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I quit these 5 bad habits and got long, strong, healthy nails
For many of us, manicure is one of the little pleasures in life. But with the pandemic throwing a wrench in our previous weekly salon appointments, we have been left to our own devices when it comes to our nails. There are so many amazing long lasting nail polish collections and numerous ingenious DIY tools to achieve an expert finish at home, but I recently realized that some of the nail care techniques I followed do not give my nails the best. begin to grow tall, strong and healthy. Add nervous pluck and bite to the mixture thanks to tension and anxiety caused by COVID, and my nails definitely looked worse for wearing. So, trying to blow my limp nails, I decided to change things up. Read from the best top quality nail files to always using a base coat under nail polish, and discover the most common nail mistakes – and the simple adjustments I’ve made to achieve my best nails to date. come here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of things. All our market choices are independently selected and compiled by the editorial staff. If you buy something we refer to on our website, Refinery29 can earn commission. Investing in High Quality Nail File Multipack nail files are good value for money, but some of them can be thin and sandpaper, causing my nails to tip. Since I invested in a glass or crystal nail file, my nails have not broken or caught once, and the speed with which they are laid is impressive. I use the Leighton Denny Small Crystal Nail File, which comes in a protective case; Nail Tek’s Crystal Nail File is another brilliant, highly regarded option: a top tip that all nail artists swear by for healthy nails is not back and forth, but place it slowly in one direction to keep your nails intact. Nail Tek Crystal Nail File w / Fuchsia Case, $, available at Ulta Beauty Use a base coat for nail polish If you skip a base coat before painting your nails, you can think about it again. A good base coat not only works like velcro for nail polish that you apply on top, and encourages it to last longer, but it protects your nails from stains, which can often occur if you use a darker color polish. Colored nails can take on the color of your chosen shade and even appear yellow over time – not great if you want to try the nude or bare nail trend. I like nails inc. Nailkale Superfood Base Coat, which treats nails as they are protected. Since I made a promise not to skip the primer (and also apply a top coat), my nails have abraded much less than usual, so I don’t take out my polish. This leads us nicely to the next bad habit … Nails Inc. Nailkale Superfood Base Coat, $, available at Sephora Not taking up nail polish If you pick up your nail polish, you run the risk of peeling off a layer of your actual nail. The immediate results are mottled, rough and scaly nails. Over time, your nails may weaken, which may explain why they often feel soft or pliable after doing a plucking operation. If you notice a disc, there are two options: fill it in the same shade to extend your manicure, or remove it with a soft nail polish remover. I find the latter a task, but I like nail polish remover pots a lot, which dissolve varnish quickly. Olive & June’s acetone – free version (more on this later) is a cult hit that is very gentle on nails and surrounding skin. Olive & June Mani Polish Remover Pot, $, available at Olive & June Be kind to your cuticle. affects your nail bed and affects the way your nails grow, especially if the skin around your nail becomes inflamed. As a self-confessed cuticle picker (often to painful sores), I always wondered why my nails were bumpy and wrinkled. Since checking myself and my nervous habit, I have noticed that my nails are growing smoother. One thing that helps is to get my hands and nails moisturized. I keep a bottle of cuticle oil, like CND SolarOil, on my bedside table and rub it into my cuticle and nails to smooth out any clumsy pieces of skin (that I would otherwise pick) in front of the bed. Using hand cream immediately after washing my hands also helps. I go for products that absorb immediately and will not leave greasy prints on my phone or keyboard, such as CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream or Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Hand Cream. CND SolarOil Nail & Cuticle Care, $, available at AmazonSwitch Acetone-free remover Nail polish removers containing acetone are cut at record speed. I think they are great and will always have one in my kit, but if I change my nail polish color regularly, I alternate with something acetone-free so I don’t dry out my nails and cause splits. Acetone-free formulas may take a little longer to remove polish, but it will do your nails a lot of good in the long run. Try OPI Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover, which has been approved by experts. OPI Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover, $, available from OPIL, as you can see? How about a little more R29 goodness, here? A Nail Pro on whether to cut your cuticle I tried 5 home gel nail kits and the cheapest way to never remove your gel nail polish