about your nail health, it’s important to consult a dermatologist. Since your nails are super visible, it’s easier to tell if an issue arises — meaning you can treat it early if you get help, says Dana Stern, M.D, a dermatologist and nail care specialist in New York. Now here’s how to get strong, healthy nails:
1. Keep your hands very clean
Tips To Have Strengthen Nails, After you wash your hands, make sure nails are thoroughly grime-free by first removing all traces of polish with an acetone-free remover, which won’t dry out nails. Apply soap to a clean toothbrush, then gently scrub nails and surrounding skin to remove dirt and exfoliate any dead skin without harsh, drying chemicals, advises Ava Shamban, M.D., a dermatologist in Los Angeles and author of Heal Your Skin.
2. Be gentle on your nails
Tips To Have Strengthen Nails, Your nails are delicate, so treat them that way. Avoid using metal tools under nails, as too much digging can cause the nail plate to separate from the skin (a condition called onycholysis), common for people over 50, says Dr. Stern. Cleaning with chemicals and washing dishes by hand can also weaken nails. Guard them by wearing rubber, vinyl, nitrile or plastic gloves, says New York City dermatologist Janet Prystowsky, M.D., Ph.D.
3. Clip your nails regularly
Tips To Have Strengthen Nails, Consistent trims are as important to your nails as they are to your hair, says Dr. Prystowsky, and make nails less prone to snags and breakage. So aim to clip them every two weeks, adjusting frequency as needed once you see how your nails respond.
4. Read the labels on your polish
Tips To Have Strengthen Nails, Just as with makeup and skincare, not all nail polish brands are created equal, so make sure you’re buying or using a good product. Dr. Debbie Palmer urges you to steer clear of polishes containing toxic chemicals like dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and toluene, as these toxins can contribute to brittleness, splitting, and cracking.
5. Indulge in acrylic or gel treatments sparingly
Any nail expert you talk to is going to do their best to steer you away from acrylic or gel manicures — as long-lasting and convenient as they are because they’re very hard on the nail. But if you’re keen on getting them, there are some ways to minimize the damage to your hands and nails.
The main issue with a gel manicure is the exposure to UV light in the drying device, which can damage the skin below and around the nail, leading to an increased risk of cancer. To help reduce that risk, Dr. Prystowsky recommends applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50 before the procedure to help block the damage, or you can try special gloves that expose only the nails themselves, shielding the rest of your hands from the harmful UV rays.
Tips To Have Strengthen Nails, There’s also a professional service that the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Beauty Lab found won’t ruin your nails: CND’s Shellac Luxe salon service, which won a Good Housekeeping Beauty Award in 2019.
6. Give your nails a break
Tips To Have Strengthen Nails, Save the elaborate nail art and those bold colors with lots of pigment for the weekend, and during the rest of the week, give your nails time to rest and repair with a clear gloss. Dr. Shamban warns that going from one strong polish color to another without giving your nails a break can dry them out, turn them yellow, and over time, even weaken the structure of the nail.
Dr. Stern agrees, saying that nail polish removers could also be the reason your nails are weak. Sometimes going all natural “can be just the thing that your nails need in order to rejuvenate and refresh,” she says.
7. Moisturize your hands and nails regularly
You moisturize your face before bed, so do the same for your nails. New York City nail expert Holly Falcone likes to use a mix of almond and avocado oils to keep cuticles and nails hydrated while she gets some shut-eye, but any nutrient-rich oil or moisturizer will do. In a pinch, you can even use a dab of lip balm. “Efficacious formulas contain humectant ingredients like glycerin, emollients such as fatty oils and occlusives like silicones, which work together to hydrate nails and skin,” says Wnek.
8. Wear gloves when doing dishes
Tips To Have Strengthen Nails, We’ll say it again: Whenever you’re cleaning with harsh chemicals, gardening, or doing anything that involves soaking or dirtying your hands, you need to wear rubber, vinyl, nitrile, or plastic gloves — some of which have a cotton liner. Cleaning dishes in hot, soapy water sans gloves can weaken the nails, while getting them caked with dirt from gardening will require a level of cleaning that you want to avoid wherever possible.
Similarly, when weather is chilly, remember to wear a pair of mittens or gloves so that the cold air and wind don’t undo the hard work you did moisturizing, leaving you with dry, flaky, scaly skin.
9. Load up on protein-rich food
Tips To Have Strengthen Nails, Your fingernails are made of a protein called keratin, so just as with the clarity of your skin or the shine of your hair, you can improve your nails by tweaking your diet. Falcone advises adding vitamins and supplements like biotin, Vitamin E, and fish oil to your daily regimen, while Dr. Palmer recommends protein-rich foods like beans, fish, and nuts. The one thing every expert agrees on: Once you hit on the combination that works for you, you’ll be rewarded with stronger, clearer nails.
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