Nail Care Tips you Need to Know

 (Collaborative Post)

Let’s be honest: we all want nails that look like we’ve just stepped out of a salon – without the constant threat of smudging them five minutes later, or worse, chipping them on the car door as we leave. Whether you're a die-hard nail art fan or just trying to keep things neat and tidy, keeping your nails in tip-top shape doesn't have to be as hard as it seems. Here are some quick and effective tips to keep those claws in check.

Hydration is Key (And Not Just for Your Skin)

Everyone bangs on about drinking water for glowing skin, but your nails need a bit of moisture, too. No, this doesn’t mean dunking your hands in a glass of H2O. Get yourself a good cuticle oil (and actually use it). Apply it regularly to avoid that dried-out, jagged cuticle situation that makes your hands look like you’ve been digging in the garden – with your bare hands. Your nails will thank you by looking healthier and less prone to breakage.

Trim, Buff, Repeat

There’s a reason nail salons spend ages buffing away: it works. Buffing your nails not only smooths them out but also boosts circulation to the nail bed, which helps your nails grow stronger. Plus, it feels oddly satisfying. Just don’t go overboard or you’ll file away more nail than intended – you’re not trying to launch a new minimalist trend here. Trim your nails regularly, too. Long nails are great, but if they're more ‘witchy claw’ than chic, it's time for a little snip.

Nail Polish: Friend or Foe?

We love nail polish as much as the next person, but take it easy. Your nails need the occasional breather. Constantly wearing polish without a break can leave them yellowed, brittle, and looking a bit worse for wear – like they’ve been on a two-week bender. Give them a polish-free holiday every now and then, and they’ll stay stronger and healthier for it.

Builder Gels: Your Secret Weapon (But Don’t Go Overboard)

For those of us whose nails snap at the mere sight of a keyboard, builder gels can be a lifesaver. They add that bit of strength without making you feel like you’re wearing a suit of armour on your fingers. But a word of caution – builder gels are not an excuse to see how many heavy-duty chores you can get away with. Treat them nicely, and they’ll keep your nails looking flawless for weeks.

File In One Direction (Not The Band)

This one’s important: stop sawing your nails back and forth like you're trying to start a campfire. That only weakens the nail and invites splitting. File in one direction for a smooth edge and stronger nails – unless you want to accidentally create a few jagged corners to catch on your jumper. If so, saw away, my friend.

Gloves Are Your New BFF

We get it, gloves aren’t the most glamorous of accessories, but when it comes to household chores, they’re essential. Washing dishes or scrubbing floors without gloves is basically asking for dry, brittle nails that scream neglect. Pop on a pair of rubber gloves and save your hands – and your nails – from a cleaning-induced breakdown.

Nail It!

Nails.INC x Squishmallows

(affiliate) 

 My son is a huge fan of Squishmallows (quite fond of them myself actually) so when I saw that there was a new collaboration with Nails.INC I knew I wanted to share!

The Nails.INC x Squishmallows duo is a super cute kit with two nail polishes and a set of Squishmallow stickers. There are actually 110 nail stickers included, so plenty to choose from to create your perfect Squishmallow mani.

The two shades included in the set are Mallow Dreams, a lilac-blue pearl shift shade, and Squad Goals which is a gorgeous baby pink colour. The shades both feature the Nails.INC signature long wear formula and wide hugging brush for easy application.

The idea is to paint your nails and let dry, apply the stickers, then add topcoat to seal. Sounds easy enough, though I am notoriously inelegant when it comes to doing my own nails so I'll be quietly impressed with myself if I manage a decent application.

The Nails.INC x Squishmallows Collectible Nail Polish Duo and Sticker Set is available now for £16 at Nails.INC. Cute!

Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar Reveal - Day #10

Today's Liberty beauty treat is a fantastically sparkly nail polish by Deborah Lippmann.
Retailing at £18, the nail polish in shade 'Stronger' is infused with green tea and biotin and is pretty much an instant disco for your nails. Created in collaboration with Kelly Clarkson (hence the name), Stronger looks high in glitter density, which is just what I want - if you're gonna go glittery, you may as well go full-on glittery, right? Perfect for New Years Eve or whenever you're feeling fancy. Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Stronger is at Liberty here.

Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar Reveal - Day #9

Award-winning foot specialist Margaret Dabbs has her Sole Spa on the lower ground floor of Liberty. Today on the 9th I get to try out one of her products in the comfort of my own home in the form of this - Margaret Dabbs Nail and Cuticle Serum.
Designed to strengthen, protect and hydrate nails and cuticles, the serum contains Emu Oil and Tea Tree Oil that work to help prevent common nail and cuticle infections.
The formula is supposed to be perfect for weak, damaged or flaky nails as it helps to repair and 're-adhere' nails back onto the nail bed.
I'm pleased to find this in drawer number 9 today because I've recently started growing my fingernails again and need all the help I can get!
Inside the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar is the full sized 15ml Margaret Dabbs Nail and Cuticle Serum - you can find it at Liberty for £12 here and find out more about the Sole Spa here.

How I Stopped Biting My Nails!

I never, in a million years thought I'd be one to write a blog post like this. I am a bonafide nail biter, picker and peeler and have been since I can remember. It's a childhood habit that I seemingly never grew out of and now, as a fairly anxious grown up (if I can call myself that), as soon as I feel worried about anything, my nails are the first thing to pay the price.

Incredibly though, for the first time since I was an infant I currently have a full set of strong, semi-healthy nails that I managed to grow all by myself. Yes, they're short and modest but this is literally the first time they've been long enough to tap on my desk. Win.
They haven't been growing for very long but I suppose I'm a bit overexcited and wanted to share how I've got this far. The points below may seem obvious but they've worked for me! Here's how I've stopped attacking my nails:

Falsies are your Friend!
Fake nails are notoriously bad for your nails because frankly, they don't give a damn about your natural nails underneath. If you get gels or acrylics done professionally it's usually extra detrimental to your real nails because they use those industrial strength electrical tools to file them into oblivion. It's a bit of a juxtaposition really because if you're trying to grow your nails, sticking on some falsies can actually be a great first step. With this in mind, I popped down to Boots and got a couple of packets of really short DIY glue on nails so I could control how much I annihilated my natural finger nails. Each set stayed on for 5 to 7 days at a time and once they started falling off/ getting gross, I just replaced them with fresh nails. I did this for about two weeks, allowing my natural nails to grow underneath. The temptation to rip them off was real but somehow I managed to persevere and once I (carefully) took them off for good using acetone, I was pleasantly surprised by the nails underneath.

Give them Strength
If you're a nail biter/picker/peeler you'll probably have really weak nails that won't grow very much without a little extra care. When I first removed the falsies, my pinky nails were pretty long but I had to file them down because they were so bendy and weak they would have fallen at the first hurdle (ie when I did the washing up). To make them as strong and least prone to breakage as possible, I applied a super thick protein rich coating in the form of Perfect Formula Gel Coat.  My boyfriend's mum gave this to me last Christmas (think she may have been trying to tell me something) and it has pretty much saved my nails. I'm sure you can get other colours but I like this light powder pink shade because it was subtle enough to not look ridiculous on my growing nails. I recently bought the Essie Grow Stronger fortifying growth base coat which is thinner in consistency but basically does the same job.

Perfect Formula Gel Coat Colour

Nourish your Nails
I've made a conscious effort to apply hand cream throughout the day and it's now compulsively become the last thing I do before I get into bed. Not only is it a nice little pampering ritual I can do any time, it's good for my hands and great for my nails. I was using Clarins Hand and Nail Cream but I've now run out so I'm using Burt's Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand Cream and CicaBiafine Creme Mains Reparation Intense alternately. Also, something I've read so many rave reviews about - Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream! I'm so pleased I've added this to my new nail care routine. It's super moisturising and smells lemony and fresh.

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

Paint your Nails!
One of the best ways to stop myself attacking my nails is to keep them painted. For some reason, if they've got a colour on them I'm less inclined to bite or pick. Maybe it's because I subconsciously know I don't want to ruin the paint job. Whatever the reason, it works for me! I've been alternating between classic reds, fuschia pinks, black cherries and the nearly nude wonder that is Essie Ballet Slipper.

Are you a nail biter? Have you overcome the habit or did you never start? Any tips? Let me know your thoughts!