1. The true health of the nails is reflected from the health and well-being of the whole body. This is determined by good nutrition and lack of disease (see the sections ' Nails - Nutrition & Lifestyle' and 'Nails - Indicators of disease'). Most non-serious nail problems are due to nutritional deficiencies, so it is important to have a healthy diet (see section on 'Nail problems').
2. Use food supplements and natural remedies to keep the nails in optimum condition. (see the section 'Supplements for Nail health').
3. Do not let your nails get too long, as they are more likely to break or split. Cut them regularly and file them so that they are kept slightly square or oval and not pointed. Nails can be weakened by filing them low in the corners and sides. Men obviously like to keep nails short, whilst women like a longer look. A classic and most practical length for women is just over the fingertip. If nails are cut wrongly they can start to grow inwards. This is very relevant when cutting toenails, as this in combination with poor fitting footwear can lead to in-growing toenails, which is painful and will require surgery.
4. Never file nails straight after a bath or swimming, as this is when they are weakest and most likely to split.
5. To keep the nails and cuticles moist and supple, regularly use hand creams or special nourishing oils and conditioning creams on them. They should be thoroughly worked into each nail and the surrounding area to give the nails a good soaking. A cheap alternative is to use a tiny drop of olive oil. In fact, soaking the nails in olive oil at least once a week will help to strengthen them.
6. If you use nail polish/varnish, avoid using nail polish removers that are based on acetone, as these eventually strip the nails of moisture. Use removers that contain nail conditioners instead of these harsh products.
7. Wear rubber gloves when washing the dishes as overexposure to water makes the nails too soft and the chemicals in the the washing up liquid can dry them out.
8. Most manicurists strongly advise against cutting cuticles, as it leaves the nails open to irritation and increases the risk of fungal infections. Cuticles can be kept healthy and look good without the need for cutting them with scissors. Simply soak the nails in warm soapy water to soften the cuticles and then smooth them with a small amount of cuticle softening cream or gel. The cuticles should then be gently pushed back with a manicure hoof stick or clean cotton bud. Any remaining dead skin on the nail can be carefully scraped away. Always let the nails breathe by leaving a tiny gap at the base of the nail where the cuticles meet the nail, as this is where new nails cells are growing.
9. Weak nails can be strenthened by applying a base coat of nail polish on the underside tip of the nails. In addition, special nail strentheners can be applied to the whole nail.
10. Rather than using a harsh nail brush to clean your nails, use a cotton bud with a pointed end, as this is much gentler.
11. To prevent dirt getting into the nails when doing a messy job or gardening, drag them over a bar of soap so that the soap clogs up the nails. This prevents dirt getting into them and makes them much easier to clean afterwards. It also reduces the risk of nail infections.
12. An old toothbrush and some toothpaste can be used to clean the nail and fingertips of stains causes by pen ink.
13. A split nail can be repaired by tearing a little paper from a teabag or coffee filter and glued onto the the affected area with nail glue. After it has dried, it can be gently smoothed ready for the usual nail varnish. If the nails are really split and broken, cut them down and use false ones until the nails grow back stronger and healthier by following a the advice in the 'Nails - Nutrition & Lifestyle' section.
14. If the tips of the nails appear clear or yellow, a simple way to make them look better is to run a white manicure pencil along the underneath edges of each nail. The nails should then be painted with a coat of clear varnish to properly finish them off and improve their appearance.
15. Very soft nails can be filed with the varnish/polish still on to help prevent cracking during the procedure.
16. Nails can be made to look good by visiting a manicurist, who will be able to professionally file, shape and polish. A popular finish that always looks good is a French manicure.
17. Nail polish seems to take ages to dry, however blasting wet nails with a cold jet of air from a good hair dryer will help speed up the process. Wet nails can also be instantly dried by plunging them into ice cold water.