Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Keeping Long Nails Clean
• Method 2 of 3: Shaping your nails
• Method 3 of 3: Treating Long Nails
• Similar articles

Long nails look great, but many women don't want to grow them out due to the need for constant grooming. Indeed, nail care is a daily routine, but it will quickly become a habit. With regular maintenance, your nails will always look healthy and beautiful.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Keeping Long Nails Clean

1. 1 Wash your hands thoroughly. Long nails can harbor bacteria, so you just need to wash your hands thoroughly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you wash your hands in a specific way that will most effectively get rid of germs. Use clean, running water for this. Lather your hands until lather and rub between your fingers and under your nails for 20 seconds. Rinse your hands and pat them dry with a clean dry towel.
   • Keep your nails dry at all times, as moisture encourages bacterial growth. Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel each time.
   • Unable to wash your hands with water, apply a disinfectant to them, which must be a gel with at least 60% alcohol. This is the most common and available in most stores.
   • Disinfectant doesn't work as well as soap and water, but you can use it as a last resort. Do not replace regular hand washing with hand rubbing with disinfectant.
2. 2 Clean dirt from under your nails daily. You can use nail brushes for this, but an old toothbrush will work just as well. After washing, clean with an orange stick. To get rid of stubborn dirt, you can use a cotton swab moistened with nail polish remover (preferably without acetone) or a small piece of cotton wool if you wrap it around an orange stick before running it under your nail.
3. 3 Avoid biting your nails, or picking at cuticles or hangnails. Not only can you damage the nail plate, there is also a risk of bacteria entering and infection of the wound. Carefully cut off any burrs using the cutting pliers.
   • Also, you should not remove the cuticle. Instead, just put it back in place with the orange stick. There are various products on the market for safely removing cuticles.
4. 4 Sterilize manicure tools before using them. Carefully clean all your instruments before and after use with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to avoid spreading the infection. Make sure all of your tools are clean and well-sharpened.

Method 2 of 3: Shaping your nails

1. 1 Soak your hands in warm water before starting the procedure. Use a small, clean bowl of warm water and dip each hand in it for 3-5 minutes. Such an action will help soften the nail plate and make it easier for you to work with it further.
2. 2 Decide on the shape of your nails. The most common shapes are square, oval and oval-square (a combination of an oval and a square, which is essentially a square shape with rounded edges), but you can also choose the one that suits you best. If you are not sure about the correct choice, pay attention to the shape of the cuticle, and then give a similar shape to your nails.
   • Square nails are the most durable because they cover the entire width of the nail plate. From an aesthetic point of view, it looks better on long fingers with a wide nail plate.
   • The next most popular is the square-oval shape of the nails. It suits absolutely everyone.
3. 3 Use a nail file to shape your nails. There are many different types of nail files, including glass and metal. A glass nail file will work best to shape your nail. Its coarse-grained structure makes it easy to shape the nail into the desired shape.
   • Use nail clippers to gently cut off any excess if you need to shorten them significantly before starting to form, then use a file to correct any irregularities.
4. 4 File your nails in one direction and do not reciprocate. Moving the file in this manner will cause the nail to flake off. Instead, make smooth movements in one direction, starting from one side of the nail and working towards the other edge of the nail.
   • Be sure to use a nail file to smooth out any irregularities. The raw edges of the nails can leave clues, so you risk leaving sharp edges unaddressed.
5. 5 After filing the nails, you need to apply polish. This will smooth out any dents, nicks, and paint residues. Polish the surface of the nail and its edges to smooth out any unevenness.

Method 3 of 3: Treating Long Nails

1. 1 Trim your nails regularly. Having long nails doesn't mean never cutting them! Having decided on the desired length, you need to constantly maintain it, regularly cutting off excess. The length you choose depends entirely on your personal preference, but remember that the longer the nails, the more bacteria will accumulate on their surface. Try to keep your hands clean.
   • Cut straight across the nail, then round the edges slightly with scissors. This will prevent them from delaminating as you file further into shape, so don't worry about that right now.
   • Upon reaching a certain length, all nails tend to break, no matter how strong they are. The longer the nails are, the easier they break. Only through experimentation can you find the optimal length for yourself.
2. 2 Apply a protective layer of nail hardener. Apply one coat of the hardener first, then add more every day or every other day to prevent flaking. When using colored varnishes, always use a protective agent as a base.
   • There are various enamel hardeners that you can find in the cosmetics department. Experiment with different remedies and find the one that works best for you.
   • Try not to paint your nails too often, as nail polish and nail polish remover can permanently damage them.
   • As a decor for nails, special stickers are very popular at this time, the varieties of which are great. It is best to use paper backed stickers.Paint the nail with a colored polish and then apply the decal, then apply a layer of fixer to fix it.
3. 3 Don't use harsh nail care products. This can lead to their weakening. The most harmful cosmetics include nail polish remover, as it contains acetone, which is a very aggressive solvent.
   • Limit your use of nail polish remover and try to choose an acetone-free product.
   • Most nail polishes use harsh and even toxic chemical formulas. These chemicals can weaken the nail plate. If you are concerned about this, then you can use certain brands of non-toxic varnishes.
4. 4 Always wear gloves when washing dishes. Not only are dishwashing detergents very harmful to nails and cuticles, but they can also lead to weakening and discoloration of the nail plate. Wearing gloves will also help prevent dirt from getting under your nails and thus reduce the spread of bacteria.
   • Try applying a thin layer of Vaseline to each nail before putting on your gloves. Petroleum jelly will protect your skin and nails and prevent cuticles from drying out.
5. 5 Use moisturizers to keep the moisture in your nails at the correct level. This will strengthen your nails and make them even more beautiful. The cream also helps prevent the cuticles from drying out. Buy a quality hand cream and rub it into your cuticles and nail plate.
   • For extra protection, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to your cuticles before bed.
6. 6 Eat a healthy diet. You need to get enough calcium and zinc daily. Calcium plays a critical role in maintaining healthy nails, and zinc deficiency results in unattractive white streaks on the nail plate.
   • Take vitamins daily as a healthy food supplement.
   • Consider using biotin supplements. Biotin is a dietary supplement that helps strengthen weak nails. It is imperative that you consult your doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements.

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