They need to be tough to stay healthy and pretty. Here’s your game plan.
They need to be tough to stay healthy and pretty. Here’s your game plan.
Stronger nails are smoother, shinier and look clean – without needing a swipe of polish. “You want them to be both durable and flexible – that’s the optimal condition,” says Doug Schoon, a US-based scientist and an authority on nails. Hit that balance with our mini boot camp: We went to the pros for advice on getting your nails fit and bringing out their natural brilliance. No chips, no rips – just gorgeous toughness.
5 PROVEN BOOSTERS
Eat protein, sweat often Nails are essentially made of protein – in the hardened form of keratin – so step one is to make sure you eat enough of the nutrient, says Dr Francesca Fusco, a dermatologist in the US. Experts recommend a daily intake of 0.5g of protein per 0.5kg of body weight. (You can skip the fancy supplements and gelatin, Doug notes; there just isn’t strong evidence that they help.) Also key to thriving nails is good circulation. Boost yours by exercising intensely for at least 30 minutes on most days and keeping active throughout the day.
Oil up Moisturising your nails every morning and night should be as routine as hydrating your skin, says Julie Kandalec, the creative director of Paintbox salon in the US. Massage a nourishing nail oil directly into cuticles and fingernails for a minute, she says. Those 60 seconds of TLC help save nails from becoming dry and brittle – aka weak.
Protect before you plunge Apply a topcoat to your nails before you jump into the pool or hit the beach. “Nails absorb moisture one thousand times faster than skin, so soaking hands for longer than a minute causes them to swell,” Doug explains. “That can cause the surface of the nail plate to crack, leading to peeling or dryness.” Don’t let your nails skinny-dip!
Get in (almond) shape Filing your nails at least every two weeks will guard against “split ends” that can snag, Doug says. Because nails grow outwards from the bed (where the cuticle is), the fibres at the tips are the oldest and most valuable. And go with a rounded or almond shape to make them even more snagproof. “If there are no corners, there’s less to catch and break,” Julie says.
Strip smartly Whenever you use a polish remover, rejuvenate your nails with cuticle oil to reverse the drying effect of the acetone and other chemicals. It’s tempting but, whatever you do, hold back from picking your polish off . “You’ll peel away multiple layers of your natural nail,” Doug warns.
POWER POLISHES
Strengthen while you beautify. Antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract in the Nails Inc Perfect Pink Collection ($27 each, Sephora) protects nails from free radical damage, and Butter London Patent Shine 10x Nail Lacquer ($25 each, Sephora) is the first polish to boot out seven controversial chemicals (like ethyl tosylamide and xylene) for a better-thanever mani.
