Your cuticles determine how your nails grow -- so if you have significant cuticle damage your nail might become ridged, malformed or even fall off. If you're doing your manicures yourself, be especially careful with scissors. "I like to call it bathroom surgery -- when people start picking," says Spielfogel. "You can create an ingrown nail, which can lead to an infection." Whether you're doing your manicure at home or in a salon, he believes that cuticles should never be cut. Yes, you read that right: never. "Your cuticles are an important barrier that protect you from germs and other organisms -- if you have to do something, you can push them back."
Photo 4/8
You're not using a base coat
I used to switch my nail polish color constantly -- as often as once a day -- and most of the time I wouldn't use a base coat underneath. It was a timesaving measure, but it turns out it was also one of my worst habits. "A base coat acts as a barrier between the nail polish and your nails," says New York City manicurist Kristina Konarski. "If there are harmful or drying ingredients in your polish, a good base coat will prevent it from damaging your nails."
Another reason to take the (annoying) extra step: There are even base coats with treatment ingredients built in. Next time I do my nails I'm going to try Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Smooth & Strong Base Coat, $8, which contains biotin and Spirulina to fill ridges and help prevent splitting.
Photo 5/8
You're using a toxic nail polish
If you're having nail problems, there are three chemicals commonly found in polishes that you should avoid: toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and formaldehyde. "I have patients come in all the time thinking they have a fungal infection, but it's not -- it's actually damage from commercial polishes," says Spielfogel. "These polishes strip all the moisture from your nails and cause discoloration."
Try swapping out your regular polish for a "healthier" brand like Butter London, Zoya, SpaRitual, or Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish, $17, which Spielfogel co-created. "It has vitamins and nutrients to help keep your nails healthy," he says.
Photo 6/8
You're getting gel manicures
During my manicure phase, I only tried a gel manicure once. While I loved the long-lasting aspect, I hated how my nails felt after I had the polish removed. They were more brittle than ever. Spielfogel is adamantly opposed to gel: "I can't see how it's a good idea at all," he says. "The polish is so tightly adhered to the nail for a long time, and it's full of chemicals. Even putting your hands under that UV light -- why would you want to expose yourself to that?"
However, Marcy Parco, spa director at Haven Spa in New York City, disagrees -- she loves gel manicures. Of course she works in a spa that offers the service (so I'm not going to pretend that her opinion isn't slightly biased), but she makes a good point: "I have naturally thin nails, and I bite them," she says. "Gel manicures have saved my nails because they don't break and I leave them alone." She says that when she removes the gel, her nails actually look better because they've been growing (without her gnawing on them) for two weeks.
If you do go for a gel mani, be sure the technician uses the proper technique to take off the polish. "There are a lot of salons where they file the polish off," says Parco. "That would be far more damaging than the manicure itself. They should use an acetone-based remover and wrap the nails in foil." If you're not sure whether the service will hurt or help your nails, try it once and carefully monitor the effects.
Photo 7/8
You're not moisturizing
I always assumed that slathering hand cream over a manicure was a recipe for chipping. I imagine that it would seep under the polish and make it peel off. However, all the experts told me I was wrong. "If your nails are dry, you need to moisturize -- even when you're wearing polish," says Parco. "It shouldn't affect your manicure at all. If anything, it'll make it last longer." And both Spielfogel and Konarski say you should use cuticle oil at least once a day, every day. "Your cuticles determine the health of your nails, so keep them hydrated," says Konarski.
I was never that into manicures. I know that's a taboo thing to say these days, but I genuinely like the look of bare, clean nails -- and how they match every outfit. When nail art (and manicures in general) started to become wildly popular about two years ago, I was resistant. And it wasn't until earlier this year that I finally caved and started painting my nails regularly. The reason? I felt left out. Other editors were sporting "Hunger Games" flames and ombré effects, and my nails looked sad by comparison.
Once I started wearing polish, I couldn't stop. I felt naked without it. Then, just a few weeks ago while I was doing an at-home mani, I took off the old color and was horrified: My nails didn't even look like my nails. They were dry, brittle, and flaking at the edges.
I'd always been lucky enough to have strong, fast-growing nails, but something had changed -- and the only thing different was my manicure addiction. I immediately put away the polish and rubbed some CND SolarOil, $7.99, into my nails. I haven't gotten another manicure since; after three weeks of no polish, my nails are just beginning to look healthy again.
While I may have fixed the problem, I'm not willing to give up manicures forever. (There are so many great summer colors to try!) Besides, plenty of people wear nail polish constantly and have perfectly healthy nails. So I set out to determine what they're doing right and I'm doing wrong. I talked to a spa director, a manicurist, and a doctor, and I learned the biggest manicure mistakes (I was making most of them) -- as well as how to wear nail polish without completely destroying your nails. If you're a manicure addict too, keep reading.
