Manicure Aftercare 101

How To Care For Your Nails After A Manicure

You’re fresh out of the salon with a brand-new manicure that you want to make sure lasts as long as possible. One of the best ways to keep your nails healthy and beautiful is to keep up with your aftercare. While the manicure process might start in a salon, it definitely doesn’t end there — nail aftercare can be done at home, at work, or even out and about in your daily life!

We’re going to cover what nail aftercare means, why it’s important to the health of your nails, and our top 5 tips for keeping that fresh manicure looking good as long as possible.

Why is it important to practice proper nail aftercare?

Whether you notice or not, your nails are an integral part of your daily life. They might be short or long, painted with lacquer or shaped with acrylic — however you like to wear your nails, they are both functional and a great way to show off your style. So of course, taking care of your nails is a no-brainer for most of us. 

But what about after a professional manicure? Your nails can undergo some stress from chemicals or physical abrasion during a manicure, so it’s important to pay extra attention to them afterwards.

Aftercare For Manicure: Our Top 5 Tips

Cuticle Oil

Manicures can be drying to the nail itself, but also to the surrounding skin. This is where cuticle oil comes into play. 

The benefits of using cuticle oil are numerous — and once you start you won’t want to stop! Easily found in your nearby beauty shop or drugstore, cuticle oil can be applied daily or even multiple times a day (usually right after washing your hands). Here are just a few reasons to get yourself some cuticle oil and start applying it every day.

• Hydration: Cuticle oil can help lock in your skin’s natural moisture after a drying manicure. 
• Growth: If the tissue surrounding the nail is damaged in any way, the nail itself will have a harder time growing. Using cuticle oil can help the tissue heal more quickly, thus allowing the nail to also grow faster and healthier.
• Shine: Along with the health benefits, cuticle oil adds a beautiful shine to the skin around the nail and to the polish on the nails.

No Picking or Biting

Nail picking and biting are such common bad habits that most of us don’t think twice about them. However, picking off nail polish can damage the nails or the surrounding area. Additionally, the cuticle or skin around the nail can become inflamed or irritated, which is painful and can make your next manicure uncomfortable. 

So to all the nail pickers and biters out there, we recommend trying to let go of this habit — for your sake and your nails’!

Your Nails Aren’t Tools

Just like picking, it can be tempting to use your nails to perform other daily tasks. And why not? They’re strong and handy (no pun intended) and readily available. 

Well, even professional manicures can temporarily weaken nails over time. This is especially true of the removal process, which can be drying and dehydrating. So to make sure your nails stay healthy for as long as possible, you should avoid using them to pick at or open anything that could harm them. 

Wear Gloves and Avoid Harsh Chemicals

If you find yourself using your hands a lot, maybe at work or at home, wearing gloves is a great idea. Even if you put them on for a few household chores here and there, you’ll be prolonging the life of your manicure and keeping your nails safe from physical activity. Keep in mind that direct contact with harsh soaps or other chemicals can, unfortunately, cause shiny nails to appear duller.

Apply SPF

One of the key steps in a gel manicure is curing the nails under a UV/LED lamp. This means that your fingers are in close contact with UV rays. An easy way to combat this is to apply SPF before appointments and as a part of your everyday routine. You’ll be doing your hands and nails a huge favor!

Nail Aftercare Tips From PLA

With these 5 tips in mind, we hope you’ll enjoy your next manicure even more! Keeping your nails in great shape is such an important part of the process. Now head out to your next manicure with the confidence that your nails will stay healthy and strong!

To read more of our tips on nails, lash extensions and business tips, visit our main blog page here.