5 Sneaky Nail Saboteurs
Are you guilty of any of these common-and bad-habits?
Tiny as they are, your fingernails can be an amazing asset and accessory, whether you wear them bare or sporting a trendy pattern. Think about what you do to keep them perfectly manicured, clipped, and polished—and then consider this: All of that effort may actually be damaging your digits, risking much more than just a broken nail.
Put down your file and topcoat brush and check out these five common practices that could be ruining your fingernails without you realizing it and learn easy fixes for 10 strong, long tips.
Feeds You
A nervous habit for many, nibbling your nails can lead to skin infections and other yucky problems. “Germs and bacteria hide under nails, so biting them can spread these nasties to your mouth and possibly lead to bacterial infections,” says Candice Manacchio, a Creative Nail Design expert. “You can also get infections around the nail if it is bitten too low.”
To help kick this habit, try keeping your nails neatly polished with your favorite shade or adding some nail art so you’ll be less apt to bite and ruin your pretty tips, says Janine Coppola, SensatioNail’s vice president of marketing. If that doesn’t work, consider talking to a mental health provider about anxiety and boredom issues, which are often the underlying cause of nail chomping.
