nail care

Do your nails peel and crack easily? What about breakage? Well, a few easy tips can help you take care of your nails and prevent further distress.

First off, protection. You need to protect your nails. You do this by using physical barriers. Your first tool for this is a good ol' pair of gloves. If you are cleaning your home with harsh chemicals wear some plastic, rubber, or latex gloves. You can buy these gloves at the dollar store, and they are worth the investment. After all, it is easier to prevent damage than to repair it.

Your second tool is clear nail polish. When painting your nails, always start with a base coat of clear polish. If you like glitter in your nail polish, a clear coat underneath will provide a barrier so your actual nail won't get scratched by the glitter. If you favor darker shades, wearing a clear polish can help protect your nail from becoming stained.

If you don't like painting your nails, I would suggest wearing a clear coat of polish instead of having bare nails. A simple clear coat offers a small protection against whatever you may come in contact with as you go about your day.

That said, I would recommend letting your nails go natural (for at least a day) between polishings. Polish doesn't allow your nails to breath or take in moisture, which can make them brittle and breakable. I usually do my nails about once a week, and I let them air out for about a day in between polishings. On that day, I really give them special treatment, so they can last another week underneath my polish. I apply cuticle oil, cocoa butter, you name it, and let them soak it in. It has really made a difference for my nails.

If you are in the habit of sporting bare nails, moisturize them often. Dry weather can affect nails and cuticles, too. Whenever you apply hand lotion, massage some into your nails and cuticles to head off this problem.

You also want to take special care with what you put on your nails. While removers containing acetone tend to work quite well, they are hard on your nails. Instead, try a non-acetone remover. It might take a little while longer to remove your polish, but your nails will thank you. And as I mentioned earlier,  it is easier to prevent damage than to repair it.

Bottom line: be nice to your nails, and they will be nice to you.

Best of luck in your own nail care :-)