Tips to protect your tips

Is cuticle oil the solution to long beautiful nails? Well, it's a huge start. But let's also review all the other aspects of daily life that can affect your nail health.

1. Don’t ruin your tip for a sip! — Use a spoon / tool / key - anything else! to open your beverage cans and pet food cans.

2. Find a picker for your sticker! — Use tweezers or some other tool to remove labels off jars or barcode stickers off products, etc. I know it’s easy to think “ok it’s a small sticker, I’ll just use my nail this time” but then if it breaks, it’s instant regret and another month or more to grow it back!

3. Protect your hands when washing your pans! — Water isn’t great for our nails. Dish soap isn’t great for our nails. Order yourself a pair of dish gloves - your nails will thank you!

4. There’s power in your shower! — Test a water filter. I was visiting family a lot in LA while I live in San Francisco and the water in LA is much harder than SF. First, I installed a water filter for my shower in my SF apartment and noticed immediately that my hair felt softer. I didn’t notice the nail effects initially but over time I do think it has made it less brittle (installed early 2024). I noticed in LA, my nails were more likely to peel as well.

5. Top coat is GOAT! — Ok, it doesn’t have to be a top coat, BUT make sure you have some coat or layer on top of your natural nail when you shower. This will help protect it a lil bit more from that water we just mentioned :)

6. Use your knuckle to unbuckle! — Do you use your thumb to unbuckle your seat belt? Switch to using your knuckle and pushing in with it. The button for unbuckling is so small that it’s easy to jam your thumb (or any other finger) and suddenly break a nail

7. Pop the top with the sides of your fingers! — If you are opening those air-tight Tupperware lids, use the sides of your fingers. Don’t use the tips. It will be annoying at first but you’ll get used to it. Essentially your finger will be parallel to the side you need to open, and you can tuck the side of your finger under the lid and lift.

8. LASTLY - The best cuticle oil is the one you will use. Whether it’s brush pen, dropper, rollerball, balm form, etc. Whichever you prefer is better than no cuticle oil at all! Use it nightly at the minimum.