Keeping your nails clean and in great shape are some of the most basic grooming tricks that one should know. However, some techniques may not necessarily be enough, especially nowadays when going to a salon can be more of a challenge.
If your go-to places are some of the most popular ones like the Da Vi Nails or LA Nails, appointment openings may be scarce. Lots of other folks will be vying for their services, too, so the competition might make it trickier for you to see your nail technician as often as you would want.
So while you wait, it will be best if you know how to do your nails, even at the most basic level. You don’t really have to learn how to make spectacular nail art or how to treat damaged nails if you don’t have any. But if you can learn how to make your nails presentable even without the help of your trusted nail tech, then you don’t have to worry about waiting a while for your appointment.
What are these tricks that you should keep in mind to keep your nails in top shape while you can’t go to a nail salon just yet? Here are a few important examples:
Keep your nails short.
According to the CDC, it would be ideal to keep your nails short to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. Health workers are advised to regularly trim their nails. Doing so will lessen the surface area in your body that can spread the virus.
While it’s still not yet determined how long the virus can stay on a person’s body, keeping your nails short will also help you clean it faster and more effectively. As your hands are some of the most effective tools in spreading the disease, keeping it squeaky clean is an absolute must. Longer nails may be harder to clean as there are more nooks and crannies to cover, so to make things simpler for you, keep your nails short, if possible.
When cutting your nails, do it in a straight line, not rounded on the edges.
It might seem prudent to follow the shape of your fingers when cutting your nails short but don’t do it. Cutting them in a round shape can cause ingrown nails. You should avoid those at all costs as they can lead to infections which will weaken your immune system. And since being in top shape might lower your odds of catching the coronavirus, you should do everything you can to avoid compromising your health.
Get the right tools.
If you prefer to go see your nail tech to take care of your nails, it’s likely that you only have the most basic nail grooming tools at home. This can’t do if you want to keep them in top shape while you can’t visit the nail salon. So you should also consider getting a good set of nail care tools.
Luckily, there are lots of reliable kits that you can avail to get this task covered. But if you want to get each piece separately to be more certain about the quality, here’s a quick list of the items you need:
- Clippers in medium size so they’re easier to handle.
- Nippers for trimming hangnails, dry skin around the nails, or tough cuticles.
- Nail files or emery boards for filing and shaping your nails.
- Cuticle oil for moisturizing your nails.
- Nail polish remover if you intend to paint your nails.
- Nail brush for cleaning.
- Polish if you wish to add colors to your nails.
- Cuticle pushers and scissors can also come in handy but you need to be careful in their use.
Don’t experiment with your cuticles.
You might feel that you need to push your cuticles to really get your nails cleaned and groomed but if you don’t know what to do, do not experiment with them. With the use of some cuticle oil to dampen the area, you should very gently push your cuticles back. Do not try to cut them if you’re not experienced as you might overshoot and damage the nail bed.
Try to repair cracked nails and remove chipped polishes right away.
It’s also highly recommended by experts that if you have chipped nail polish or cracked nails, it’s best to deal with it right away. The virus can lurk into the nooks and crannies of your nails’ surfaces, so it can be harder to clean and get rid of. So to avoid the harm they can potentially cause, make sure to deal with cracked nails and chipped polishes as soon as you can.