What is your nail care routine? Share yours!
I file my nails with a glass nail file every so often to shape or shorten (if it’s not a lot), otherwise clip when they get too long. Â I don’t use any treatments.
Thanks to Meme for today’s question!
Got a question idea? Submit yours here.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
I clip my nails, and occasionally file them with a glass nail file. I subject my nails to a LOT of acetone, so I use a moisturizing treatment on them every night (Trind Nail Basalm).
I use Trind Nail Balsam too! Any time acetone touches my nails, it is always followed by Trind Nail Balsam or Trind Cuticle Balsam (which differs by just one ingredient and the results are exactly the same – I wouldn’t have bought both if I knew this beforehand). Other than that, glass nail file every other manicure session and Burt’s Bees Lemon Cuticle Butter a few times throughout the day, everyday. During the winter, my nails get really dry and peely so I treat with Trind Nail Repair. When my cuticles get out of control, I use Nfu-Oh Cuticle Remover and an orange stick (the metal kind and the plastic kind never work well for me).
i bite them to the nub until they bleed & are painful & get acrylics to make myself look somewhat normal & presentable.
🙂
I clip them when they get too long and file them with a metal file to shape them. I sometimes rub salve into my cuticles to keep them soft, and I use a clear nail protector because I work with my hands a lot.
No matter what polish, I use Orly’s Won’t Chip top coat and it keeps my nails looking nice for about 10 to 15 days 🙂
I wish I could have it as uncomplicated.
I have very fast growing and very, very sensitive cuticles and since a couple of years dry and brittle nails. :-/
To remove nailpolish I use acetone remover, as acetonefree remover makes my nails even drier. I use a mineral file to shorten them.
full Manicure:
– Nfu.Oh cuticle remover (holy grail, my cuticles are so sensitive that I can not cut them or use any harsh stuff on them)
– treat with oil
– polish with polish/buffer powder worked in with suede leather file (holy grail: Tana Manoa-Cristal; seals the nails and makes them shiny without removing nailtissue like the regular polishing files)
– base coat with calcium before applying nail polish
– afterwards and every day cuticles get treated with either Lush Lemony Flutter or nipple cream (yup, that stuff for breastfeeding mommies, it contains a lot of lanolin and is way cheaper than Lush, it’s also good for the lips)
I’m waiting for replies, I’m so curious and I hope to learn a lot! 😀
you should join the Makeupalley Nail Care Board. Lots of tips!!
Im hooked on gelish nails.Its hard and anti chip like acrylic but doesnt damage the nail and its not thick and ….best of all you can do it at home!!I can finally grow my nails!
its the best..its ricey but… its great my nails always look nice
Once every 3 weeks I clip and file my nails (glass nailfile from KOH, it’s amazing!). Once or twice a week I paint my nails, every time I use the Trind nailcaresystem as a base and everyday I use cuticlecream (L’occitane, Lush or Burts Bees). My nails grow really fast and are superstrong (they always were, but thanks to the Trind-system they don’t split or break anymore).
I paint my nails around twice a week, my nails are always polished. I clip my nails and then file them with a cheap file… I use a very good nail polish remover that doesn’t dry out my nails or my cuticles. Sometimes I use nail harderner for two weeks. Then they’re strong enough to hold it for two months.
I file my nails when they need to be filed with a glass file. I use a cuticle remover once a week. I moisturize them at night when I remember.
Change nail color like every three days. I file when I see a chip or a snag and I wear a treatment on my nails since it is super fragile at this point.
I clip my nails whenever I feel like it, and that’s pretty much it! xD
Gel refill every two weeks either permanent french or a neutral/nude color–and they last with zero chips for the full 2 weeks. Ahava hand cream with special attention to my cuticles.
I obsess way more over my nails, because I quit biting them a few months ago. 12 years of a bad habit conquered! YES! 😀 They are really thin and fragile though and the cuticle is dry. I use SolarOil to moisturize and a few layers of nailpolish at all times because then I won’t bite them.
clip, file square, buff, sanlly hansen maximum growth, burts bees cuticle creme> repeat when they start breaking lol
Okay, I guess I’m kinda of behind but what is a glass file and which one do you use?
I just got mine from a beauty supply store, so I don’t remember the brand! I heard they were better for your nails and last longer, so that’s why I use one.
Thanks Christine!
I file my nails (or clip if it’s too long or I just can’t get it even). I then do a four-step buffing routine, followed by a nail strengthener, white under-nail pencil from Sephora, and Sephora for OPI cuticle oil!
I absolutely swear by Barielle Nail Strengthening Cream and Healthy Hoof Intensive Protein Treatment. If I don’t use them every night, it shows the next day. They’re essential for me because my nails and cuticles get very dry (lots of hand washing and, until recently, lots of polish application and removal!)
As for a routine, I mainly just file them any time there’s a rough edge to smooth it out. I love Revlon’s emery boards, especially the ones for weak nails & their ‘saw’ metal file. Then at night I use the creams and apply moisture gloves. That’s about all I do.
