When I noticed my nails were deteriorating rapidly last Summer, I couldn’t find a trend or a simple solution. It wasn’t that I wasn’t looking. I’ve worn a whole slew of different nail polishes, some were extraordinary, some didn’t have a chance. It’s just that I’m perpetually overwhelmed by so many decisions to make. It seems counterintuitive to pare down your nail routine until you’re bored of them, but that’s just what I’ve done. Now my nails are bigger and healthier than they’ve ever been. What’s more, they’re super strong, harder to break, and more often than not, beautiful. That’s because I don’t obsess over every last nail, and that’s because I don’t wear nail polish every day.
Instead, I’m able to reach my goals quicker because I don’t forget to take care of my nails at all. I try to wear my nails every night, which really helps. When I first began wearing pure polishes for no reason, I noticed that I had an easier time keeping my nails healthy because I was only putting one coat on, before drying off.
I first started experimenting with keeping my nails healthier by drinking a tea called Green Tea Nikomoto. I eat a lot of raw vegetables and lemon every day, so I would add a drop of green tea extract from a half cup of the Japanese green tea concoction. At first, it didn’t do me any good because I was only coming away with a less-strong tea — but I found that adding orange zest into the mix made it even better, effectively dulling up the surface of the surface in hopes of restoring flexibility and strength.
A photo posted by Ethan McBeth (@ebneads) on Jan 20, 2016 at 5:44am PST
I continued to amp up my tea habit for a while and soon realized that I was actually eating foods that helped rejuvenate my skin, along with my nails. I started to eat plenty of my favorite fresh herbs — basil, cilantro, fennel, oregano, and chives — because they offer a small dose of Vitamin C, and simply eating the leaves they’re contained in.
Looking to get any tips you may have on how to enjoy, maintain, and grow nails, I reached out to nail care expert Jordan Rocha, CEO of The Nail Opener and blogger at Dirty Nails. She told me that while an overall tune-up and antiaging routine helps, it’s more important to focus on the right kind of care.
If you’re serious about getting a stronger nail, a great way to start is by choosing a real nail polish. There’s no substitute for getting a live polish on your nails. If you’re looking for a healthy finish, you can’t go wrong with Essie’s Nail Shine ($7), which helps to sustain its color, contains antioxidants like Vitamin C and vitamin E, has hyaluronic acid, vitamin K, and helps reduce nail dehydration.
A photo posted by Alexis Panayiotou (@lallyphile) on May 6, 2016 at 7:26am PDT
When it comes to choosing a polish, try a stain on your nails, like Nails Inc.’s Blue Lemon ($7), because of its bright color and antiaging effect. Jordan also gave me one of her favorites: OPI’s NY Lights ($7). “It comes in three colors — the black is extremely versatile and will go on and be a springboard for any color you choose. The green contains Vitamins C and E, and is the one my husband is partial to, and makes the most perfect spring color,” she said.
Jordan recommended swapping your fingernail polish for a polish glass on the end of the nail file. The glass acts as a potential primer for future nail polish colors. Then try polishing with a synthetic chemical alternative, like Adex for nails or Intermix to protect your nails.
It’s also a good idea to clean your nails, especially when doing everyday touchups. Simply using a blade, like Iavex Chemicals vs. Amplified (two products designed to clean your nails using DHCs), are great ways to remove skin buildup.
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