14 Strategies for Maintaining Healthy and Resilient Nails

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Whether you are someone who diligently applies nail polish as a means of self-care or someone who frequently engages in the habit of picking and biting at their cuticles, we all desire to have strong and flawlessly groomed nails. Maintaining well-manicured nails can enhance your overall appearance, giving you a polished and youthful image.

In order to mitigate the consequences of excessive hand-washing and missed salon appointments, we consulted nail-care specialists to ascertain the precise measures you should take to maintain the health of your nails. However, before delving into that, it is important to understand how to determine the state of your nails' well-being. Here's what to watch for.

Signs of Healthy Nails:

Nail plates are a pinkish-white tint

Cuticles are existent (so don't cut them!)

Nails and white tips are even lengths

Prominent half-moon shaped white area (called the lunula) near nail base

Signs of Unhealthy Nails:

Peeling or splitting nails could be dryness or the effect of vitamin lack

Tiny white spots usually suggest you're chewing your nails or painting them too much

Horizontal grooves could be from stress, high fevers, or jamming your finger

Red, inflamed skin surrounding nails could be from removing or biting cuticles

Spoon-shaped nails could be an indication of iron deficiency or anemia

If you're concerned about your nail health, it's crucial to visit a dermatologist. Since your nails are highly visible, it's simpler to see if an issue occurs - meaning you can address it early if you get treatment, says Dana Stern, M.D, a dermatologist and nail care specialist in New York. Now here's how to obtain strong, healthy nails:

1. Keep your hands very clean.

After you wash your hands, make sure nails are fully grime-free by first removing all signs of polish with an acetone-free remover, which won't dry out nails. Apply soap to a clean toothbrush, then gently scrub nails and surrounding skin to remove dirt and exfoliate any dead skin without harsh, drying chemicals, suggests Ava Shamban, M.D., a dermatologist in Los Angeles and author of Heal Your Skin.

2. Be gentle on your nails.

Your nails are fragile, so treat them that way. Avoid using metal instruments under nails, since too much digging can cause the nail plate to split from the skin (a condition called onycholysis), typical for persons over 50, adds Dr. Stern. Cleaning with chemicals and washing dishes by hand can also damage nails. Guard them by wearing rubber, vinyl, nitrile or plastic gloves, suggests New York City dermatologist Janet Prystowsky, M.D., Ph.D.

3. Clip your nails regularly.

Consistent trims are as vital to your nails as they are to your hair, says Dr. Prystowsky, and make nails less prone to snags and breaking. So attempt to clip them every two weeks, modifying frequency as needed after you observe how your nails respond.

4. Prioritize nail health over length.

Long nails are exquisite, but if you're someone who has experienced with hangnails or breaking, Dr. Shamban recommends that you maintain your nails short — at least for period of time as you enable them to grow stronger. A shorter style with rounded corners looks elegant and tends to be easier to manage, so you won't have to put your nails to extra wear and strain. As long as each nail is uniform in shape and matches its nine neighbors, you won't miss the increased length.

5. Always keep a nail file on hand.

If your job or gym routine exposes your nails to potential damage, Dr. Prystowsky advises keeping a nail file handy for on-the-spot polishing of any rough edges. For the smoothest finish, work in one direction with the grain of your nail.



Instead of an emory board, which can cause nails to peel and snag, consider a glass (sometimes called crystal) nail file. "A glass file will create an even edge to the nail and can be used on the weakest, brittle, and damaged nails," Dr. Stern says.

6. Don't forget to take care of your nail tools, too.

Disinfecting your nail tools between usage is just as vital as regularly cleaning your cosmetics brushes, and for the same reason – germs. To keep your nails infection-free, Dr. Prystowsky advises washing metal equipment with soap and water and then wiping them with rubbing alcohol. And don't forget to routinely replace disposable instruments like emery boards. There's no reason to continue using a frayed tool when it's so easy to rotate in a new one for a few bucks.

7. Leave your cuticles alone.

The cuticle has a very vital job to serve: It closes the area at the base of the nail. So think carefully about cutting or removing the cuticle, because it might disrupt that seal of protection, leaving you open to microorganisms and the chance of illness (as well as unpleasant and ugly tears). Taking care of your cuticles also helps minimize those awful hangnails.

8. Protect your nails with a base coat.

When you're painting your nails at home, don't skip the base coat. Dr. Prystowsky points out that this procedure both shields the nails from being discoloured by polish and helps the color look more rich and opaque with just one layer. Even without color, "strengthening varnishes leave a shiny hard coating on nails; reinforce tips, making them appear thicker; and can protect against damage," explains Wnek. And if you really want to take things to the next level, Dr. Shamban proposes putting a coat of clear gloss between each layer to offer extra shine and protection.

9. Read the labels on your polish.

Just as with makeup and skincare, not all nail polish brands are made equal, so be sure you're buying or utilising a reputable product. Dr. Debbie Palmer recommends you to avoid clear of polishes containing harmful chemicals like dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and toluene, as these toxins can contribute to brittleness, splitting, and cracking.

10. Use a top coat to avoid nail chips.

Don't assume you can skip a top coat, either. This step is just as vital, since the top coat locks in the polish's color and adds a much-needed gloss finish to your fingers. Dr. Prystowsky recommends putting another top coat layer every three days to decrease chipping, so you'll get the most out of your manicure.

11. Give your nails a break.

Save the complicated nail art and those vivid colors with loads of pigment for the weekend, and throughout the rest of the week, allow your nails time to rest and mend with a clear gloss. Dr. Shamban warns that moving from one strong polish color to another without giving your nails a break will dry them out, turn them yellow, and over time, even impair the structure of the nail.


Dr. Stern agrees, stating that nail paint removers could possibly be the reason your nails are weak. Sometimes going all natural "can be just the thing that your nails need in order to rejuvenate and refresh," she explains.

12. Moisturize your hands and nails regularly.

You moisturize your face before bed, so do the same for your nails. New York City nail expert Holly Falcone loves to use a mix of almond and avocado oils to keep cuticles and nails nourished while she gets some shut-eye, but any nutrient-rich oil or moisturizer will serve. In a pinch, you can even apply a dab of lip balm. "Efficacious formulas contain humectant ingredients like glycerin, emollients such as fatty oils and occlusives like silicones, which work together to hydrate nails and skin," adds Wnek.

13. Wear gloves when doing dishes

We'll say it again: Whenever you're cleaning with harsh chemicals, gardening, or doing anything that involves soaking or dirtying your hands, you need to wear rubber, vinyl, nitrile, or plastic gloves – some of which include a cotton liner. Cleaning dishes in hot, soapy water sans gloves will weaken the nails, while getting them caked with dirt from gardening would demand a level of cleaning that you want to avoid wherever feasible.

In a similar vein, if the weather is freezing, don't forget to wear gloves or mittens to protect your skin from drying out, flaking, and scaling due to the wind and cold air.

14. Load up on protein-rich food.

Your fingernails are formed of a protein called keratin, so much like with the clarity of your skin or the sheen of your hair, you may improve your nails by altering your diet. Falcone advises adding vitamins and supplements like biotin, Vitamin E, and fish oil to your daily diet, while Dr. Palmer recommends protein-rich foods like beans, salmon, and nuts. The one thing every expert agrees on: Once you strike on the mix that works for you, you'll be rewarded with stronger, clearer nails.