Tips for Nail Care and Health

Hey friends! Gosh it feels great to be back on here. After an unintentional little break due to a busy schedule, little sickness and a family visit, I am excited for some great content up ahead! Today, let’s talk about tips for nail care and health. The good, the bad and the ugly. Nails serve an dermatological role, both functionally and cosmetically. Let’s show them some much needed TLC!

To shape your nails in a way to maximize nail strength, cut nails straight across and round the edges with an emery board.
Add a moisturizer, like petroleum jelly, to nails to prevent nails from being brittle and weak. After removing polish, this is especially important as the harsh chemicals can damage the nail. Be sure to rub the moisturizer into the cuticle as well.
As an alternative to applying petroleum jelly, soak nails in tea tree oil or vitamin E oil for a few minutes per week to repair nails and moisturize cuticles. Tea tree oil is an antiseptic that can remedy discolored nails and prevent fungal infections, in addition to strengthening damaged nails. Vitamin E oil is another great moisturizer that is rich in antioxidants.
If you have brittle nails, adding 2.5 mg of biotin supplementation daily may help increase the strength of the nails.

Consider taking a break from nail polish for a couple of weeks. This gives nails time to repair and recover.
If getting a gel manicure, add sunscreen to hands before the manicure. This prevents premature aging caused by the UV light to seal the gel polish. (As another option, find a salon that uses LED light to cure a gel manicure instead of UV lighting.)
Rather than filing nails back and forth, file in one direction to decrease trauma to the nail.

If you have yellow, thick or discolored nails you may have a fungal infection. Make an appointment with your dermatologist for an evaluation and discussion of anti-fungal remedies, which may include oral medications, topical solutions or laser treatments.
Wear flip flops in public showers to prevent getting a fungal infection.
Limit trimming cuticles as this can cause inflammation and put you at risk for infection.

Add a base coat that fortifies and protects nails. I like this one for its Vitamin E, tea tree oil and keratin.
If you are a nail biter, stop! Biting frays to the edges of the nails and saliva overall causes weakness in the nails. Apply a coat of clear polish (or one like above) to thicken nails and break the biting habit.
If you want to wear a bright red or orange polish, prevent discoloration by applying an extra layer of base coat.
Use a nail polish that is labeled “5-free” on the polish bottle. This identifier means it is free of the five known carcinogens (formaldehyde, toluene, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, and camphor) that are typically found in lacquers. Zoya and Orly Breathable Treatment + Color are both examples of safe nail polishes that also promote stronger, healthier nails.

Nails often carry the stereotype, “tough as nails”, but its important to take good care of them for sanitary and cosmetic reasons. If you have your own tips for nails care and health, I would love to hear them in the comments below!

Printed Top and Autumn Style

Y’all I LOVE the terrier dog print on this popover top. Unfortunately it was wildly popular and this exact blouse is almost sold out… however there is a similar option in navy! J.Crew is offering a 40% off sale on both of these tops this weekend! Since it’s a fun print, I like to limit other added details (leopard print is the new black too, don’t forget) in order for the fun print on the blouse to hold the spotlight.

Live your life joyfully so,

Ashley