When it comes to healthy hands, there are certain important rules women tend to follow before stashing them in their purses. One such rule? Keeping fingers and toenails polished to perfection. That’s because not only do our hands carry keys, credit cards, and a host of other important pieces, but also all the dirty, sneaky stuff. Ladies, you’ve got nails, you’ve got all your dirty laundry, it’s time for it to be washed. Or at least to be brushed, polished, and painted. But it turns out all the running around we do every day can warp those nails into a dirty wonderland. Here are five ways you — and your man — can start cleaning them up!
1. Being too short in the cuticle line
“When you cut the skin at the top of your nails, the area right next to the cuticle can get incredibly dry, brittle, and brittle — which can lead to very exposed skin — and it can become discolored or broken if left untouched,” Ashley Leaman, certified Nail Technician, cofounder of nail brand Mosaic Nails and author of The Cuticle Care Plan, explained to POPSUGAR. “At this point, any cuts will look dull, cracked, cracked, and cracked. There are products on the market that can help to help correct this, but for most cases, it is best to cut your nails regularly to keep your cuticles healthy.”
2. Not using scrubs properly
“Many women will assume they need to be heavy-duty to get a good shine without ruining the cuticle — a wrong assumption, really,” Leaman said. “Treatment should be light but concentrated — applying a numbing gel to the nail bed before applying a scrubbed-through cleanser and topcoat.”
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3. Fixing the cuticle with too much drying spray
Many women assume that applying a touch of drying spray from a gel or cream-based nail polish will dry off any excess oil from the cuticle and get it washed away, but they’re wrong.
“The drugstore dryer spray will actually dry out your cuticle — instead of doing the first thing that comes to mind, which is to pat dry, relax, and go ahead and maintain a normal drying temperature,” Leaman said. “When the cuticle dries too quickly, you get permanent damage to the skin and that usually means you get splits. The extra irritation and stress can actually lead to more problems like skin infections.”
4. Not enough dryer sheets
“If the cuticle is dry, it’s also dry — and a stubborn drier sheet will do the same trick as your light or thick-textured gel. You’re putting too much heat into your hands.”
5. Taking your cuticles off with cotton buds or scissors
Think about this: never — ever — carry a pair of scissors around with you. These can lead to more damage (if you’re haphazard about carrying them) or they can easily get caught on clothing, essentially making your cuticles broken or damaged.
“If you’re going to use a scissors, for example, remember that you can never remove the cuticle with them in tact because they can’t control the pressure and you risk opening your cuts up more,” Leaman said. “You should use your nails and cuticle oil for cutting the split. Don’t remove a cuticle unless you absolutely need to.”
If you’re getting a manicure or pedicure, nail art, or anything similar, Leaman advises staying away from mixing polish and cuticle oil because you may not get the sealant right.
“Clippers can be so wrong in this department — I’ve seen some cuticles that are cut the exact same way and ends are completely different — on cuticles that will get sprained or messed up by the end,” she said. “Find an eraser to clean off the lip, as it is really staining the cuticle and leaving a delicate mess behind.”
On a similar note, if you plan on painting your fingernails, make sure they’re clean to avoid putting extra pressure on the cuticle. This applies whether you’re doing your own nails or using products from the salon.
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