In general, it’s easier to clean the dirt from underneath your nails before you wash your hands instead of after. The drier the better. Avoid using a pencil to clean them out, as the lead may cause them to look dirtier. Try using a baby wipe or moist hand wipe to clean under your nails. You can push the edge of your wipe under your nail to gently remove anything discoloring your nails. You can also clean beneath your nails with a manicure brush. [1] X Expert Source Marta NagorskaNail Artist Expert Interview. 26 May 2021.
It’s generally better to use mild soap and wash your hands more regularly. Strong, harsh paraben-based soaps will make nails brittle, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers likewise weaken nails. Try a fingernail-specific soap, like OrigiNails Bubble White.
Soaking nails help to make them softer and more pliable, making it much less likely that you’ll chip or break a nail during the cleaning process. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
If you don’t have a brush specifically for cleaning your nails, use a clean toothbrush specifically for the purpose.
The remover should dry thoroughly by itself, but you can keep a tissue or dry cotton ball nearby to help scrub after applying the wet cotton ball, as well.
Make sure the nails are all completely even and file or clip them if necessary. Finish off the look with a neat coat of clear polish to strengthen the nail. [3] X Research source
Applied weekly, this mixture helps to keep your nails white and luminescent, especially after having used a darker nail polish. Alternatively, try using whitening toothpaste in the same way. The active ingredients are essentially the same, if you’re not interested in mixing up a batch of the home-made stuff.
If you have yellow nails, try using an eye dropper to drop a small amount of tea tree oil onto each of your nails and let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. Apply lemon juice in the same way, rinse, and clean your hands normally.
Most home remedies like applying garlic or eating more protein, will not help your nails to grow faster or stronger.
Instead of applying polish, use the chance to really pamper your nails, applying coats of homemade cleansers and whiteners to get your nails looking good again. It’s also important to always clear-coat your nails before adding colored polish to keep them from staining as easily as they might otherwise.
