Whether you adore neutral nails, avoid polish, or work the nail colors, having strong, healthy nails has a certain kind of power. Having strong nails is one of those less obvious confidence boosters, similar to purchasing designer undergarments for no particular reason or lavishing money on exquisite socks to wear with your boots (and even the benefits of good nail cuticle care).

Investing in your nails is a wise move, whether you do it as part of a self-care regimen, as a reward, or just for regular upkeep.

To receive realistic, helpful nail care advice, we questioned the experts about the typical dos and don’ts. If you adhere to these guidelines, your nails will grow longer and stronger quickly.

• Utilizing Polish

Wearing nail polish won’t harm healthy nails or against nail care, though you should usually remove it sometimes. Use an acetone-free nail paint remover for your at-home manicures when you’re ready to begin that break. Wearing gloves will help you take better care of your nails by protecting the polish and keeping debris out of your nails when you’re doing manual labor, like gardening or housecleaning.

• moisturize the cuticles.

Think of your cuticles as the caulking that protects the bathtub. If you push them around roughly or cut them back too much, you will damage them. Your nail bed is therefore more prone to infection. To maintain healthy nails, cuticles should not be pulled back or clipped at all, not even during a professional manicure. In your cuticles and the surrounding skin, look for symptoms of infection such as redness, pain, swelling, and even pus. Consult a doctor for advice on managing any infection for better nail care.

• shorten your fingernails.

Instead of the long talons of the past, shorter, neater nails that look more natural are the current fashion trend. Your nails stay healthy and are less likely to snag or break with regular nail cutting. You should choose how frequently to cut your nails based on how quickly they grow. Use a fine file to give your nails a more rounded appearance. Consider gently polishing the surface of your nails as part of your manicure if your nails frequently form ridges.

• To clean, use a nail brush.

Many women incur the risk of infection when they frequently clean under their nails with long, pointed tools, both at home and during manicures. Because ladies or manicurists work so hard to clean beneath the nail that they end up with a sort of space between the nail and the nail bed, this kind of rigorous manicure care might result in bacterial or fungal infections. Instead, use a vintage nail brush to gently exfoliate for healthy nails.

• respect infection symptoms

While smoothing out jagged edges and using adhesive tape to bandage a broken nail is typical, you should see a doctor if there are any signs of an infection. While a bacterial infection is often characterized by redness, swelling, and pain, you might not be aware of the early signs of a nail fungal infection, which include puffy, red, and irritated skin around the nail bed. When healthy nails are at danger, get medical attention for the best nail care. Antifungal over-the-counter medications may help fungi infections get better, but prescription medications are occasionally needed as well.