Simple Nail Care Routine for Healthy Nails
This easy-to-follow nail care routine helps maintain clean, strong, and beautiful nails. From removing old polish to hydrating your cuticles, these steps ensure your nails stay in great condition without the need for expensive salon visits. Follow these simple steps regularly to achieve a polished, healthy look.
1. Remove Old Polish
Why: Removing old nail polish is crucial to start with a clean surface for any further treatments.
How: Use a gentle nail polish remover and a cotton pad to wipe off any remaining polish. Make sure you’re thorough, especially around the edges of the nails to ensure there’s no leftover polish.
2. File Your Nails
Why: Filing your nails helps maintain a neat and even shape, preventing snags or breaks.
How: Use a disposable nail file with a moderate grit. Start by filing the edges of your nails into a square shape, but slightly round the corners to prevent them from catching on things and breaking.
Tip: If your nails are particularly long, it’s best to use nail clippers first to trim the length and then file for a smooth finish. Always file in one direction rather than a back-and-forth motion to prevent nail damage.
3. Buff Your Nails
Why: Buffing your nails helps remove any ridges, smooth out uneven surfaces, and can prevent peeling, giving your nails a polished appearance even without nail color.
How: Use a buffing block (or a soft buffer) to gently go over the nail surface. Focus on the free edge (the tip of your nails) and the areas where peeling might occur.
Tip: Don’t over-buff, as this can weaken the nails. A gentle buffing is enough to smooth the surface.
4. Clean Your Nails
Why: Cleaning ensures that no dust, debris, or dead skin remains on the nails, which helps products like base coats and moisturizers to apply smoothly.
How: Use a dry nail brush or a soft toothbrush to gently remove any debris or dust from under your nails and around the edges. You can also use a cotton pad to wipe away any leftover residue.
5. Cuticle Care
Why: Taking care of your cuticles helps maintain the health of your nails and keeps the area around them neat. It also makes your nails look cleaner and more polished.
How:
Gently push back the cuticles with a cuticle pusher. You can use a metal pusher, a wooden stick, or a crystal pusher, depending on what feels comfortable for you.
Be gentle and avoid pushing too hard to prevent damage to the delicate skin around your nails.
If there is any dead skin or excess cuticle buildup, you can use cuticle nippers to trim it carefully. Only cut the dry skin around the nail and avoid cutting into the live skin to prevent cuts or infections.
Tip: If you prefer a quicker routine, you can skip the nippers and focus on pushing back the cuticles and hydrating.
6. Clean Nails Again
Why: After cuticle care and filing, your nails will have some oils or residue from products. Cleaning your nails ensures a smooth surface for base coat or polish.
How: Use rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad to clean your nails thoroughly. This removes any oils, dust, or cuticle cream left on your nails and preps them for the next step.
7. Apply Base Coat
Why: A base coat protects your nails from staining (especially if you plan to use nail polish), strengthens the nails, and provides a smooth surface for nail color.
How: Apply a thin layer of base coat across the entire nail, starting from the cuticle and working your way toward the tip. Be sure to coat the free edge (the tip of your nails) to seal the nails and prevent chipping.
Tip: If you’re not applying any nail color, you can use a strengthening base coat that helps keep your nails strong and prevents breakage.
8. Hydrate
Why: Moisturizing your nails and the skin around them helps prevent dryness, cracking, and peeling. It also promotes healthy nail growth.
How: Massage a small amount of coconut oil (or your preferred moisturizer) into your nails, cuticles, and the skin around them. You can do this gently in circular motions for a few minutes to improve circulation and keep the skin soft and hydrated.
Tip: Coconut oil is a great natural moisturizer, but you can also use cuticle oil, argan oil, or a hand cream depending on your preference.
