How to take care of long nails: 5 main rules

What to do to prevent this from happening? Here are five rules you should follow.

Remember the axiom – long bubble baths and long nails are incompatible. Hot water will weaken the adhesive if you wear nail tips, and in the case of natural nails, it will penetrate their structure and expand the plate, which will then lead to chipping of the varnish. So it’s best to take a shower (and never take it within 12 hours of painting your nails). After getting out of the bathroom, immediately dry your nails and wait half an hour before doing anything with your hands.

To keep your nails in top shape, you need to take care of the nail bed, and the best remedy for this is cuticle oil. By the way, according to cosmetic chemist Doug Shun, certain oils (like jojoba) can penetrate the adhesive materials used in nail extensions and make them stronger. (Remember, this only happens after all of the bonding chemicals have dried.)

As dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi explains, overdrying isn’t good for all nails, but it’s especially bad for long nails. So she advises ditching regular soaps and switching to gentle, surfactant-free cleansers that won’t dry out your skin, nails or cuticles.

Yes, we are Captain Obvious today. But what to do – so far, long nails most often break, as they try to lift, unscrew or open something. Remember – tweezers, keys or plastic cards are more suitable for these purposes.

The temptation is great, but don’t give in to it – you have to press the buttons, as before, with your fingertips, keeping them parallel to the keyboard, and for the touch screen of your phone and tablet it is worth better buy a stylus.

Read also: One millimeter a week: how to grow nails quickly – 5 simple tips