8 Straightforward Ways to Banish Dry, Fix Brittle Nails for Good

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8 Straightforward Ways to Banish Dry, Fix Brittle
Nails for Good

• Conditioner isnt just for your haira little
  extra TLC will take your nails a long way.
• Having healthy, strong nails is powerful, no
  matter what the nail colors you wear, whether you
  love nude nail colors or go polish-free. Healthy
  nails (and even the results of good nail
  cuticle care) are one of those less-visible
  morale boosters, like wearing a fancy pair of
  underwear just because or splurging on amazing
  socks to wear under your boots.
• Whether your nail care is a form of self-care, an
  indulgence, or just regular maintenance, keeping
  your nails in tip-top shape is a valuable
  investment. And heres the good news Healthy
  nails need an investment of time, not money.
• The best route to stronger, longer nails is
  mostly through simple lifestyle habits, not
  pricy nail tools. But getting healthy nails also
  means kicking some bad habits, such as using your
  nails as a built-in pocket knife. Follow these
  steps, and youll have stronger, longer nails
  before you know it.

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1. Moisturize your nails

• Moisturizing is a well-known mystery to healthy
  skin, but its often overlooked in nail care.
  While dry, brittle nails can be the result of
  many aspects, theyre ultimately a cry for
  moisture, so consider good moisture the
  foundation of your nail care routine. When
  applying hand lotion, give your nails a little
  extra concentration. There are plenty of
  moisturizing nail products on the market, but
  using moisturizer is only half the battletheres
  more to strong nails than a fancy cream or serum.

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2. Leave your cuticles alone

• Its common practice to cut, push back, or try to
  get rid of cuticles altogether, but cuticles are
  not the adversary. The cuticle is the nails
  natural protective seal, according to certified
  dermatologists and nail experts. Messing with
  your cuticles can do far more harm than goodeven
  if a nail technician is the one doing the
  handiwork. A compromised cuticle can leave the
  nails helpless and at risk of infection.
• Cosmetic dermatologists agree that poorly kept
  cuticles can have a domino effect. When your
  cuticles get dry or injured it can damage the
  nail bed and affect the way your nails are
  growing out. They suggest moisturizing the
  cuticles with cream or cuticle oil to help
  protect and strengthen your nails.
•  

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3. Avoid contact with water

• Dont stop washing your hands or shower with
  gloves on but do pay attention to ways you can
  reduce the time your nails spend in contact with
  water because excessive water contact can weaken
  nail structure. (Wet hair is especially
  vulnerable, and the same caution-when-wet
  approach you take to handling wet locks can apply
  to nail care, too.) For example, consider wearing
  gloves while doing the dishes or other wet work.
• Do you know how soft and bendy nails get after a
  long bath? Consider this The nail is like a
  sponge. It is 1,000 times more absorptive of
  water than the skin, for example, and so water
  can easily diffuse into the nail. Extreme water
  exposure can put considerable strain on delicate
  nail cells (called onycholysis), which can lead
  to brittleness, peeling, and breakage.
• This is also why absorbing nails before a
  manicure is a bad practice. Not only does this
  make your nails more vulnerable to infection, but
  it also doesnt allow nail polish to adhere as
  well or last as long.

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5. Treat your nails like you treat your hair

• Its the new golden rule. Hair and nails are both
  comprised of keratin proteins, so it makes sense
  that many of the same rules for treatment apply.
  Both hair and nails can become dry and damaged
  from over-processing. Frequent polish removal,
  gels, and acrylics do to nails what dyes,
  chemicals, and warmness application do to hair.
  Just as hydration can help repair hair issues
  such as frizz and split ends, it can help improve
  dry and brittle nails. Theres no nail care
  equivalent to second-day hair, but operating as
  though there are hard and fast rules for how to
  wash, care for, and use your nails can help keep
  them in the same good shape as your hair.
• It bears repeating Hydration is the foundation.
  For healthy, growing nails, you should condition
  your cuticles the same way you would your hair.