Tips for Healthy Nails (Best Nail Salon in Fleetwood, PA)
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Discovering nail salons in Fleetwood, PA is much easier than you imagined. At Lords & Ladies in Fleetwood, our professional staff offers a variety of nail services, including manicures, pedicures, gel and powder dip services, and even a deeply relaxing CBD pedicure.
Since 1984, Lords & Ladies Salon and Medical Spa, a family owned business, has been serving the beauty, skin, nail, and hair care needs of men, women, and children throughout Berks and Montgomery Counties. Pottstown is where we opened our first salon, but we have expanded over the years and now have four salons in Berks County, including our Fleetwood location.
Thanks to our floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious open floor plan, the Lords & Ladies Fleetwood Salon provides clients with a vast amount of natural light. This was the first salon we built from the ground up and we opened its doors in June of 2007. There are plenty of professionals available to meet all your needs at this salon.
You’re never fully dressed without a great manicure and pedicure. But what’s under the polish is just as important as how it looks. Your nails provide protection from viruses and bacteria, enhance your fine motor skills, and allow your sense of touch to work at its best — so it’s worth keeping them in tip-top shape.
If you’re not sure what good nail health looks like or how to maintain it, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, you’ll discover 7 science-backed tips for healthy nails from our Fleetwood manicure and pedicure staff, including tips for basic hygiene, top dos and don’ts, and how regular manicures and pedicures can contribute to long-term nail health.
Understand What Healthy Nails Look Like
Before we get to tips for healthy nails, let’s take a step back and discuss what healthy nails look like — as well as signs that your fingernails or toenails might need some TLC.
Signs of Healthy Fingernails and Toenails
- Nails are strong and not easily breakable
- Pinkish-white nail plates
- Nails are even in length
- A prominent half-moon portion of the nail at the base (called the lunula)
Signs of Unhealthy Nails
- Nails that peel or have become split
- Discoloration or spots on the nails (Click here for a guide to common types of nail discolorations and what they may indicate)
- Horizontal grooves in the nail
- Red or swollen skin around the nails
Tips for Healthy Nails
Now that you understand the key characteristics of healthy toenails and fingernails, let’s progress to professional nail health tips:
1. Keep Your Nails Clean
Keeping your nails clean isn’t just about good hygiene — it’s about preventing bacteria from growing under your fingernails. If left unchecked, some serious germs could take up residence under your nails, including bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and even salmonella and E. coli infections.
To properly wash your nails, use soap on a clean toothbrush to gently clean the nail beds. But don’t prolong the process — if your nails are wet for too long, it can make them more prone to peeling and breakage.
2. Trim Your Nails Regularly
Consistent trims are just as important for your nails as for your hair. And like your hair, your nails can become more prone to breakage and snags the longer you go between trims.
A good general rule is to trim your nails every two weeks, but the best schedule for you may vary. Different people’s nails may have different growth rates due to factors like age, hormones, and overall health.
3. Keep Your Nail Tools Clean
Here’s one of the tips for good nails that most people don’t even consider. In addition to keeping your nails clean and trimmed, make sure the tools you use are spic-and-span, too. Otherwise, they could promote the spread of bacteria that could cause disease. Disinfect metal tools by washing them with soap and water and then wiping them off with rubbing alcohol. And be sure to replace disposable items like emery boards frequently.
4. Get Regular Manicures & Pedicures
Nothing improves your mood like a new manicure and pedicure! But as it turns out, these salon services aren’t just about looking and feeling good — they can contribute to healthy fingernails and toenails, too. Here’s how.
First, these services keep your nails clean and tidy. Getting a manicure, pedicure, or both promotes good nail health by keeping your nails clean and trimmed. This regular maintenance can decrease your chances of getting an infection or developing a fungus due to poor hygiene.
In terms of foot health, getting regular pedicures from a trained nail technician can also reduce your chances of developing ingrown toenails. In case you’re not familiar, ingrown toenails occur when a portion of your nail juts out and into the adjacent skin, causing discomfort and potentially leading to infection. While getting regular pedicures can’t completely prevent occurrences of ingrown toenails, the combination of your technician’s skill and dexterity, high-quality tools, plus the simple fact that they can probably reach your feet better than you can, can reduce the risk exponentially.
That’s not all. The massage that makes manicures and pedicures such a pleasure can also increase blood flow to your hands and feet — this circulation boost can help boost nail growth and health.
Don’t delay — book your next mani and pedi today!
5. Don’t Bite Your Nails
Please, please, please do not bite your nails! Not only is it an unattractive habit, but it can also diminish the health of your nails — and your entire body.
In #1 above, we discussed some of the gnarly bacteria that can develop under your nails if you don’t keep them clean. Here’s the thing. If you’re biting your nails, you could potentially be ingesting the bacteria that cause salmonella or e.coli infections without even realizing it.
Nail-biting can also lead to dental despair. In a Hackensack Meridian Health article, Paul J. Condello, DMD shares that nail-biting can create “a friction between the tooth and the nail that can cause your teeth to erode over time.” This can lead to serious problems down the line, such as gingivitis. Plus, all those germs you’re potentially ingesting could lead to another ailment — bad breath!
6. Leave Your Cuticles to the Pros
What’s a cuticle? It’s that translucent layer of skin along the bottom edge of your fingernails and toenails. Cuticles are important: They protect new nail growth emerging from the nail root from bacteria.
While it can be tempting to push back those cuticles for a clean look, it’s not advisable to DIY the process, since it’s easy to push back too far and irritate your skin. A professional nail technician can assist with the right tools, a clean, hygienic workspace, sterilized tools, and the knowledge and skill necessary to work with your cuticles without hurting you.
7. Moisturize Your Hands and Feet
You already know that you should moisturize your face and skin … But don’t neglect your nails! When your nails become dehydrated, they’re more likely to peel or split. Who wants that?
According to dermatologists, one of the best ways to ensure that your nails stay moisturized is to rub vitamin E, petroleum jelly, or cuticle cream or oil into your cuticles and nail beds.
Another pro tip? Wash gloves when washing your hands. The warm, soapy water can actually sap your hands of moisture and make your nails dry and brittle.
8. Eat (and Drink) Right For Nail Health
You are what you eat — and it shows in the health of your nails. According to experts, here are some of the best foods for healthy nails:
- Protein: Your nails are made of a protein called keratin — so focusing on high-quality sources of protein like meat, salmon, and eggs can help promote good nail health. Plus, eggs have been proven to promote nail growth! If you adhere to a plant-based diet, high-quality protein sources like almonds and quinoa can amp up your nail health.
- Nutrient-Dense Veggies: Eating your veggies isn’t just about health — it’s about healthy nails, too. For instance, dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale give you a megadose of calcium, iron, and antioxidants. Orange veggies including carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potato are great sources of Vitamin A, which is great for your eyesight but can also promote shiny and well-moisturized nails.
- Bone broth: Bone broth contains both gelatin and collagen, both of which help build healthy, strong nails.
- Water: Drinking sufficient water both helps combat nail dryness and prevents breakage and brittleness.
The Bottom Line: Tips for Healthy Nails
Maintaining healthy and beautiful nails is a combination of consistent care and mindful habits. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can promote the strength, vitality, and overall well-being of your nails for years to come. To give your nails some TLC today, make an appointment at our Fleetwood location for a professional manicure and pedicure and enjoy the health-boosting results and the fresh, finished look!