Fingernail do's and don'ts (2024)

FAQs

Fingernail do's and don'ts? ›

Avoid long periods of time in water (for example long baths, swimming, washing up etc). Avoid picking or peeling the product off as this could damage your natural nails. Avoid filing your nails and pushing your cuticles back, as this will break the seal of the gel and can lead to chipping.

Avoid long periods of time in water (for example long baths, swimming, washing up etc). Avoid picking or peeling the product off as this could damage your natural nails. Avoid filing your nails and pushing your cuticles back, as this will break the seal of the gel and can lead to chipping.

Common causes of fingernail problems include injury, infection and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Causes of toenail problems include trauma, ill-fitting shoes, poor circulation, poor nerve supply and infection.

A basic manicure, with the right polishes, is the healthiest for your nails. When we say the 'right polishes' we mean the best nail growth polish or breathable nail polish. The harsh chemicals in many polishes often degrade our nails. Using an organic polish that contains vitamins, is the best way to avoid damage.

Healthy nails are strong with pink nailbeds, but problems — such as white spots, ridges, thickening and changes to nail color or texture — are common.

Eating the right foods and drinking lots of water is the most crucial thing you can do to promote consistent nail growth. Make sure you add lots of folate found in spinach, asparagus and avocado, zinc found in oysters, beans and nuts and biotin found in salmon, egg yolks and broccoli into your diet.

How long after nails can I shower? ›

To prevent smudging, it is best to wait one to two hours before hopping in the tub or shower. To help speed drying time, use a fast-drying topcoat or a nail polish dryer.

Avoid using any harsh soaps or contact with harsh chemicals after your treatment. Preferably try to wear gloves when doing activities such as gardening, washing the dishes, etc to prevent the nail polish from being removed or causing any damage to the nails such as chipping.

Cover each nail with a thick coat of something such as Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly ($2; target.com) or Aquaphor Healing Ointment ($5; target.com). “Applying this occlusive layer seals in the cuticle oil so that it will penetrate deeper and provides a protective barrier to help prevent moisture loss,” explains Dr.

Dr. Lee notes that she also recommends products like Aquaphor or Vaseline to her patients who are concerned about brittle nails. “In my clinical experience, I have had patients self-report improved durability of their nails when they hydrate the nail fold with a moisturizing ointment,” she says.

Not having enough biotin may cause weak nails. Taking a biotin supplement daily for at least six months may increase nail thickness. A deficiency in B vitamins, calcium, iron, or fatty acids. If you have any of these deficiencies, try adding a multivitamin to your regimen.

Repeated exposure to very hot or very cold temperatures also can be hard on your nails. Frequent contact with chemicals, such as those in many cleaning products, may weaken nails. If your nails are immersed in water for long periods of time, that can make them more prone to splitting.

Choose soak-off gel nails instead of acrylic nails.

This means your own nails are less likely to crack. You'll want to ask for gel nails that soak off rather than ones that must be filed off.