Even if you have immaculate, smooth-to-the-touch nailsnary a fray in sightkeeping them strong is an entirely different story.
Same goes for nail care: The best offense, after all, is a good defense.
Cuticle careis always a good idea, problem nails or not.
“Apply cuticle oil at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Take a collagen or biotin supplement.
“Your nails are made of proteins and naturally need a lot of vitamins.”
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First up: Biotin has been shown tosupport thickness and firmness of nails1in several human studies.
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Push your cuticles back.
As mentioned, cuticle care is crucial.
But beyond oil, Lim mentions regularly pushing your cuticles back can keep them from overgrowing.
You don’t want to ever get to that point,” she says.
“When that happens, your cuticles are prone to cracking and infection.”
Commit to monthly maintenance.
Which brings us to our next point: monthly maintenance.
That’s a great way to maintain your nails," she says.
Invest in clean polish products.
Stick to a natural nail.
(Read more about howgels affect your nails here.)
Instead, usethis step-by-step guideto remove your faux nails.
Choose a file with a high grit number.
Did you know every nail file has an accompanying grit number?
The higher the grit number, the softer the file.
No need to go scratching up the nail plate, here.
Use a nail strengthener.
Protect your nails from chemical and UV exposure.
On the chemical front, it’s important to be mindful of any harsh ingredients seeping into your nails.
(And even some natural-leaning dish soaps can have drying ingredients, like vinegar or lemon.)
Like most aspects of skin care (and life in general), prevention is key.
