How to Keep Your Natural Nails Healthy

Healthy, solid nails are not just going to magically grow on your hand. They are a product of good maintenance, proper habits and understanding of what your nails need in between manicures. If you enjoy regular polishing or you do it less often, the condition of the underside is as important as the finish on the top.

Every day, we get customers at Busch Nails and Lashes in Tampa who are looking for long, durable nails but don’t know if they can get them. This guide explains how to take care of your cuticles, avoid brittle and peeling nails, and build up weak nails, so that your natural nails remain strong between appointments, or if you’re looking for some added support, are strong enough to make use of the professional nail enhancement services in Tampa.

Cleaning Care of your cuticles

Your cuticles is your first line of defense and one of the quickest ways to invite damage is to turn a blind eye to them. But healthy cuticles play a key role in keeping moisture in and bacteria out, which is why cuticle care is more important than you may think.

Here are the tips on proper care:

Don’t trim the cuticles. The removal of a protective barrier poses a threat to infection.
Gently push back after a shower or bath with a wooden cuticle stick when skin is soft and pliable.
Apply cuticle oil to hair daily. This helps to keep the skin soft and from cracking or developing hangnails.
As far as possible, do not come into contact with the cuticle area in the presence of strong acetone vapors.

A damaged cuticle is not only coarse, it’s a breeding ground for painful hangnails and infections, and for nails that lift up or grow in irregular directions. Treat this small area of skin like you would treat the rest of your hands and you will see a difference in only a few weeks.

How to Prevent Brittle Nails

One of the most common nail complaints we hear is brittle nails, which break, split or crack easily under light pressure. The bright side is that brittle nails can be repaired in most cases, with a few regular modifications.

Here are some strategies to begin with:

Moisturize daily. Dry nails are brittle nails. Use hand cream and cuticle oil daily; not just after a shower.
Limit water exposure. Nails are subjected to weakening forces when constantly wet and dry. Use gloves when cleaning and washing the dishes.
Avoid harsh chemicals. Natural oils will be removed from the nail plate by acetone-based removers and household cleaners.
Nails kept at a suitable length. The longer the nails the more likely they are to snag and break.
Support nail from inside. Biotin, protein and healthy fats are important for nail health.

If the skin remains dry and brittle after doing these things, consult with a dermatologist as it may be due to an underlying health condition.

Need to know how to prevent peeling nails?

When a nail plate peels up at the end, or at any other point, it is a source of frustration and almost invariably due to either dehydration or repeated trauma.

To prevent the cycle from peeling repeat:

Drink water from the outside in. Massage an oil or cream into nails at night.
Avoid making your own gel peel. Nail layers are removed when gel or acrylic is forcibly removed. Instead, always thoroughly rinse it off.
For additional protection apply a strengthening base coat before polish.
File, don’t rip. Rough edge of a nail that is peeling, file smooth and do not tear off; may make split worse.
Give your nails a break between enhancement services to let them recover and rehydrate naturally.

Patience is the key to taking care of peeling nails. Within a few weeks, most can see improvement when they keep the plants moist and handle them gently.

The best way to improve weak natural nails.

Weak nails bend, tear or feel thin to the touch and may require a more specific treatment than brittle or peeling nails.

What really works:

Apply nail strengthening treatment or nail hardener for weak, thin nails.
Nails may be short and rounded while they are strengthening until they have become sufficiently strong.
Repeat weekly application of a protein nail treatment to strengthen nail structure.
Use gloves on ALL wet or chemical heavy jobs while nails recover, regardless of the job.
If nails need to be reinforced while they are strengthening, think about getting help from a professional nail enhancement service that can suggest which one is proper for the type of nails you have.

This process takes time, 4-6 weeks for the nail to regrow, but is worth the consistency.

How to Care for Nails Between Manicure Appointments

The pre-treatment to the manicure is more important than the manicure itself. After just 2 or 3 weeks of neglect it will be evident, regardless of how well the previous appointment went.

Make these habits a habit:

Moisturize hands and nails every day – not just occasionally.
Apply cuticle oil again each night to keep cuticles soft and shiny.
Clean up, garden, or wash dishes with gloves at all times – not just when it’s convenient!
Do not use a pick to pick at the edges of the polish or at lifted edges as this may rip the nail and cause an infection.
Make regular maintenance appointments, instead of waiting for the nails to be damaged.

The key is consistency. The little things you do every day keeps your investment in good shape better than the big things you do sporadically.

Conclusion

It’s easy to have healthy, strong nails, they don’t need to be a complicated routine. With regular cuticle maintenance, hydration, and proper water and chemical protection, and a bit of patience, brittle, peeling or weak nails can become nails you can’t help but show off.

Busch Nails and Lashes can provide professional nail enhancement services to help support and strengthen your nails while they heal. We are a reliable brand for nail enhancement in Tampa and we use our expertise and care to ensure that every time you come back you will have beautiful nails which will also be healthier underneath.