How you should actually be caring for your nails, according to experts
Nailcare is a luxury that can feel synonymous with relaxation, creativity, and taking time for mindfulness and digitally detoxing. Having painted nails can make that new outfit feel even more exciting or give you the confidence you need during that big presentation. But when was the last time you stopped and looked at how healthy your nailbeds actually are?
Discolouration, cracking, over-use of press ons or varnish – there’s plenty of risks and adhesives that our nails are exposed to everyday, so making sure that we take care of them can help to be our body’s first line of defence against harsh weather and chemicals.
Adding a few simple steps into your daily beauty routine, or taking a minute to look after your nails before you go to bed, can be a simple way to give your hands the TLC that they deserve.
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What do healthy nails look like?
A healthy nailbed will be a blush or ivory colour, where you can see your cuticles and lunula (the crescent shape on your nails) at even lengths.
There’s one critical step you’re forgetting in your nailcare routine: ‘Hydrate,’ says nail artist and OPI ambassador Jessica White. ‘If there’s one habit that transforms nail health, it’s daily cuticle oil. It keeps the nail bed flexible, reduces breakage, and helps your nails grow stronger over time. I leave it on my nightstand and in my handbag, it takes ten seconds to do, but the long-term payoff is huge.’
Outside of products, a few tweaks to your lifestyle can also protect your hands from damage and breakage.
‘Gloves are your best friend for cleaning, washing up, gardening, and anything that involves water or chemicals really,’ Jessica adds. ‘Nails absorb moisture and then dry out quickly, which makes them more prone to peeling. Protecting and covering them stops that cycle completely.’
Should I be taking supplements?
Like any vitamin boost, a supplement will only enhance the hard work of a healthy lifestyle. That means that taking nail supplements will only do so much work to take care of your nails, but they will help, as Jessica explains: ‘They can, especially if you struggle with slow growth or breakage. Biotin, keratin, and healthy fats all support stronger nails, but no supplement replaces the basics of hydration, gentle care, and consistent protection.’
In winter, your nailbeds need that extra step of protection against dehydration. Jessica’s top tips for winter protection includes: ‘increasing how often you use cuticle oil, switching to a richer hand cream, and avoiding long, hot showers that dehydrate the skin around your nails. I also recommend keeping nails a touch shorter in the colder months to prevent breakage.’
Inside your nail kit
A quality nail kit will be different to your standard beauty bag; the instruments are different, they’re tackling a different area, and you can’t exactly use a concealer or mascara to take care of your nailbeds.
These staple instruments can be found at most beauty counters or supermarkets.
1. Nail files
Filing your nails can be the key to gaining the rounded, square or oval shape that you desire, while keeping the nails at a short and safe distance to prevent them from getting torn or caught on loose clothing.
If you’re not sure how often to file your nails, Jessica recommends: ‘Little and often is better than waiting for them to snag or split. A soft, gentle shape that suits your lifestyle will always wear better than something overly long or sharp.’
2. Nail Clippers
The essential. The lifesaver. The one nail instrument that, if you don’t have anything else nail related in your makeup bag, you’ll definitely have lying around the house somewhere.
Clipping your nails will reduce the chance of them harbouring any nasty bacteria or germs that may stay on your hands during mealtimes.
3. Top coat / Base coat
Top coats and base coats will often be combined into one bottle, helping to gloss and protect your nail from getting stained from a bold polish or chipping away from everyday wear and tare. It’s a small solution of magic in a bottle, combining safety and style all in one.
‘Within nail products, I look for keratin, biotin, and peptides, which help strengthen the nail plate, and natural oils like jojoba, almond, or vitamin E for hydration. These ingredients support growth and resilience. I usually advise avoiding products with excess formaldehyde or harsh solvents, as they can make nails brittle instead of stronger. To achieve the best results, it’s all about balancing protein and moisture consistently, which is the key to a healthy, strong recovery.’
4. Cuticle oil
If your nails are facing severe dehydration, applying a new cuticle oil could be your best beauty regime’s secret weapon.
‘Cuticles dry out quickly in winter because cold air and indoor heating strip away moisture,’ explains Jessica. ‘When the skin tightens, it becomes much more prone to cracking and peeling. Regular cuticle oil is the easiest way to keep the area flexible, and it’s best to tidy cuticles only when the skin is soft as it helps prevent unnecessary tearing and keeps everything comfortable through the colder months.’
Using it as often as you can is the trick to a great nailbed, as Charlotte Lowe, OPI Education Brand Manager, agrees: ‘Cuticle Oil as often as you can remember but at least once every day! My favourite is OPI Glow up Nail & Cuticle Oil. Using a cuticle oil doesn’t just ensure our nails and cuticles are hydrated but also can make a mani last even longer.’
5. Nail polish remover
Leaving old nail varnish to chip and fade away won’t be encouraging strong, healthy nails to form. Making sure to carefully remove any stains and varnishes with a delicate nail varnish remover will help your nails to recover between treatments.
‘Use a gentle remover and avoid scraping or peeling and let the remover do the work for you. Harsh tools and rushing the process cause most of the damage I see,’ says Jessica.
6. Moisturiser
Your nails need extra support, but so does the skin around them. Don’t forget that your hands need added protection against all the chemicals and hand washing that they experience multiple times a day.
Ingredients like shea butter and aloe vera will be packed with components that specifically boost hydration and bring back that moisture into your hands, so opting for a hand creams with these ingredients are a great place to start if you’re not sure what products to invest in.
‘Your hands go through so much every day, and dehydrated skin affects the health of the nail area too,’ Jessica says. ‘A light hand cream after washing and a richer one before bed keeps everything supple and prevents cracks around the cuticles.’
7. Multitasking buffer
A multitasking buffer is the foamy cuboid that you may have seen at the supermarket, but each side works to improve your nailbed in a different way. This budget friendly piece of equipment that will shape, sharp, buff and shine your nails to get them the size and smoothness that you desire.
What styles can I try at home?
So you’ve got the healthy nailbeds – but you want a touch of colour to celebrate. Cracking the perfect at home manicure isn’t impossible, it just comes with patience, practice and plenty of nail varnish remover to correct those shaky hand mistakes.
Charlotte shares ‘I am pleased to say that the micro-French is sticking around for 2026, this is traditionally a thin white tip at the free edge of a nude nail, however incorporating some pastels into this look will give a gorgeous Spring refresh to something we have seen before (A French in pastel is easier to do than white, as white shows up any imperfections.) Try NEW OPI Infinite Shine Shades: What’s not to Lilac? Less is More or Oh Baby! To achieve this look.’
If tackling a manicure at home can feel like a chore, then sticking to simple tools and equipment can be the trick to achieving that neat, polished finish. Charlotte recommends: ‘Experiment with colour but always use a base and top coat, I love Infinite Shine for its gel-like shine and long wear.
‘If you are worried about neatness, then you could always try press on nails such as OPI Xpress ons which give you a gorgeous mani in no time at all. I would steer clear of using metal tools for pushing back or trimming cuticles, this is a delicate area and can easily be damaged.’
When manicures get medical
Encouraging your nails to grow healthily should be a daily priority, but asking for help when you need it should never be discouraged. If you spot any of these symptoms, it may be worth consulting your doctor for further help:
- No nail growth on your fingers or toes.
- Dramatic changes to the thickness of the nailbed.
- Pain and bleeding.
- Curling at the end of the nailbed
- Discolouration, including a black or yellow colour.
- Swelling of the toes or feet.
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