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Although the trend is wild, embellished acrylic or gel nails, that’s not for everyone. If you want healthy, natural nails, then your first stop shouldn’t be the salon. Instead, it should be the grocery store!
Healthy nails should be a few shades lighter than your skin tone. Ideally, you’ll see a paler half-moon at the bottom, just above the cuticle. The nails shouldn’t peel or split.
Your body needs enough nutrients to grow the strongest, healthiest nails. Protein, healthy fats, and vitamin E are especially important. A diet that emphasizes a variety of produce, as well as sources of good fat and protein like beans and fish, will help you get the nutrients you need.
Biotin might be the most important micronutrient for healthy nails. It’s a B vitamin that benefits your body in a number of ways. It’s found in egg yolks, beans, sweet potatoes, liver, mushrooms, bananas, and broccoli.
However, you should skip the gelatin home hacks. You might have heard that consuming gelatin or soaking your fingertips in it will help your nails grow long and strong. That’s just not true.
We should all know by now that hand-washing is essential. However, the way you wash them could have an impact on the appearance of your nails. Gently scrub with soap and water. Use a toothbrush or soft nail brush to get all the nooks and crannies.
You can exfoliate your hands if they feel particularly dry. Don’t overdo it, though. Instead of buying an expensive product, mix melted coconut oil with sugar or salt to create your own scrub.
It’s also smart to keep hands protected during chores. If you plan to wash dishes, clean bathrooms, work in the garden, or any other activity that gets your hands dirty–wear gloves.
Many manicurists push back your cuticles or even cut them. This makes the nail appear longer, but it also opens you up to a world of problems. The cuticle exists to protect you from germs. If you damage it, then there is no longer a barrier to stop fungal infections, viruses, and bacteria.
Don’t let your nail technician touch your cuticles. And don’t copy their moves at home. Just because you can buy tools to push or cut your cuticles doesn’t mean you should.
Focus on keeping your cuticles moisturized and clean. A commercially made cuticle oil can help deeply moisturize. Alternatively, you can use olive oil or coconut oil.
