It takes more than a weekly manicure to achieve beautiful, healthy nails. There are things you are doing on a daily basis--maybe even right this minute--that can lead, not only to nail polish chips, but to annoying splits and even totally destroyed nails. Celebrity nail technician Elle let us in on the top 5 things you're probably doing that will eventually cause your nails to break.
[Photo: Imaxtree]
You are using any old nail file and not filing correctly.
Toss out that cheap plastic nail file because it could be causing you more harm than good. And, while we're at it, we could all use a lesson in the proper way to file our nails. "One of the very worst things you can do to your nails is filing them incorrectly," Elle says. "You want to make sure you’re always using the correct file, which is one that is made for natural nails, and that you are filing in the right direction. I like to use a glass file, because it forces you to file in the right direction, and will feel like nails on chalkboard if you file in the wrong direction. You never file the sides of your nail, where the skin and nail meet, only file on the top and edges. This is huge, it’s one of the worst nail mistakes you can make."
You're abusing your nail buffer.
"Similar to filing, you should never buff on top of your nails," Elle says. "This causes the keratin layers to compress and then snap, which is detrimental to the nail health."
You mistake lotion for cuticle oil.
Hand lotion and cuticle oil are both great products, but one is not a substitute for the other. "Don’t skip the cuticle oil, it’s crucial in keeping your nails hydrated and healthy," Elle says. "This is critical for people who are constantly hand washing. Cuticle oil penetrates the nail plate, while lotion does not."
You never remove your nail polish.
Sure, your polish will eventually chip right off — and it can seem like such a chore to remove it so some of us wait as long as possible. But in the process, leaving old polish on could be damaging your nails. "Wearing nail polish past its life is very bad for your nails, and will cause breaking," Elle says. "When your polish starts to chip, you want to remove it as quickly as possible. The chipping polish is flaking the layers of keratin off your nail and causing it to break down."
You rush to remove your gel manicure.
The downside to getting a long-lasting gel manicure is that it can take ages to remove the polish. But patience will reward you with healthier nails. "Improper removal of a gel manicure is very harmful to your nails," Elle says. "It’s important to be patient while soaking off your gels, and take the necessary steps to remove it properly. If you’ve been wearing gels for too long, try Dermelect’s Rejuvenail Fortifying Nail and Cuticle Treatment, it’s great for getting nails back in top shape and will help prevent future breaking."