How to care for your nails

Nail care should be a vital part of your beauty routine. In fact, here are some tips that can help you maintain the sheen of your nails as advised by Dr Mohan Thomas, a senior cosmetic surgeon.
Examine if you have healthy nails
Lookout for signs that indicate your nails are healthy. Examine the colour of your talons that should be pinkish-white and ensure the presence of cuticles, a prominent half-moon shaped white section (called the lunula) at nail base.A combination of a well-balanced diet, routine nail care, and good personal hygiene can give you beautiful and healthy nails.
Tips to follow
Keep hands clean
It’s important to make sure your nails and skin around them are dirt-free. Use an acetone-free nail polish remover to take off nail paint. You can apply soap to a toothbrush, and then gently scrub your nails and skin. This removes dirt and exfoliates any dead skin without the need for harsh, drying chemicals or expensive scrubs.
Trim nails regularly
Nails should be trimmed at least once in two weeks. Cuticles should not be cut as it helps to seal the area at the base of the nail and if that is broken, nails are vulnerable to infection. Instead, gently push back the cuticle once a week with a wooden stick after getting out from the shower and apply cuticle oil or a lotion on it.
Invest in a good nail kit
Disinfect your nail tools by washing them with soap and water and then wipe down with rubbing alcohol after every use.
Protect and moisturise your nails
Whenever you apply nail paint, always apply a base coat first. The base coat helps the nail paint color to look better and at the same time protects the nail from being stained by the polish. Use a top coat to seal the nail color and decrease the incidence of nail chipping too. Apply almond oil to the cuticles and nails at night for proper hydration and blood circulation.
Invest in a good nail paint
Always make sure that you use a good nail polish product. Some nail paints may contain toxic chemicals, which can contribute to brittleness, splitting, and cracking of nails.
Avoid acrylic or gel manicures
These can be convenient but are harsh on the nails.
Let your nails breathe
Take breaks between procedures and let your nails breathe. If ignored could weaken the structure of the nail.
Wear gloves while gardening
While indulging in washing dishes, gardening or doing anything that would involve soaking or dirtying your hands, wear rubber, vinyl or plastic gloves. Direct exposure to dishwashers can make the nails dry.
Eat a healthy diet
A balanced diet is important to maintain healthy nails. A protein-rich diet along with omega-3 fatty acids helps. Add protein-rich foods like beans, fish, and nuts to your diet. Eating foods with vitamin B reduces brittleness; calcium keeps them strong; vitamins A and C prevents dullness and drying. Also, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.