Photo by Mathilde Langevin on Unsplash
We spend so much money on having beautiful nails, whether they’re acrylics or natural, and yet we sabotage them, now and again. Why is that?! There are many bad nail habits that we indulge in whether we notice them or not.
Because, here at ScissorsCut, we always want you to take care of yourself and help you honour your wellbeing, below we go over the most common bad nail habits that you may have and how to break them.
Nail Biting
One way to keep yourself from biting your nails is to always have them painted, and if you can use bitter-tasting nail polish, even better! According to the American Academy of Dermatology, bitter-tasting nail polish is safe and available over the counter. When you bite your nails, you are virtually eating not only dirt but bacteria that lives under them… This is definitely a bad nail habit.
Other ways to keep yourself from biting your nails are to keep your nails short, identify any physical or other triggers that cause you to bite your nails, or use a gradual approach to stop your nail-biting bad habit.
Polish Picking
So you went and got a nice manicure, or you did your own nails, don’t pick them! Stop! Enjoy your nails; try not to ruin them by picking or peeling off the polish. It’s also not ideal to pick it off when your nail polish starts chipping because you will likely remove the top layer of your nail bed and effectively weaken your nails.
Picking can be a tick, again we advise you to identify any triggers you may have that are causing you to pick. On the other hand, if you are picking your polish because it is chipping, a product to always have on hand in your purse or at home is pre-moistened nail polish remover packets for when you have the urge to peel or pick.
Be Kind to Your Cuticles
Whether it’s because of the weather, your line of work, or picking at your cuticles, it’s important to care for them. Mistreating our cuticles can leave them looking ragged and dry and can set them up to become infected.
When you lose cuticles, you are susceptible to paronychia, which is the inflammation of the skin around your finger or toenail. Another unwanted complication of having unhappy cuticles is that they become ragged. When your cuticles are ragged it may lead to connective tissue disease and parakeratosis pustulosa. It will start with reddening of the skin under the margin of your thumb or index fingernail. The redness then spreads down to the nail fold, and the skin becomes swollen, followed by the partial or complete loss of the cuticle.
A great way to prevent picking your cuticles is to use a cuticle remover to remove the dead skin, which will keep your nail bed and cuticle itself healthy.
Gel Nail Addiction
We understand the love for gel nails. They last longer, don’t chip, and look great, but they can do damage to your nails. When you consistently get gel nail manicures, you are susceptible to having brittle nails, your nails cracking and peeling.
A good way to prevent damage is to alternate between gel manicures and nail polish manicures. We suggest being proactive and wearing sunscreen before getting a gel manicure, and remember not to pick off the gel polish yourself. You should always ask a Nail Professional to remove the nail gel.
Manicure Breaks
Having nice nails is a must for some of us, and we understand why you might get them biweekly, however, polish can dry out your nails. We highly suggest taking breaks in between manicures to let your nails breathe, at which time you can moisturize the nail and cuticles and give them an extra bit of care.
This will keep your cuticles, nails, and the skin around your nails happy and prevent cracking or breaking of the skin or nail.
More Ways to Keep Your Nails Healthy
Some additional ways we keep our nails healthy here at ScissorsCut include daily use of cuticle oil, taking supplements such as B9 and Biotin, using soft nail files that don’t tear our nails, only using natural nail polishes, and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Cuticle Oil – When you use cuticle oil, you can stimulate nail growth because of increased circulation. And, when you use cuticle oil, you are less likely to suffer from the nail and cuticle trauma we listed above.
B9 and Biotin Supplements – A 1989 study showed that continuous use of biotin showed improvement in stronger—firmer nails within 5.5 months. B9 or folate helps make new cells for your hair, nails, and skin —a deficiency would affect all three.
Soft Nail Files – Using soft nail files, such as glass nail files, is beneficial because they are less likely to damage your nail. Harsher nail files fray the tips or sides of your nails, causing them to splinter. Because glass nail files are softer, your nails are less likely to chip or break and ultimately remain healthy and can grow longer.
Natural Nail Polish – Traditional nail polish has Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), and Toluene, which are incredibly toxic ingredients. If you are concerned about the color payoff or how long the polish will last without these ingredients, don’t be! You will hardly tell the difference, and your nails will be better for it.
Fruits and Vegetables – Eating foods such as tomatoes, bell peppers, and carrots, or oranges, strawberries, and kiwi will allow you to have a good Vitamin A and Vitamin C intake. These vitamins will help you naturally create collagen that is essential for nail growth.
Love Your Nails
People, more specifically women, are very likely to be very vigilant and use skincare and protection from the sun to maintain a healthy complexion. But, your complexion isn’t all that needs to be taken care of, make sure to care for your nails, and the skin around your nails. Consume healthy and delicious fruits and vegetables, and be sure to follow some, if not all, the tips we listed for you to have beautiful and healthy nails that will make you Look Good, Feel Good!