I also swear by Barielle Nail Strengthening cream. it’s amazing and worth buying it in the pot for $17 vs small tube. I always have liked Barielle’s Intensive Nail Oil as well but never used the 2 products today – UNTIL I read on the Barielle web site that is just what you should do and what a difference it’s made. I always thought if I used the oil over the cream it would dissolve the cream, like on product usually does with another. But these 2 are really compatible. Every night aftering doing my feet with my Footfil (Sally’s and in the RED one, not the green one – lasts for more than 7 years – amazing) and I put on Barielle Total Foot Care Cream, I then wait a few mins for that to absorb into my hand skin. Next is the Barielle Strengthening Cream – a little bit of it goes a long way. Then I over lay after about 30 seconds of the cream sitting on my nails, the Barielle Intensive oil and lay there in bed calm and getting into sleep mode – no books, puters – just relax. Let the oil do it’s thing. Takes about 10 mins for the oil to absorb into the finger skin and nail area before I can turn and put my hands on my pillows or anywhere. You need to allow this time for the product to absorb. It has kept my always pealing, thin nails from being like that for years now. If I don’t use it, in a week my nails are a mess again. They grow, my cuticles are healthy, next to no hangnails ever. And I am one who has MAJOR live long pealing, thin nails. This has made me have beautiful natural nails. I also ONLY use glass nail files. I get mine at Walgreens – not sure of the brand. I like them to come in a plastic storage case. Wash them now and again and they freshen up. Don’t like the one you bought, buy another until you find one that has a really good surface. There are a lot of icky glass files out there. Glass is far better than ceramic files – emery boards tear your nails as do the metal (usually sapphire imbedded) files. A glass one lives in my purse and one by the bedside table, one in the drawer next to the couch so they are all over like is my Jack Black lip balm! More on my nail routine later, but I wanted to really give a cheer when I saw another reader who swears by Barielle Strengthening cream…just add the Intensive Nail oil to the routine. You can use the oil in mid day as well if you have time. I am the queen of having tried a ton of oils, creams, gels etc.
I file them square, buff them smooth, and use Deborah Lippman Cuticle Remover (HG!!!)…Then if I am polishing, I use Zoya Anchor Base coat, Polish of my choice, and Zoya Armor top coat….once they dry I use some CND Solar oil…I gotta try a glass file…
I use a glass file to shape my nails, and if they get too long, I just clip them. I use the OPI cuticle remover product thing (lol, how good am I to name products) and then some cuticle oil… that is when I remember to use them lol otherwise, just use an acetone free nail polish remover and then always use a base coat to avoid extreme staining of my nails. Nothing special I think
I have acrylics (fill every three weeks or so) painted with my signature hot pink (OPI La Pazitively Hot for like five years now). I keep them long and square; I know they’re kinda tacky but I loooove my ghetto-fabulous nails.
In the process of learning shellac nails (Shella by CND and Gelish by Nail Harmony) so I can stop paying exhorbitant salon prices!
I shape them with a medium grit file..then I use Nail Magic Base Coat Therapy. Then I will either polish them or leave them with just the clear coat. i normally use Poshe t/c but i’ve run out so i’m using some random color club top coat that came with a set from Ross. I push back my cuticles using the opposing thumb nail lol and sometimes use hand cream..yup.
I get silk fills every 3 weeks. My natural nails are too ridged and peel like onions, don’t hold polish well at all, and I don’t do well with acrylics. I’ve had no problems at all with the silks.
I use the CND Shellac every 7 to 10 days,and CND Solar Oil everyday along with lotion.I file them with a Diamencil nail file just in case one snags or looks uneven.
i do gel nails.. its easier, they never chip..however it gets pricey..my nails are soft so a regmanicure doesnt last me more than a few day
I use a nail polish remover that has acetone. I use a crystal file to shape my nails and a buffer to buff out the ridges. I use a base coat and top coat and sometimes drying drops. I also use a cuticle oil and lotions to keep my cuticles hydrated. Various brands, find what works for you! But IMO, all are necessary for a nice, long lasting manicure.
I get a manicure every two weeks.
I’m trying to cut my cuticles less now, but usually I’ll just push them back after putting on Butter London’s cuticle eliminator. I file them once a week with a glass file and I don’t cut them unless they feel like they’re going to break. I really like Zoya’s nail polish remover because it doesn’t dry my cuticles that much. My cuticle oil is usually 100 percent pure argan oil, but I also like Butter London’s oil as well (it’s just really expensive). Avoplex is okay too. My biggest issue is unruly cuticles that are dry. If anyone has any tips for that, please let me know.
I get an acrylic fill every two weeks. I used to do them super square but I just recently tried some nude stilettos (a la Rihanna) and I am so in love
Well up until recently I didn’t have a nail routine because I was a nail biter. I know it’s gross,but I’ve bit my nails ever since I can remember and I am 37 now. It’s weird because about 2 months ago my nails just started growing like crazy. I had no intention to quit biting my nails,but they were growing so fast I figured I’d just stop biting them and see what happened.
I went out and bought some stuff to take care of them,a file,orange stick and strengthening polish and went home. I got my file out and started working at my nails trying to even them out and I kept taking too much off one side and so I’d go back and file the other until I ended up having nothing left to file.
Now,like you I am only using nail clippers and I’m saving the file in case I get a rough spot. I know this is going to sound like some infomercial,but I swear that using Haus of Gloi body butter on my hands strengthened my nails to where they would actually grow. I used to have thin,weak nails and the only change I can think of is that I started using the body butter several times a day.
What nail polish remover does everyone recommend? I’d like something that works that isn’t super harsh. I need to check out these glass files as well.
Right now, All I do is remove and repolish my nails on Sundays. I really need to develop some kind of routine. Do you have any suggestions, tuts or books to hel me start?