Can’t Get To The Salon? Try Our Home Nail Care Tips
Between looking after our skin, styling our hair, and making sure our body is always in tip-top shape, caring for our nails can sometimes get less attention than they deserve. Which is crazy with how much your hands and nails are exposed to the world each and every day.
When you think about it like that, your nails really should be getting much more care and special attention. So with that in mind, below are a few tips to help you start caring for your nails at home.
Moisturize your cuticles
Despite being responsible for protecting our nails from germs and other bacteria, cuticles are often quite delicate. That’s why looking after your cuticles should always be an essential part of your nail care routine.
Simply by applying some moisturizing oil or cream to your nails before you get ready for bed, your cuticles will stay hydrated each night while you’re asleep. If you don’t have any cuticle cream, you can just use some olive oil or even lip balm to ensure your nails are moisturized.
Always carry a nail file
All-day, every day, we’re always using our hands for everything we do. So obviously there’s going to be more wear and tear on your nails than say your knee or ear lobe. That’s why slipping a small nail file into your handbag whenever you leave the house is essential.
So anytime you notice a crack or ragged bit of nail, you can groom it away while you’re on the go by quickly and easily smoothing the rough edges away with your file.
Topcoat your nails
simply by using a layer of topcoat after a manicure, you can add another level of shine to your nails. Plus, it also prevents your pretty new nail polish or awesome design from chipping off too easily.
In fact, an application of a topcoat to your nails is actually one of the best ways to make sure that your nails last much longer than normal, especially if you reapply another layer as needed every few days. There’s a whole range of different types of topcoat available too, from matte to gloss finish and everything in between.
Give your nails a buff
When you’ve decided to start doing your own manicures at home, it’s a good idea to get yourself a decent quality tool for buffing your nails. Simply by buffing your nails once or twice a week, you’ll be able to ensure your nail polish is always applied evenly.
It’s also a great way to help ensure your nails are smooth and look their best, even when you’re keeping them bare. If you start noticing how professional your nails look, you may be interested in completing a nail technician course. It may not take as long if you study nail care.
Avoid polish with harsh chemicals
Most of us are usually quite particular when it comes to make-up, skincare, and shampoo, so it makes sense to watch what we use on our nails too. Right? Always take the time to check their labels for toxic chemicals like toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and formaldehyde.
Nail polishes with these ingredients have been proven to dramatically weaken fingernails which makes them brittle and causes splits, cracks, and other damage. While you’re paying attention to what’s best for your nails, you may decide to use brands that haven’t been tested on animals too.
Give your nails a break
Who doesn’t love a relaxing mani-pedi once in a while? Be that as it may, sometimes it’s a good idea to give your nails a break from nail polish. Especially if you notice your nails have a sallow tint, they seem noticeably more brittle, or you’re always wearing bold pigmented colors.
Whenever your nails seem yellow or weak, try giving your nails a rest with a more natural look between polish changes or salon visits. Just give your nails a break for a few weeks of life completely nail polish-free. Once your nails start looking stronger and feeling healthy again, then you can start painting them and using bold colors again.
To make sure your nails are always strong and pretty, simply follow these tips to create new nail care habits at home. Because while having a regular manicure at your favorite salon is always great, it’s certainly not the only way to look after your nails.
