What do your nails really need?

You know how our legs need to be moisturised to stay smooth? And our hair needs nourishment to prevent split ends? Well, our nails need some love and care to look their best, too - the perfect mani doesn’t just happen overnight! So if you’ve been neglecting your paws, listen up and learn just how to take care of them properly.
Careful cleansing
How many times do you wash your hands during the day? If you’re a big tea drinker (and need to pee every five minutes), then it’s probably too many to count. Frequent hand-washing can dry out your hands as well as your cuticles, which can then cause those nasty skin splits. You know, the ones you try to pick off - only to make matters A LOT worse. To combat this, use a pea-sized amount of a hydrating hand wash whenever you wash your hands. Also, try to pat your mitts dry with a towel and avoid heated hand-dryers.
bh recommends: Circa Home 1998 Mango and Papaya Hand Wash, Palmolive Foaming Hand Wash Raspberry Pump and DermaSukin Daily Hydrating Wash.
Trim it back
You’re more likely to chip or break your nails if they’re too long. So while long, claw-like nails come in and out of fashion, it’s a good idea to keep your nails relatively short to avoid any breakage. That is, unless you want jagged nails! Our advice? File your nails every week, and you may not won’t even have to bring out the scissors.
bh recommends: Bio Sculpture Nail Files and Manicare 4-way Buffer.
But the trimming doesn’t stop there. To get rid of any dead, dry-looking skin around the nails, you need to trim your cuticles every now and then. Soak your fingers in warm water to soften the cuticles before dipping them into a cuticle remover, like Revitanail Cuticle Remover Gel. Then, gently push back the cuticles before trimming any remaining hangnails.
bh recommends: Use the Sally Hansen Push ‘n Trim for both steps.
Oil up
Now, let’s talk about cuticle oil. If you’re prone to hangnails or dry, cracked cuticles, please, please, please add this step to your nail care routine. By applying cuticle oil every night (yes, not just when you paint your nails!), you’ll keep your nails protected and looking smooth and healthy. Not a fan of oil? No worries - there are also cream options on the market.
bh recommends: essie apricot cuticle oil, Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go.
Get creamy
The hydration shouldn’t stop at your cuticles. Plus, what good are healthy-looking nails on dry, rough hands? While we’re already aware of the importance of using a hand cream for the sake of hand health, did you know they can also help to strengthen and protect nails? Bonus: All that extra moisture will make sure your mani stays super shiny.
bh recommends: Glasshouse Fragrances Montego Bay Hand Cream, A'kin Lavender, Geranium & Jojoba, Nail & Cuticle and Designer Brands Pomegranate Hand & Nail Cream.
Nourish from within
Beauty is just as much about what you put inside than what you put on the outside - and the strength of your nails is no exception. If you’re prone to breakage, splits or ridges, your diet may have something to do with it. Try incorporating these foods into your mealtimes, and take a supplement daily to boost nail health.
bh recommends: Blackmores Nails Hair and Skin and Swisse Ultiboost Hair Skin Nails+.
How do you look after your nails? Do you have any tricks for perfecting a mani?
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33 Member Comments
I want to get a hydrating hand wash soon. I mainly use a bar of soap to wash my hands but I want something more moisturising.
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I gave up on my nails a few decades ago as they are fragile and break easily. I've started looking after my nails again, doing manicures etc, but I had underestimated the importance of massaging an oil treatment into my nails.
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Just a good whole food plant based diet ,full of fruit. Makes the whole body shine. Also get rest between polishing frenzy periods. Just to let nails breathe a bit.
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Great tips to follow
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Great tips, I use a couple of these products and nail and hand is improving.
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A good cuticle cream and a great file
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Oil and cream are a must!
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I follow all of these steps & I have noticed my nails are stronger & I no longer have nails that split easily. It's definitely worth taking the time & effort to look after them
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I'm finding the Sally Hansen Cuticle Rehab really great for looking after my cuticles. It's a gel-like product which is easy to apply and sinks in fast. I also am finding the Sally Hansen Diamond Strength product fantastic for giving extra strength to my nails really fast plus it smoothes out the nail perfectly ready for the nail colour. So it is a bit of an two in one type of product.
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Does the Essie oil smell like apricot, I wonder.
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Hand wash, hand cream, cuticle cream. Done.
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I try to give my nails a break between polishes, and I have found that works well for me.
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I need to use my cuticle cream more often.
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I use all of these. The one I'm patchy with, even though I know they work, is supplements. It's a budget/memory thing.
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I've been really slack this year with my nails. I normally just paint my nails with one shade and don't bother with any buffering/bottom or top coats, nail oils etc.
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Unfortunately I don't take enough care of my nails
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I've just changed to imperial leather hand washes, they're so much less drying than a cake of soap. I've got the Burt's Bees cuticle cream, must remember to use it!
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Some fantastic products and nail care treatments. Cuticle cream is great to keeps things healthy.
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I really need to oil up my cuticles more often!
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I take the Swisse hair, skin, nails supplement but mostly for my hair.
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I also make sure to use hand cream post hand-washing as my hands get dry really quickly as well. I try & make sure I use cuticle oil at least once a day to stop those pesky hangnails from forming.
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I used to be a shocking nail biter. When I was pregnant, my nails just took off. I also heard that pregnancy supplements are great for nails
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Great tips! I keep forgetting to use cuticle oil and hand cream so this is a good reminder :)
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