Dos and Don’ts for Your Nail Care
Nail biting can be difficult to manage, especially when it moves past “casual nail-biting” and into a body-focused repetitive behavior, called onychophagia: chronic nail biting.
It’s an issue that many people deal with. It’s estimated that 20-30% of the general population engages in chronic nail biting.
Here are some tips from expert cosmetologists on the dos and don’ts of caring for your nails!
How to Overcome Nail Biting
Biting nails cause damage to your nails and the tissues around them. It prevents nails from growing out and makes them look abnormal. Nail-biting can cause infection and inflammation to the skin next to the nails.
Mental and emotional stress are some of the causes of nail-biting. People who feel anxious or nervous can sometimes bite their nails to cope with such feelings. It can also happen when someone is feeling insecure, bored, or hungry.
Nail-biting often happens subconsciously. You do not think about it.
It is possible to stop nail biting and prevent this recurring behavior. Here advise your clients on the following methods of stopping nail-biting with recurring behavior. Here are some go-to strategies from expert nail clinicians:
Awareness and Habit Reversal Training
Building awareness with HabitAware Keen2 and implementing reversal training through the Keen2 in-app course can help bring lasting and positive change. This holistic system on your wrist or in your pocket trains you to reverse nail-biting habits. It enables the development of self-awareness, allowing you to take control of the nail-biting.
The Do’s of Nail Care
When nails are healthy and look beautiful, they enhance an individual’s overall appearance and health. A skincare routine should involve taking care of fingers and toenails and making sure they look their best. Here are the Dos of nail care.
1. Use a Gentle File
When filing nails, they should not break or crack. A gentle file like a glass file will prevent breakage and cracking of nails.
Filing should be done in one direction to prevent damaging the nails and nail bed. Gently file one side of the nail until you achieve a desired shape and length.
File the opposite side from the corner, moving towards the center. File slowly to avoid removing too many nail.
2. Trim Nails
Nails look and feel beautiful when they are trimmed. Trimmed nails help to keep them clean and healthy.
A nail technician can do manicures and apply nail polish on neatly trimmed nails. Some nail polish help to strengthen nails and reduce breakage. Other nail polish helps to make the nails grow.
3. Replace Nail care Tools Every Month
Nail care tools can show signs of wear and tear. This can cause more damage to a client’s nails.
Some tools can also show signs of rust. Replace such tools at least every month to prevent infections.
Use new tools that can give you the best results when working on nails. New tools also help to keep your clients safe from infections like fungal infections or brittle splitting nails.
4. Clean and Disinfect Nail Care Tools After Every Use
It is critical that you prevent contamination when customers come for their skincare routine services. Soak nail care tools in alcohol and sterilize them.
The tools should not stay too long in any disinfecting solution. This will help to avoid rust. Thoroughly dry your tools after cleaning.
Place the clean tools in a clean draw or sterilizer. Make sure you wash and sterilize tools after each use.
5. Moisturize Cuticle
Moisturize and dissolve cuticles using a moisturizing oil. Moisturizing oil helps you to push cuticles backward and create a nail bed that is uniform. The cuticle oil gives nails a clean, moisturized, and healthy look.
6. Wear Gloves
Gloves help protect nails from cracking and breaking. Advise your clients to wear gloves when performing duties like washing dishes or gardening.
When using corrosive products like bleaches or furniture polish, it is important to wear gloves as well. Gloves protect your nails and nail polish from damage.
The Don’ts of Nail Care
When taking care of nails, there are things that you should remember not to do. Here are the things to avoid in nail care.
1. File Nails Back and Forth
When you file nails using back and forth direction, they can easily crack, split or even break. The nail bed is damaged with the back and forth movement. Using an old nail file can also damage a nail bed.
2. Push the Nail Cuticle too Far
It is unhealthy to push the nail cuticle too far. The nail cuticle and nail bed should be safe and healthy.
Do not use electric nail trimmers to push cuticles. This helps to avoid contamination during nail care.
3. Ignore Infection
A nail technician might see signs of nail infection during nail care services. Do not ignore such signs.
Infections like nail fungus can start small, but they can get worse with time. The infection can also cause swelling near the nail area. When you see such signs, advise your client to see a doctor.
4. Misuse Nails
Advise your clients not to misuse their nails. People use their nails to scratch things or open cans.
This can crack and break nails. It can also cause bacteria to get to the nail bed and cause infection.
Final Thoughts
Nail care is essential for the overall health of a person. During a skincare routine, an esthetician and nail technologist should carefully examine a client’s nails.
Find out the condition of the nails. Ask questions and check to see if there are any signs of infection before you begin working on them.
Use the right tools to work on nails. Clean the tools after each use and replace them monthly. Carefully follow the do’s and don’ts of nail care and advise your clients appropriately. This will lead to strong, healthy, and beautiful nails.
