Hi there!
I’ve always preferred wearing long natural nails instead of artificial acrylics. I would worry about the set growing out and going in for constant fills would drive me mad, so I’ve picked up quite a few tips and tricks for growing long durable nails over the years and I’d like to share them with you!
Tip 1. File Your Nails
Runaway snags can easily become a full-fledged break in the blink of an eye so it’s imperative to keep those babies filed! And while we’re on the topic of files, I always recommend a glass file. I was gifted this Books & Coffee glass file by the Germanikure PR team over two years ago and it’s still going strong with no signs of wear!
Glass files are far gentler, leave a smoother edge, and save your hard earned cash! I used to go through 1-2 emery boards every month before I switched to glass. When you file your nails also be sure to file from the outside edge toward the center of the nail. Never saw the file back and forth along the tip, this can lead to peeling and weaken the nail.
Tip 2. Don’t Go Naked!
The number one culprit of my past nails breaks was that I had bare nails. Even if it’s just a base coat, that thin layer will boost your nail’s protection by leaps and bounds, so when you try to pry something open or whack your hand on a door, there’s less of a chance you’re going to be looking at a nubbin where originally there was a gorgeous long nail.
Tip 3. Stay Hydrated
A common misconception is that if your nails are weak nail hardeners should be your next move. The best thing to do for weak nails is to use a quality oil to moisturize and strengthen the nail.
Most nail hardeners will cause the nail to become brittle and more susceptible to breaks. I’ve found that jojoba oil and coconut oil are fantastic for building strength. If the nail is moisturized, it will have the ability to flex when bent instead of snapping. Oils will also help out the appearance of your cuticles as well.
Tip 4. Keep Your Nails Dry
Try to limit the time when your nails are soaking in water as much as possible. I’m extremely lucky that I have a bf who is willing to take care of all the dishes as long as I do the cooking 🙂 If you don’t have such a cozy setup, rubber gloves are also a girl’s best friend.
Wearing polish will help create a barrier against water, but no matter what, eventually your nail will become saturated, flimsy, and extremely easy to break. Treat them exactly the same as wet hair, you wouldn’t try to brush knots out of soaking wet hair, would you?
Make sure to wait on all nail products until your nail is completely dry, if you paint them or use gel polishes this can trap moisturize between layers of polish.
Have any nail tips to share? Leave a comment and let me know!