Nail Care Tips
Your fingernails and toenails may seem like a small part of your body, but when you have a hangnail or cracked nail, it can be extremely irritating and painful. At The Nail Nook, I care about my clients’ nail health; here are a few tips and advice to successful nail care.
Healthy, Strong Nails
Acrylic & Gel Nails
If you crack your nail, please come in as soon as possible and I will repair it. If you cannot make it in right away, please cut the nail at the nail tip to avoid further damage while you wait for it to be repaired. Please keep in mind that sometimes a cracked nail can be too painful to fix, and in this case, I will tidy up the nail and get you to come back a few days later to replace it altogether.
Use good cuticle oil, especially in winter. Put some cuticle oil on before bed as this gives your cuticles enough time to soak in the oil.
Watch for lifting in gel and acrylic nails. If your nails are discoloured, you can get microleakage, which can lead to fungus or infection.
Always makes sure to have clean nails before adding creams as this can cause lifting.
Regular Nail Polish
Please give your toenails enough time to completely dry before taking your sandals off after a regular nail polish pedicure. Also, try to wait an hour or two before putting on shoes, so your toenails do not chip.
Nails cure better when air gets t them. Avoid wearing shoes or socks after getting a pedicure.
Leave separators between toes until polish is fully dry.
Don’t wear long pants. Try to wear leggings or other comfortable pants as you can easily pull these up, so they are not brushing/scuffing the nails.
Never push back dry cuticles or cut dry cuticles. If you do, you will weaken the surface of your nail bed, and it can also be quite painful.
Please do not share your emery boards (nail files) with anyone; they attract the most bacteria.
If you are applying polish at home, be sure to use a basecoat. A basecoat will allow for the lacquer to adhere better to your nail.
When filing your nails, use a fine-grit emery board and file in one direction. Filing your nails with an abrasive board will cause the nail’s delicate layers to peel away from each other.
To keep your colour shiny and new, apply a quick-dry top-coat layer every other day; this will also help form a protective shield.
If you have a hangnail, never pull it off; always cut and use polysporin.
Where the Right Shoe Size
Avoid cramming your feet into shoes that are too small or pointy as this can cause the toenail to grow into the surrounding skin, causing ingrown nails. It can also lead to infection, swelling and pain.