My Guide to Maintaining an Elegant Manicure
You’re never fully dressed without a good manicure. - Essie Weingarten
The power of a well-executed nail care routine and manicure extends far beyond mere aesthetics. A nail care routine can boost your confidence and set the tone for self-care which is so important to maintaining a healthy mind. Our hands are a canvas for self-expression — for me, a few lovely rings and well-manicured nails speak volumes for my own personal style.
While I have been told many times that I have “piano hands”, it truthfully took me quite a while to find and maintain a routine and manicure that I felt suited me and looked good. From a relatively early age, I remember a manicurist telling me that my nails produced excess oil. While this is certainly a positive for maintaining healthy nails, it’s meant that just about any type of manicure (regular polish, gel, dip powder, and acrylic) just doesn’t last on my nails for more than a couple of days to a week. And, if I’m going to spend $80 at a salon for a manicure, I certainly want it to last longer than that!
During the COVID pandemic, with salons closed and extra time on my hands, I set out on a journey to establish a great nail care routine that works for me. Three years on, I’ve found my holy grail products and am happy to share them with you here.
Nutrition
Nutrition plays a pivotal role in maintaining optimal nail care and health, underscoring the profound link between what we consume and the condition of our nails. Essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, such as biotin, vitamin E, iron, and protein, act as building blocks for strong, resilient nails. I personally try to consume as many of vitamins and minerals through whole foods, but I also take AG1 Athletic Greens every day to ensure I don’t have any gaps in my daily nutrition. Equally important to vitamins and minerals is water: hydration is fundamental, as water intake directly influences the moisture balance of nails, preventing dryness and promoting flexibility.
Tools and Treatments
While I’m not particularly fussy when it comes to things such as nail files, cuticle trimmers, and the likes, there are a few products in my nail care regimen that I refuse to compromise on.
This is the nail oil of my dreams! As someone who has always had particularly dry cuticles, this oil has been a daily (sometimes twice daily) treatment that I apply to ensure my cuticles look clean, hydrated, and manicured. I’ve recommended this to friends and family, and everyone I know who has tried it has absolutely loved it too.
With this nail treatment, a little goes a very long way but it does wonders for keeping my nails healthy and strong despite using press-on nails on a nearly weekly basis. I like to use this one a week or so, every time I’m about to apply press-on nails.
There are few things I despise about keeping my nails clean and healthy more than having to deal with the terrible scent and drying effects of most nail polish removers. This Static Nails remover has been my solution to both — it is truly moisturizing (not drying at all), and the rose scent is delightful. It’s like a little spa treatment for my hands.
Press-On Nails
Although nail salons have opened back up, we have been lucky as a country to have many fantastic press-on nail companies start as a result of COVID. Over the past few years, I have tested out many different press-on nail brands, both small and large, and have found a firm favorite in Static Nails. For my nail beds and shape, I prefer the short or medium-length round styles in a nude pink or classic red. Static Nails has a large variety of colors that are sure to delight you no matter what your personal style is.
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