Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Properly style your nails
• Method 2 of 2: Protect your nails
• Tips
• Warnings

Weak, brittle, cracked, and split nails can be very frustrating, as can sore and cracked cuticles. It is a difficult job to find the right remedy among the large amount of products at the drugstore, and you often come home with the wrong product. It seems like there are thousands of moisturisers and polishes that promise to make your nails stronger, harder and longer, and make them grow faster. However, you don't have to use chemical or expensive products to make your nails harder and stronger. You can get healthy nails in a few practical and simple steps.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Properly style your nails

1. Don't polish your nails. Some women polish their ridged fingernails to smooth them, but are unaware that ridges are a healthy part of fingernails. The thickest parts of the nails are the healthiest parts. So when you polish your nails, you remove the stronger, healthier parts of your nails.
   • If you really don't like the ridges, try buying a high-quality lacquer to apply a top coat with. With a top coat you can fill in the dimples in your nails and thus specifically tackle the ridges. This way you get nice smooth nails without damaging your fingers.
2. Improve your filing technique. Always file flat along the edge of your nails first. After you have filed away the desired amount, take your emery file and file your nails at a 45 degree angle. File off your nails. This way you smooth the edges of your nails so that they don't catch on anything. You also prevent hangnails.
   • Always use a fine nail file. Nail files with coarser grains are intended for artificial nails. They can be too aggressive on your natural nails and damage them. The same goes for files made of metal. Instead of a metal file, use an emery file with a pad.
3. Cut hangnails. Hangnails are often caused by split nails or nails that have been cut the wrong way. When your nail tears, your skin and nail bed can also be damaged and cracked. An infection can get into your body through even the smallest cuts. So think ahead and carefully cut away your hangnails with nail clippers.
   • Don't bite your hangnails off. Biting them off will tear your nail and skin and allow bacteria from your mouth to get into the wound.
4. Leave your cuticles alone. A popular myth is that cuticles are easy to remove. Nothing could be further from the truth, because the cuticle protects and seals the nail bed. Unless you are an experienced professional, you should not try to cut your cuticles yourself. You can unnecessarily injure and damage your fingers.
   • If you really think your cuticles look ugly, try moisturizing them instead of clipping them. Softening cuticles with an essential oil or hand cream can help promote healthy nail growth.
   • A second option is to use a cream to remove your cuticles. Massage this cream into your cuticles, after which you use a cuticle stick with a soft tip to gently push the cuticles back towards the nail bed. Your ugly cuticles will look neater and cleaner that way.

Method 2 of 2: Protect your nails

1. Soak your nails in oil. You can use different combinations of oils to soak your nails. Try coconut oil, argan oil, or olive oil mixed with tea tree oil or vitamin E oil. By applying a large amount of oil to your nails with a cotton ball and soaking them, your nails get a healthy dose of moisture. However, do not soak your nails in water and try to wet them as little as possible. Water will soften your nails and cause them to bend and flake.
   • Try vitamin E oil if your nails are soft and split easily. Tea tree oil can be a healthy way to keep your nails clean and fungus-free.
2. Take nutritional supplements to get healthy nails. According to many women, nutritional supplements help to grow nails and make them healthier. Biotin in particular is a good means of strengthening brittle nails. Consider buying a quality supplement to make your hair, skin and nails healthier. These supplements usually contain Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, many B vitamins, folic acid, zinc, iron, calcium and biotin. If you take these supplements regularly, they can have quite positive effects. Not only will your nails get stronger, but your skin and hair can also become healthier and look better.
   • With an incomplete diet, a simple multivitamin often helps to get enough vitamins to get healthier nails. Often times due to a lack of nutrients you will suffer from weak and brittle nails. Talk to your doctor to find out the right multivitamin for you.
   • By consuming a lot of omega 3 fatty acids, you can also reduce your chance of weak and brittle nails. These fatty acids are also called fish oil. You can take omega 3 fatty acids as a supplement or get it by eating dairy, eggs, nuts and fats such as olive oil.
3. Be careful what you put on your hands. Some products that you use every day, such as nail polish remover, hand disinfectants, and cleaning products, can not only damage your nails, but also make your hands age faster. By choosing milder products you can keep your nails and hands looking young and fresh.
   • Hand disinfectants often contain alcohol. Alcohol not only dries out your skin, but also your nails. The alcohol absorbs moisture from your hands and makes your nails brittle and brittle. It is better to wash your hands with antibacterial soap and dry them immediately if you want to disinfect them.
   • If possible, wear gloves when cleaning. It may not seem like a big deal to get glass cleaner on your hands. It's not bad for you either, but it will make your nails weaker and unhealthy. Cover your hands to prevent moisture from being drawn from your nails.
   • Do not use acetone nail polish remover. Acetone nail polish remover has been conclusively proven to remove moisture from your nails, making them weaker over time. Instead, opt for a nail polish remover without acetone. You can buy these at most drugstores.
4. Don't use your nails as tools. The tips of your nails will always be the weakest areas as you grow. When pressure is applied to the weakest part, the rest of the nail will be pulled up away from the finger. This can make your nail a lot weaker. You can avoid this by not using your nails to open cans, pick up stickers, or scrape food scraps off the counter.

Tips

• If you like nail polish, don't try to pick the polish off your nails when it starts to flake. Pulling off the polish also removes microscopic layers from your nails, making them soft and flexible over time.

Warnings

• It's easy to believe the promises of cosmetics manufacturers, but try not to use nail polish or other polishes that are said to make your nails stronger or harder. Also, don't be fooled by phrases such as "completely natural", "growth complex" and "guaranteed results!" It is basically ordinary nail polish filled with chemicals. Such means offer a quick solution.
• It is often recommended to take vitamin supplements for pregnant women to get strong hair and nails. The vitamins in these pills are harmless, but can often interact with other medications. Always seek the advice of your doctor before using these supplements.