We often forget that our nails are part of who we are. They can reflect our personalities and they can tell people something about us. This is why it’s important to take care of them. Like our skin and hair, our nails can also dry out and break off if they are neglected. Keeping your nails neat and tidy is not only important for your looks, but also for your health. All it takes is a few minutes to have a nice looking, healthy set of nails. Here are a few nail care basics to keep in mind when taking care of your nails:

Maintain Well-Shaped Nails
Whether it’s with a nail clipper or a nail file, having well-shaped nails looks sophisticated and professional. Trim your nails frequently and when you use a nail file, if you do decide to use one, only file your nails in one direction. Going back and forth is harmful to your nails.

Keep Your Nails Clean
Hand and nail hygiene is key. Because we make use of our hands for just about everything, it’s important to wash them with soap regularly, making sure your nails are always clean.

Don’t Bite Your Nails
Nail biting is one of the dirtiest habits around, and also one of the most difficult to give up. From a health point of view, it’s filthy and can cause severe damage to your nails.

Never Abuse Your Nails
No matter how strong your nails may seem, they should never be used to open tight boxes or container lids, or to scrape stuff off from surfaces.

Avoid Peeling Chipped or Soft Nails
Resist the urge to peel your nails if they’ve been chipped or have a soft texture. Clip them with a nail clipper instead. This will stop the chipping and will also ensure that the rest of your nail doesn’t get damaged further.

Push Your Cuticles Back
The cuticle is the skin that grows from the finger onto the root of the nail. They protect the nail from infection and hangnails. Pushing them back gently, with a cuticle stick, will help your nails grow. Just be careful that you don’t push them back too far. And, NEVER cut them away.

Make Use of a Hand and Nail Cream
This goes especially after washing your hands as soap can dry out your hands and nails, making them weak and brittle. Take care not to use fragranced lotions and hand creams that contain alcohol. They will only leave your hands feeling drier and your nails prone to breakage.

Purchase Good Quality Products
This is a problem for most, especially those of us on a budget. Good quality nail products do come at a price, but since they lasts longer and don’t damage your nails, it’s worth every penny. Spending an extra amount of money on a good quality nail product is better than having to spend a lot more on repairing damaged nails in the long term.

And, it’s as simple as that! You’ve probably heard it a thousand times over, but it’s the basics we shouldn’t forget. It is the basics that make great nails after all.

Article by: Kelly Abrahams