There is nothing better than showing off your healthy natural nails. It’s the biggest compliment when people ask if your nails are fake (I get this all the time) and it makes me feel so nice because years ago I used to have a nail-biting habit due to anxiety. Since then, I have been able to grow strong and long natural nails and keep them that way. Today I’m showing how you can too.

For reference, here is how my nails used to look.

1. Nail Care Routine

The first step is to develop a weekly nail routine. It doesn’t take much for your nails to grow (since they are always growing) but we want to keep a maintenance routine to keep them strong and healthy. This involves keeping your nails clean, being gentle with your hands, and filing (no clipping) your nails when they chip. We’ll talk more about this later.

2. Nail Polish Removal

Acetone polishes; while they can remove polish incredibly quickly, can really dry out your nails and cuticles. Opt for a hydrating polish remover like the OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover. It will take a bit longer to remove your old manicure but the nail bed will thank you.

3. Nail Tools

You want to get your hands on some quality tools to groom your nails:

• quality nail file; glass nail files work very well to keep the nail smooth

• nail brush to keep under your nails clean

• cuticle pusher (more on that later).

As soon as you see a crack or a chip on your nail, immediately file it away (leave the nail clippers, those are for your toes). Yes, you’ll be losing length but leaving it there will allow it to get caught in your clothes, your hair, and such which can make it rip even further and set you back weeks. You can either do the one nail and allow it to grow to reach the other one or you can cut them all and start over. I typically do this just so they’re always even.

When filing, it’s best to file in one direction. This will keep the nail edge smooth. If you can opt for a glass file as this is better for the edges. Be sure to file the sides of your nails during your filing to avoid hang-nails. They are really painful!

4. Nail Buffers

Smoothening and buffing the nail are great ways to keep the nail bed looking fresh but you want to do this in moderation. Buffing the nail can keep it smooth and get rid of scratches or patches where it has grown out uneven but don’t go too rough. Remember that this is basically nail sandpaper so you don’t want o to wear down your nails. Also, nail shine helps with the appearance of the nail as well, but once again you want to do this in moderation to keep the nails thick. Opt for a multi-sided nail buffer to make the process quick and easy!

5. Cuticle Care

When caring for your cuticles, it is super important to be gentle. This is the base of your nail, the scalp if you would, so it’s important to take extra care of this area and keep it clean. Use a gentle, softening cuticle exfoliator to help loosen the overgrown cuticles making it easier to clean off with a cuticle pusher. Be sure to follow the directions and rinse off throughly. You don’t have to go far with this, and a gentle sweep will do the trick since your cuticles will be softened from the exfoliator.

Be sure to keep the cuticle clippers away from your fingers! You can seriously damage your nail bed with incorrect use. Save that for the professionals.

Always finish off your manicure with a hydrating cuticle oil to care for the cuticles. Just like you apply serums to your face and scalp, your fingers need some love to so make a habit of this. Apply drop on the cuticle, another underneath the nail, and massage in. Then finish off with a moisturizing hand lotion to keep the hands and nails hydrated!

6. Washing and Moisturizing

As with every beauty care ritual, you want to be sure you are keeping your fingernails clean and moisturized. When washing, take the extra 30 seconds to grab a nail brush and clean beneath your fingers. Always moisturize with a good hand lotion and rub this into your fingers and cuticles. When doing household chores, remember to wear gloves to protect your nails.

7. Nail Polish and Manicures

The best kind of nail polish is those that will keep your nails protected and allow them to breathe. You can try using natural polishes that allow oxygen to penetrate the nail bed (doesn’t create a full barrier so they can breathe). BKIND (black-owned) and People of Color (black-owned) are really good!

Otherwise, use gel polish to create a protective layer over the nails which will prevent chipping. The key here is quality. Sally Hansen’s Gel Polishes are my faves!

If you’re not wearing colour, try 2 layers of clear polish that will help protect the nail, and be sure to put a layer underneath the nails to protect from softening in water. But stay away from nail hardeners. They will make your nails so hard, they can break easily. Softer nails can bend when pressed and are less prone to napping (not too soft of course).

When it comes to nail extensions, it is definitely up to personal style and choice. It is important to note that no matter what kind of nail extension you are wearing it will be damaging your nail. With that being said, it's okay to wear them if you want. Just be sure to go to a licensed nail expert who will give you your desired style and also take care of your natural nail (they are trained to do so). Also if possible, try to extend the length of your manicure by backfilling to avoid constantly taking the entire nail extension off further thinning the nails.

8. Daily Habits

Your diet plays a huge role in the health of your nails. Just like your hair and skin, your body cares much more about your internal organs than it does about your vanity goals. Pay extra attention to your water, iron, and protein intake as they directly correlate to healthy nails. Also, nail-biting is a habit that a lot of people deal with (myself included at one point), make it a goal to stop biting your nails to allow them space to flourish and grow.

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