How to care for your nails

Your nails can really say a lot about you, especially your hygiene habits. But before you hide them under acrylics, extensions and polishes, make sure they’re healthy enough to take on the load. Here’s your guide to taking care of your nails (they’re honestly quite low-maintenance).
Filing: Always file in a single direction. We understand, it is tempting to go see-saw, but this action often ends up with separated nail layers which can lead to peeling if water seeps in between.
Base coats: When polishing nails, always use a base coat first. Not only does it protect the nails from staining but also makes your enamel last longer. Do it for the latter.
Moisturise: We fuss over a dozen hydration rituals for our face but often forget to give our nails the attention. Our nails don’t demand much — just a dollop of any over-the-counter cold cream or a few drops of essential oil is enough. It’s also a good idea to keep a small bottle of cuticle oil at hand. It’s great for enhancing nail growth and also helps protect them from external damage.
Reason if not the former! Give them breaks : Nail polishes if worn at intervals are alright. However, the skin beneath needs to breathe too, so give them a little break at times and go nude; and by that, we mean nude in the literal sense, not a nail colour.
Removers: When opting for varnish removers, look for those that are acetone-free. Using harsh removers might help to get that deep red off in a jiffy, but can also leave your nails really dry.
Acrylic or gel nails: There are only a few things harder to get rid off than to get in place. Acrylics and gels are definitely on that list. When taking off these nails, be gentle. It’s best to get it done by a professional. The glue can really damage nails, so reduce its use to special occasions only.
Scraping: This is probably one of the worst things you can do to your nails. Trying to scrape off nail enamel with another fingernail is really damaging and can leave your nails very dry and untidy.
Chemicals: We flip food packets to check for nutritional values, don’t we? Well, we suggest doing the same when buying a nail polish too. Check the composition and watch out for chemicals like toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate — this harmful trio can contribute to problems like dry, chapped and discoloured nails.

Antara Bose is a model turned fashion and beauty consultant. A popular blogger, anchor, and voice over artist, she maintains a deep connection with the local fashion industry and is passionate about discovering and celebrating aspiring talent as well as promoting animal rights. For fashion updates with a side of humour and sarcasm follow Antara on instagram
@antarabose and on Facebook: Antara Bose.