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Nail Care Routine For Long Nails

Nail care routine for long nails

A Nail Care Routine for Long, Strong, Nails!

Here is my nail care routine with a list of tips, tricks, and products of how I achieve smooth, soft, healthy, hydrated hands and cuticles. Let’s get started!

1. Remove polish:

First things first, I remove any nail polish I have on my nails at the time with cotton balls and nail polish remover. I am a huge, huge, fan of Onyx Professional’s 100% pure acetone to remove my polish. I know, I know, I know, they say pure acetone is a ‘no-no’ for
natural nails but it works well for me. It gets all the polish off quickly and easily, so I’m not sitting there rubbing away the polish for hours haha. It also dries the nail and removes any oils that may prevent polish from adhering to the nail.

2. Hand washing:

Next, I wash my hands with soap in warm water. I do this to remove any remaining oils, and most importantly to remove any residual acetone. Because I use 100% acetone, I make sure to wash my hands immediately after nail polish removal to prevent my nails and cuticles from drying out, reduce possible damage to the nail bed, and re-hydrate the nail. Make sure to dry nails thoroughly (you can also use a bit of acetone as well to dry the nail)!

3. Cut + shape + file:

I do this step every few weeks, to keep the shape of my nails fresh. First I cut the edges into a triangular shape and then file the edges.

*TIP* File your nails in one direction to prevent future breakage and chipping. Filing nails back and forth in multiple directions creates micro-shearing of the nail growth which will weaken it and lead to damage later on.

See my FULL nail shaping tutorial here: https://youtu.be/1Ajq_EFRJII

4. Nail food:

After cut + shape + file and before applying base coat, I apply nail treatment to my nails. I don’tNutrinail Growth Treatment - Nail Care Routine always do this step, only maybe a few times per month. Right now, I’m really liking ‘Nutra Nail Growth Formula Plus Green Tea & Acai Berry Polish (0.45 fl oz)’. I massage it right onto the nail bed and cuticles and let it dry. It doesn’t leave a shine/shiny residue after application which i really appreciate as it cuts down the layers of polish added to the nail.

 

 

5. Base coat application:

At this point, I would buff my nails but I only buff them about once a month so I will omit this step for now. After I wash my hands an

dry them, I apply my favourite base coat. I typically use ‘OPI’s Start to Finish’ or ‘Sally Hansen’s Diamond Straighten Diamond shine Base & Top coat’. They both strengthen and protect my nails as well as prevent polish staining.

6. Polish time!

After I apply my base coat and let it dry, I apply 2-3 coats of my nail polish of choice and let that dry for at least a good 10 minutes.

7. Top coat application:

Woo hoo, top coat time! You know me, I love to have my nails glisten like a disco ball. Gotta have that Seche Vite top coat!Seche Vite Top Coat

8. Lotion hands:

Once my nail polish has dried, I apply a generous amount of moisturizing lotion to my hands to keep them soft and smooth. I use high-moisture body lotions (such as St. Ives, Lubriderm, Palmer’s cocoa butter, etc.) and not hand creams as I find body lotions offer a bit more hydration/moisture. If my cuticles are particularly dry (thanks winter :p), I will massage Vaseline onto my cuticles.

9. Hydrate cuticles:

Last but not least, cuticle care. It’s important to have your cuticles as hydrated as possible. as I feel It’s important in maintaining nail length and health annddd prevent those pesky hang nails! I’ll either apply cuticles balm, Unrefined/virgin coconut oil, or cuticle oil and massage it into the cuticle and all over the nail bed. Either of these products keep my cuticles happy and hydrated.

This is complete run-down of my nail care routine and how I maintain the length and health of my nails.


Product list:

Nail care products

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