How to Keep Your Nails Healthy

You’ve got some serious regrowth ahead of you when you get your nails back on track after getting a pedicure or manicure — so now’s the time to do some prep work. — And not only to prep them for the scissors and polish, but for your taste, you’re going to need a lot of it. Before you get started, it’s key to remember some simple tips from Stephen Bryden, nail technician at Bambino Nails in Melbourne, Australia, as he showed us how to keep your nails in shape and healthy in the videos above and below.

Break out some good olive oil

When it comes to manicures, the oils you use are very important — just look at the the top coats on your French manicure versus the nail polish remover. To take care of your nails, apply olive oil as a barrier to polish, too, so they stay in tip-top shape.

Pay attention to oils

“Olive oil, butter, coconut oil, and beeswax all are great oils,” says Stephen. They’ll prevent chipping or discoloration and also provide extra nutrition — which is crucial for your healthy nails.

Olive oil is great, too, but Stephen also stresses the importance of applying an alternative. That’s where coconut oil comes in, because it has a lot of anti-inflammatory properties. It will be a healthier alternative than regular coconut oil, which can also have some antifungal properties, says Stephen. In fact, Stephen recommends mixing some coconut oil with olive oil, because it will make it easier to break them down and prevent them from getting too oily.

Chill those bites

The human mouth is extremely susceptible to bacteria, and if you get bitten by a flea or other pesky bug that loves to lick off your nails — it can be tough to get the fun leather off of your toes. But there’s one amazing trick to get it done: ice. “The best way to nail that is to get that ice on a nice small plate and put it in your nails so it’ll get your nails cold as soon as it hits them,” says Stephen. Once it’s cold, then it’ll be an ideal temperature for the cold shed . . . minus the ringworm.