Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Keeping your toenails healthy
• Part 2 of 3: Cutting and cleaning your toenails
• Part 3 of 3: Painting your toenails
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

If you are concerned that your feet are not ready for spring and summer, the first problem areas to address are your toenails. To get beautiful toenails, you first make sure that they become healthy. Trimming them and coloring them will have your toenails ready for sandal weather.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Keeping your toenails healthy

1. Use petroleum jelly or an oil like almond oil or shea butter to soften your toenails. Toenails can harden over time, but petroleum jelly and oil can keep them soft. This will make it easier for you to cut them. Oil also helps moisturize your nails so they don't crumble.
   • Don't forget to apply oil to your cuticles as well, as this will make them look better. This process also helps to moisturize your nails.
2. Do not use nail polish remover with acetone. This type of nail polish can dry out your toenails, causing them to split and crack.
   • Nail polish removers without acetone contain ethyl acetate or methyl ethyl ketone or to remove nail polish. Check the label to make sure it does not contain acetone.
   • Know that non-acetone nail polish remover is less aggressive, so you may need to put in a little more effort to remove your nail polish.
3. Take biotin. According to studies, this B vitamin helps to get stronger nails and toenails.
4. If your nails are mostly yellow, see your doctor. Yellow nails can indicate other health problems.
   • For example, if you have yellow nails that are peeling off the skin, this could indicate thyroid disease or psoriasis.
   • Yellow nails that won't come off the skin could indicate respiratory problems, an infection or diabetes.

Part 2 of 3: Cutting and cleaning your toenails

1. Trim your toenails once a week. If you have long toenails, you are more likely to develop ingrown nails, which can be painful and require a visit to your doctor. Long toenails also cause discomfort when wearing closed shoes because the nails touch the shoes and pressure is applied to your nails. Regular trimming also prevents your toenails from splitting.
   • Trim your toenails until they are about the length of your toes. If they are too long, they will split. If your nails are too short, you can develop ingrown nails.
   • Trim your toenails straight instead of clipping them round. Cutting your toenails straight prevents you from getting ingrown toenails, because the corners keep the skin from growing over your nails.
2. File your toenails once every four days. Regularly checking your toenails can help keep them in shape. Also always file in one direction, because filing back and forth can tear and break your nails.
3. Don't cut your cuticles. Cuticles prevent infections. Cutting your cuticles can infect your skin.
4. Polishes away stains. Lightly polish your nails with a buffing block to remove stains from the top of your nails.
5. Clean the areas under your nails with a toothbrush. The toothbrush helps to remove all the dirt from under your toenails. In the shower, put some soap on the toothbrush and then scrub your toenails. Don't scrub too hard to avoid breaking your skin.
   • If you want whiter toenails, put whitening toothpaste on the toothbrush.

Part 3 of 3: Painting your toenails

1. Gently push your cuticles back. You can push your cuticles back to paint your nails, but don't push so hard that they break.
2. Apply base nail polish first. Base nail polish will help the polish adhere better to your toenails, which means you won't have to touch up your nails as often. Base nail polish also helps protect your nails from smudging when you take the polish off.
3. If possible, paint your nails with three strokes. The nail on your big toe may need a little more polish, but generally just one stroke in the center, one on the left, and one on the right will suffice. Let the paint become smooth by itself by putting a large dollop on the brush and gently smearing it with the brush.
4. Don't forget the top coat. A topcoat provides extra shine and protection.
5. Correct mistakes. Use a small brush or a piece of tissue and nail polish remover to remove the nail polish that has gotten on your skin.
6. Do not expose your nails to hot water after painting. Cold water can help cure the polish, but hot water can expand and crack nails.
7. Make sure you have a good selection of nail polish on hand so that you can always use the color of your choice. This is especially important if you want to match your toenails with your outfit.
   • Glitter polish usually lasts longer on your toenails than nail polish without glitter.
   • Pay attention to the ingredients of the nail polish. Avoid using nail polish that contains formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate. These chemicals are harmful to your nails over time.
8. Paint your toenails according to your personality. If you're shy, don't go for a bold neon orange color. Opt for a French manicure for elegant occasions.
9. Try eye-catching patterns. An easy way to come up with eye-catching patterns for your toenails is to paint them on a plastic bag or parchment paper first. When you are done, you can peel off the patterns and apply to your nails using base nail polish and a top coat.
   • Stickers and tape can also help you create interesting patterns. Apply base nail polish and let it dry. Use stickers and tape to create an interesting pattern that you apply with a different color nail polish. You can make spirals and stars, or paint both halves of the nails in a different color.

Tips

• Plan ahead for the holidays by purchasing the right nail polish colors, such as red and green for Christmas.
• Do not use nail hardeners as most have not been tested through clinical studies.
• Know that toenails always take longer to grow back and be healthy again than fingernails. So if your toenail breaks or you treat your nails for a fungal infection, remember that it takes time. If the problem has not disappeared in the specified time, see your doctor again.
• File your nails in one direction only. Filing in both directions can roughen the edges of your toenails and catch on things.

Warnings

• If your toenails don't look healthy, see your doctor. Unhealthy toenails can indicate other health problems.

Necessities

• Basic nail polish
• Topcoat
• Nail polish
• Small brush
• Nail file
• Nail clippers
• Vaseline or oil