Next to hair, a woman's well-kept nails are her best beauty accessories and making an effort to care for them shouldn't be difficult and expensive. Below are some good habits to follow from women with great nails:
1) Her hands, feet and nails are clean all the time.
It's important to keep the hands and feet clean, so before doing anything, a woman with good nail care habits makes sure they are free of dirt and germs. She takes good care of these by washing and scrubbing with soap and water, especially under the nails. She also exfoliates once a week to remove dead skin regularly.
2) Her nails are always trimmed.
She keeps the nails trimmed at an ideal length to keep them healthy. While long nails look beautiful, they can be prone to breakage. She also keeps the nails in a rounded shape. (It's easier to care for!)
3) Her nails are nourished with vitamins.
Nails are made up of keratin, just like the hair, which requires vitamins and minerals to grow healthily. "A varied diet rich in vitamins, antioxidant fruits and veggies, protein, and minerals is key for healthy nails and hair," said dermatologist Dr. Jessica Krant, via Huffington Post. "Keratin is a protein, and healthy oils and fats are also needed to keep the skin, hair, and nails moisturized and strong."
4) Her nail tools are kept clean.
Bacteria can grow in the nail tools and if this happens, they could transfer ick and infect the nails. A woman with good nail care habits disinfects the tools she's using with rubbing alcohol. Additionally, it's a good idea to store the tools in an airtight container and never share an emery board with someone else, according to Real Simple.
5) Her nails get a break from nail polish from time to time.
"I always recommend to my patients that it's best to leave polish on for a few weeks, and then remove the polish and go without for a few weeks," said Dr. Joy Rowland via Cleveland Clinic Org. She also said that the pigments of the nail polish can soak up the nail's layers, leaving the nail dry and prone to mold, mildew and bacterial attacks. The problem can be long-term when it happens.
6) Her hands and nails are always protected.
When cleaning the house, washing the dishes, gardening or handling chemicals, she uses gloves to protect her hands and nails. This is important because immersing the hands in soapy water or chemicals can weaken and dry the nails faster, according to Everyday Health.
