Nail Care 101: Essential Tips For Healthy Nails

By | November 5, 2025

Nail Care 101: Essential Tips For Healthy Nails – Chic, beautiful and low maintenance, natural looking nails are the new must have mani. Founder of Townhouse Nails, Juanita Huber-Millet, explains that this increase in interest in a healthy finish is “part of the trend towards the more pared-back look”. Regardless of the cause, “Natural nails look fresh and less done,” says Carla Opoku founder of Cienna Rose. Certainly here at the GH beauty agency we rely on a natural looking mani to look instantly put together.

If you prefer to go to the salon for your manicure, for both natural nail care and a subtle touch-up, we love Townhouse. With its ambient lighting and zen interiors, their treatments feel both sophisticated and relaxing. And while the regular care and maintenance of natural nails at home is really important for the overall health of the nails, there are some things that should be left to the professionals. “Something like trimming cuticles should only be done by a professional and never attempted at home,” says Juanita.

Nail Care 101: Essential Tips For Healthy Nails

If you’re au fait with nail care and want to try your hand at a natural mani at home, we have the professional tips and products you need to create your own…

Essential Oils For Nails: Pamper Your Nails

“A healthy shine on bare, buffed nails is always a winner, but it’s crucial to get the basics right,” says Carla. To start, make sure your nails are clean and tidy. It is worth washing hands to remove dirt and remembering to clean under the nails. You can also give the nails a once-over with nail polish remover to remove any stubborn pieces of polish. But, be careful with using too much if your remover contains acetone as it can be very drying and drying. If you are removing regular polish, opt for an acetone-free remover. Or, if you are trying to get rid of acrylic or gels, it is best to leave it to the professionals.

Nail growth comes from our cuticles, so keeping them hydrated is arguably the most important step for overall nail health. Happy cuticles means healthy nails. Iram says cuticle oil is vital and insists it should be applied twice a day along with hand cream (we love the Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Hand Treatment, £13), especially in the winter months. She adds “wearing gloves while cleaning/washing/gardening is also a must as we can protect our hands and nails from any nasty chemicals or manual work”.

Neat, well-groomed nails are key to this look, so a nail file is one of the most important tools you’ll need. “Remember to always file in one direction and not go back and forth in a see-saw action, as this can split the nail plate,” says Daisy Kalnina, founder of Peacci. Most professionals recommend using glass files over harder emery boards because their ultra-fine texture is gentler on nails.

Buffing increases blood circulation to the nail bed and helps to remove ridges, giving the nail an overall glow. If you​​​​are​​choosing​​to​​buff,​​Juanita​​recommends​​the​​CND​​buffer​​block​​​​for​​a​​smooth​​and​​healthy​​finish​​.

Men: How To Give Yourself A Manicure At Home

However, Iram warns that “buffing can be very harmful if overdone”. Instead of buffing, Iram suggests using a strong base coat that “gives your nails a healthy but natural look with natural ingredients.” Skincare but for your nails.

To complete your natural manicure, leave your nails exposed to show their healthy appearance. If you feel​​​​​​incomplete without a slick of polish, apply a skin-toned neutral shade, followed by a high-shine top coat such as Essie Nail Care Gel Setter Nail Polish Top Coat, £8.99. We review Peacci’s Nu Nudes Collection, from £10 for one polish. The 12-part collection contains an inclusive range of colors for every skin tone.

5 Nail Trends You Must Try for Summer 8 Best At-Home Gel Nail Kits 7 Best Nail Supplements That Actually Work Easy Steps to Stop Your Nail Polish from Chipping

How to remove shellac or gel nail polish?

Surprising Benefits Of Regular Manicures And Pedicures

Tips from a hand model for perfect hands and nails Festive nail trends to try this Christmas 5 beautiful wedding nail art ideas Is it time to tie your nail polish? I get so many questions about my hand and nail care routine I thought it was time for an updated post. Readers ask me on a weekly basis if my nail polish is done in the salon or at home. I do most of my nail polish and hand care on my own and have for a few years now. Most like in practically everything – the last time I was in a salon was at least a few years ago! When I lived in San Diego I had my go-to salons that I went to almost every week. It was the best way for me to relax, unwind and unwind! However, since moving to Florida I’ve never found anything that comes close and with the frequency I change my polish it’s just easier, more affordable and saves time for me to take care of them myself.

I did a full roundup and tutorial a few years ago. Most of my go-to brackets are still the same, although there have been a few changes as formulas are discontinued and brands change. I used to never be able to wear Essie politic without getting horrible tip wear within 1 hour, but I finally found a way to make it work. This applies to most brands of polish, some take several steps and combinations of base/top to create the final one.

I have a complete list of what I use, some good runner ups and tips on how I maintain my hands and nails. I will say that it will all get better with practice. I used to not be able to paint well with my right hand because my left hand was clumsy and shaky. It’s still not perfect, but it’s getting better with time!

Cuticles can be a pain to keep healthy, especially if they are dry or peeling. I think keeping the hands well hydrated is the key. If your cuticles are not in the best shape and you don’t know how to trim them, I would suggest going to the salon to have them trimmed professionally. Observe their methods and steps until you are comfortable doing it yourself at home. Key products I use:

How To Make Your Nail Polish Last Longer

You can see a full step by step tutorial here in this post, but I’ve reposted some of the steps below. Depending on how dry your hands are or how long it’s been since your last manicure, you may want to wet, clean and moisturize your hands first.

Finding a good gentle remover is essential, especially if you have sensitive nails or fingers. You don’t want to dry out your hands or use something too harsh. Unfortunately, the best ones are not always easily accessible to me, so I always order online.

My favorite base and top coats rotate often when I use things or formulas are discontinued. What I currently have in rotation is listed below (for regular nail polish I don’t use gel):

I am the biggest hand cream junkie! I have tried so many and have many in rotation at any given time. I did a massive purge right before our move in June and gave away a lot of my products. These are the ones I have in rotation now. I apply hand cream daily, I use a scrub once a week, cuticle oils are used as needed.

Foot Care 101

For application, I will say that practice makes perfect. I think the biggest mistake people make with application is getting the brush too close to the cuticles. Wet polish will move a little when wet, so leave a small gap between the brush and the cuticle to prevent bleeding. For me, I start a little further from the cuticle than I think I should and it prevents the polish from moving/bleeding into the nail beds. Sometimes it’s impossible not to get excess polish on the skin, so I clean it up with a brush or my thumb nail, in which case it’s sometimes best to paint the thumbs last. Different formulas have different textures, some are ultra fluid, while others are thicker, so your mileage may vary with application.

I recommend applying thin coats. Sometimes I will have to apply 3 depending on how clear the formula is. As long as your coats are thin and even it should still dry relatively quickly. I let my air dry and try to do them before I think I will be typing for a long time or hands free while watching TV.

Applying it on a flat surface is the best way to apply polish. The Olive and June Tool Box comes with a handy covered thick sheet to protect your surface. I also just use paper towels at home. Every time I think I can just do my polish on my desk, on the couch or on the floor, I end up spilling product. I once dropped a bottle on a concrete floor and that was it

Tips for healthy nails, 101 essential tips cat care, essential oils for healthy nails, 101 essential tips bonsai, nail tips for short nails, nail polish for healthy nails, nail tips for acrylic nails, nail tips for small nails, nail tips for gel nails, bonsai 101 essential tips pdf, nail tips for flat nails, 101 essential tips yoga