Healthy vs. Unhealthy Nails
The first step toward caring for your nails is to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy nails. You can recognize healthy nails because they are firm, smooth, and have strong white tips. Healthy nails also shouldn’t have any pits, ridges, grooves, or discoloration. Unhealthy nails, on the other hand, may be slightly discolored, have ridges, be weak, or separate from the nail bed. Unhealthy nails could be a sign of improper nail care, but they could also be signs of vitamin deficiencies or an underlying medical condition. If you’re concerned about the health of your nails, or you notice more severe symptoms such as bleeding, swelling, or pain, it’s a good idea to seek help from a medical professional.
Proper Care Tips
Even if your nails are as healthy as they’ve ever been, it’s still important to ensure that you’re taking care of them — you wouldn’t stop going to the doctor just because you didn’t feel sick, would you? Luckily, taking care of your nails is easy, doesn’t take much time, and can be a great way to practice self-care.
Trim Regularly
Just as you need to trim your hair regularly to keep it soft and strong, it’s important to trim your nails regularly, as well. Luckily, most people already do this! That being said, there are some people who believe that if they want to grow their nails extra long, they should never cut them, but that’s not the case. If you never cut your nails, they could become brittle and risk breaking. Instead, consider simply trimming just a little bit of your nail to help keep them strong without reducing the length. On the other side of the coin, you also shouldn’t cut your nails down as far as they will go every time you trim your nail. Not only could this be painful and cause bleeding, but you could also risk exposing the sensitive tissue of the nail bed.
Leave the Cuticles Alone
Many people see the cuticles as an unnecessary part of the nail, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The cuticle is a protective layer for the part of the nail bed where the nail starts to grow. Not only does the cuticle help protect that part of the nail from damage, but it can also act as a barrier against infection-causing bacteria and fungi. When you remove that barrier, it can expose your nails to bacteria that could make it difficult for your nail to grow. For this reason, you shouldn’t fully remove the cuticle from your finger. If your cuticle is getting in the way, simply use a wooden tool to push the cuticle back, giving your nails a longer appearance.
File to Perfection
Once you’ve trimmed your nails, it’s important to file them down so that there aren’t any rough edges that can catch on clothing and tear the nail. The best time to trim and file your nails is after a shower, as the water helps to soften the nails, making them easier to shape. However, your nails should never be completely soaking wet, as that can cause more damage — make sure to dry your hands with a towel before you begin filing. Once your hands are dry, you can start filing your nails. We recommend using a metal nail file to smooth the edges of your nails from outside to inside in one direction. Filing your nails back and forth can lead to tearing and breakage. You can file your nails simply to make the edges smoother or you can file your nails into a specific shape, the most common being: round, square, stiletto, almond, squared oval, and ballerina.
Stock Up On Nail Care Supplies at Marie’s!
Caring for your nails at home is easier than you may think, especially when you have the right supplies. At Marie’s Beauty Salon & Supply in Anchorage, we’re proud to offer an extensive selection of beauty products, including hair, skin, and nail products. Whether you’re looking for a high-quality metal nail file or a beautiful nail polish to finish your look, we’ve got it all. Explore our website to learn more about what we have available, and give us a call to schedule an appointment at our Anchorage salon today!