It’s often said that your hands reveal your true age, as the skin on them loses firmness over time, making them prone to wrinkles, sun spots, and other signs of aging. However, hands and nails often don’t receive the attention they deserve. By following a few simple steps in the hand and nail care routine shared by Nghia Nippers in the article below, you can keep them looking and feeling youthful and supple.
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Nail Care Routine: Tips for Healthy and Resilient Nails
Keep Hands Moisturized and Sun-Protected
You may have a routine to keep your face hydrated and shielded from the sun (which is great), but what about your hands? They also need moisture to stay supple and are susceptible to sun damage, which can cause wrinkles and dark spots. It's important to protect them everyday.
Look for a moisturizing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, and include emollient ingredients like shea butter (which provides some sun protection) and vitamin E (known to reduce wrinkles and roughness). Remember to apply sunscreen 15 minutes before heading outdoors and reapply as needed, every two hours is a general guideline, but reapply often if you’ve been swimming or sweating.
Take Care of Your Cuticles
Just like your hands need to be moisturized, so do your nails. While you have your moisturizer handy, gently massage a bit into the base and sides of your nails, including the cuticles, which serve as a protective barrier between your nails and the skin underneath. Keeping your nails and cuticles moisturized helps them stay pliable and reduces the risk of cracking, tearing, and hangnails, which can lead to skin infections.
For optimal care, consider using tools like cuticle pushers and nippers. If your cuticles are very dry and prone to tearing, you can consider applying cuticle oil nightly for an extra boost of moisture.
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How to Effectively Care for Your Cuticles
Moisturize Regularly
Speaking of moisturizing, just as you should hydrate your face twice a day, it’s important to keep your hands hydrated, too. Without consistent moisture, you may quickly experience dry skin and cuticles. So make sure to stock up on hand cream and keep one handy at all times for regular application throughout the day. Pro tip: Apply moisturizer on damp skin right after you hop out of the shower or wash your hands to help lock in hydration.
Avoid Hot Temperatures in the Shower
We know a long, hot bath or shower is probably something you look forward to at the end of a hectic day, especially on chilly nights. However, very hot water can strip your skin of essential moisture. Instead, use lukewarm water during showers and when washing your hands to help prevent dryness.
Exfoliate Regularly
We use our hands constantly throughout the day, enduring plenty of wear and tear. Therefore, we should use a sugar scrub twice a week to keep them smooth and soft.
Wear Gloves During Chores
When it comes to taking care of your hands, gloves offer two significant benefits. Water - especially hot water, can strip your skin of its own natural oils, leaving your hands and nails dry and chapped after washing. Additionally, exposure to chemicals in some cleaning products can cause contact dermatitis, which is a skin reaction that results in redness, itching, and dryness. Wearing cotton-lined rubber gloves while you clean reduces your contact with both water and chemicals, keeping your hands protected as you work.
File Your Nails
When considering the ideal nail length, think of yourself as Goldilocks with her porridge: Nails that are too long are more prone to splitting, tearing, and harboring bacteria, while nails that are too short may not sufficiently protect your fingertips. Aim for nails that are “just right,” with tips extending two to three millimeters beyond your fingertips. Remember to file your nails in one direction only; using a sawing motion can create microscopic tears that make nails more likely to split.
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Don't Forget to Buff
Invest in a nail buffing tool and use it once a week to keep your nails smooth. This step is essential when you're doing an at-home manicures as it helps ensure a more even application of nail polish. It’s also beneficial for your overall nail care routine if you simply want to keep your bare nails looking their best.
Remove Polish
A fresh coat of nail polish adds a vibrant touch to your hands, but it’s important not to leave it on for too long. In addition to unsightly chips, an old polish (especially darker shades) can lead to unsightly chips, discoloration, yellowing, and weakening of your nails. Aim to keep polish on for no more than a week, and remove it using a cotton pad and non-acetone polish remover, which is gentler on your nails. Soak a cotton pad with remover, hold it on your nail for at least 10 seconds, and then swipe upward toward the tip of your nail. This method is less irritating to your nails and cuticles than vigorous rubbing. After removing the polish, inspect your nails for any irregularities, such as white spots, vertical lines, or dark streaks. These changes can result from various factors, including injury or certain conditions like melanoma, so it’s important to pay attention to them.
Don’t Peel Off Your Gels
Whether you’re heading to the nail salon or have mastered DIY gel manicures at home, when it’s time for a refresh, do not — we repeat, do not — peel the polish off your nails. This can damage your nails, leaving them weak and fragile. Instead, remove your gel polish by soaking your nails in acetone and using a cotton round to gently wipe off the color.
Give Your Nails A Break
As much as we love a good manicure, our nails can benefit from a polish break every once in a while. If you notice your nails feeling extra brittle or looking yellow-tinted between polish changes, it’s time to give them a rest. Go polish-free for one to two weeks, or until your nails start feeling and looking healthy again.
=> Or you can check out our nail care tools to maintain healthy and beautiful nails:
- Manicure Set for Professional Nail Care
- Essential Nail Clippers for Perfect Grooming
- Precision Nail Nippers for Flawless Care
Caring for your hands and nails not only helps maintain their health but also enhances their beauty. In this article, Nghia Nippers has shared essential hand and nail care tips to help you achieve healthy nails. If you want to learn more about beauty care, check out our website Nghia Nippers, to discover more tips and resources.
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