How to Take Care of Your Nails
Have we all neglected our nails? Okay, maybe just a few of us? These keratin plates do a lot for us, so here’s how to keep them clean and healthy.
Cut your nails
The length of your nails is a personal preference, but many of us find it most practical to trim our nails short with a little white coating. When you have short nails, they are less likely to break or bend and are easier to keep clean. I also find I make fewer typos when my nails are short, so there are benefits in every way.
For the best haircut result:
- Use real nail clippers or nail scissors rather than chopping them off with a sharp object you find.
- Ideally, trim when your nails are wet (for example, after showering).
- Trim your nail by grabbing a few small clamps around the edge instead of trying to do the job in one large piece. For your fingernails, follow the shape of the nail with a gentle curve.
- If the trim leaves sharp edges, sand them off with a nail file. Some trimmers have a built-in nail file, or you may prefer an emery board.
Toenails have a few additional considerations. First, consider buying a toenail trimmer that is heavier than a standard toenail trimmer. Instead of trimming them in a curve, trim them straight across. This makes it less likely that the edges of the nail will dig into your skin as it grows, causing an ingrown toenail .
Be careful with the skin around your nails
If you have torn skin at your fingertips, you can trim your hair gently. Burrs are made from dead skin, so cutting them is safe (and won’t hurt). And if you want to trim your cuticles slightly, you can – although most dermatologists and podiatrists would rather you not.
The problem is that when you trim a barb or cuticle, it’s easy to damage real living skin. Tear off the burr and you have a tiny open wound. The cuticle serves a specific purpose: it adheres tightly to the nails, protecting it from dirt and germs. Cutting them off prevents this from reaching this goal and increases the risk of infection.
To care for the skin around the nails:
- Moisturize! Your skin and nails will benefit from this. (Don’t get hung up on this – any lotion will do.)
- Wash your hands (or feet) before trimming barbs or grooming cuticles.
- Instead of cutting the cuticles, you can wet the skin to soften it and then push it back. In the salon, an orange stick is used for this; at home, you can use a cotton swab or other comfortable, clean object.
- Don’t rip off the burrs; cut them off carefully. Burr nippers are the best tool for this job.
- If your skin is red or inflamed, treat it as you would any open wound: clean it and, if you can, apply a bandage.
Avoid the most harmful types of manicure
Nail polish isn’t always bad for your nails, but there are a few things to know:
- Nail polish remover badly affects the nails. The American Academy of Dermatology does not recommend using it more than twice a month.
- When you are removing nail polish, this is the perfect time to apply moisturizing lotion to your nails.
- Red and orange nail polishes can discolor your nails . To prevent this, use a base coat (clear coat) underneath. If they are already yellow, stop using the polish and they should return to normal after a few weeks.
- Gel manicures are problematic for several reasons: they use acetone as a remover, they use an ultraviolet lamp to heal, and they can cause physical damage to your nails if not properly treated, or if you scratch or scratch them. AAD has tips for minimizing damage if you enjoy gel manicure.
UV lamp, which they use for the treatment of the gel manicure, will not cause sunburn, but it emits UVA rays, which over time can cause the appearance of wrinkles and aging skin (as well as increase the risk of cancer). To protect your skin, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your hands prior to your visit.
A fun fact I learned while researching this is that nail polishes with fortifying ingredients can make nails harder but more brittle – so paradoxically, they can make you more likely to break your nail. Covering brittle nails with artificial nails can also damage your real nails, which is why AAD does not recommend doing this. Better to let your nails breathe freely and give them a chance to heal.