Just removed your gel polish and nail extensions after the party season? Now’s the time to upgrade your hand-care routine from more than just a pump or two of hand cream. These essential nail care tips will leave you with stronger and healthier nails.
Make your nail tech your bestie
A few cycles of your your nail tech using an abrasive nail file, peeling off your gel polish or going to town with a drill could leave your nails paying a high price. Surprisingly, the nail extension removal process matters more than the application.
“The nail consists of 20-25 layers of compressed keratin. When gel is removed by peeling or scraping the product from the nails, it physically separates the layers, peeling away the keratin that is still attached to the product,” says Erica Nieuwenhuis, nail tech and bio sculpture educator for The White Door.
To prevent damage in the first place, look to a manicurist that’ll treat your nails with some TLC, and then follow it up with dedicated after-care with the help of nail care products.
Cute nails need some cuticle care
Cuticle oil for nails nourishes them as conditioner does to the hair, and you should use it at the same frequency. Hands and nails take a beating from repeated exposure to water, soaps, hand sanitisers and nail polish removers, especially in the post-pandemic world, all of which dry out the skin around the nails. If you’re already using a hand cream, continue lathering it on. But add in a cuticle oil or balm to the mix.
“They replenish hydration loss from the upper layer of the epidermis and form a barrier to prevent further trans epidermal moisture loss,” says Nieuwenhuis.
Cuticle oils also prevent biting, picking and peeling, because they seal up the cuticle and stop the formation of detached hangnails. Try not to go scissor-happy on your cuticles—just push them back to improve the shape. Snip off only the straggly bits.
Slug it out
If you have particularly dry skin, you can add slugging to your nail care routine. It may sound gross, but we insist you give it a try. Use a hand scrub, massage in a cream and follow it up with an oil. Apply a thick layer of balm on your nails, and then wear gloves overnight to let it all sink in.
Time for some strength-training
A few coats of a nail strengthener can help combat brittleness, especially if your nails feel soft and prone to breakage. But don’t pick up a product that claims to harden your nails—you want your tips to be strong, but flexible.
According to Nieuwenhuis, “nail straighteners can contain ingredients that soak into the nail and surround the keratin cells to fill in the gaps, thereby creating a stronger nail. The part of the nail that benefits is the matrix, which is where the cells responsible for making new nail cells live.”
No need for naked nails
Contrary to popular belief, your nails don’t actually have to breathe between manicures.
“Keratin, which comprises the part of the nail that we see, are terminally differentiated cells, or in layman’s terms they are ‘dead cells’–because they have stopped dividing and growing,” confirms Nieuwenhuis.
Once you’ve taken off the gel polish or extensions, follow it up with regular nail polish. It protects the nails from water absorption, making them less likely to fray or peel. But once it starts to chip, remove the polish, soak your nails, apply a cuticle oil overnight, and then reapply in the morning.
