As you extend your hand for a handshake, or point out something on a menu to a friend, do you cringe at the site of your own nail? Nails are one of the parts of our bodies that contain the most bacteria and when they are dirty, people notice. Flimsy, lackluster nails can turn a beautiful hand into a boring one that will turn people away at the first glance. Don’t want this to happen to you?
Here are a few basic pointers on how you can keep your fingers looking freshly groomed every day.
NAIL CARE 101
- Push back your cuticles – Some people try to clip their cuticles leaving them open to the risk of bleeding or worse, becoming infected. Instead, buy an inexpensive manicure kit from your local drugstore and use the stick to push your cuticles back. This will keep your fingernails looking healthy without risking infection. Also, do this just after the shower when your cuticles are wet to make it easier.
- Only use polish remover once a week – Nail polish remover is harsh on our nails and using it frequently to switch out your colors can make your nails dry up quickly keeping it harder to hold on to your color and the healthy glow of your natural nails. It can also dry out the skin around the nail leaving your fingertips rough and dry. Limit your usage of nail polish remover to once each week for better looking fingertips.
- Wear gloves – If you plan to do housework with harsh chemicals, or yard work out in your garden, wear gloves to prevent your hands from being beat up by these harsh tasks. This will keep your fingertips moist and your nails free from the dirt you have been digging in.
- Disinfect any cuts around the nails – Fingertips are constantly touching surfaces, cell phones, and other germ filled items. If you get a cut on the tip of your finger, be sure to continuously clean it out and rid it from the possibility of getting an infection. With touching so many infectious areas, you are more likely to contract an infection if your fingers are not kept clean.
Your nails say a lot about your hygiene overall. Keep them looking fresh and healthy with these easy to follow tips. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to get a mani or pedi done once in awhile, just remember the basics in caring for your nails.
Author Bio: Ferina Santos is part of the team behind Open Colleges, Australia’s provider of great beauty therapy courses. A feisty, 20 year-old nerd at heart with an obsession for vanity, she captures all her random musings with daily photographs in her blog, A Pink Banana. When not online, she can be found reading a book or riding with her horses, while fantasizing she’s a real-life Khaleesi.
