Keeping your cuticles nourished and hydrated means they look good, feel good, and behave better at the salon when you go in for your mani. "When a guest has unhealthy or dry cuticles, the cuticles tend to stick tightly to the nail plate. In this situation, I have to use more force than is healthy for the nail to make it appear smooth around the cuticle line," says Jennifer Delgado, a regional master artist for PROSE salons. "This product has a major impact on the health of the cuticle which in turn, makes my job as a professional artist easier." She says to apply the product twice daily before bed, which allows the product to soak in all night without being washed or rubbed off.
CND is one of the OG nail product companies out there, and they've always focused explicitly on nail health in addition to high quality products. "The CND Vinylux Weekly Polish dries quickly and wears amazingly. It's the longest-lasting regular natural nail polish I have ever used," says Delgado. "There's no base coat needed. You just need to apply two thin layers of your favorite polish and then finish with the Vinylux as a topcoat. I also recommend applying a cuticle oil regularly to keep the nail flexible and to extend the wearability even longer."
Hanna may be partial to her own product, but this one deserves rave review regardless. It's formulated with hydrating jojoba and hempseed oils, as well as lavender and geranium essential oils, which can help stimulate nail growth and health. Hanna says, "Simply roll onto cuticles a few times a day or anytime you feel the urge to bite or pick. It's a great addition to your morning and evening beauty routine. Also, the amethyst rollerball can help prevent biting and picking, which is a common culprit to damaged nails."
"This is a nail and cuticle conditioning treatment that penetrates deeply and quickly, which helps soften cuticles and promotes strong, flexible, natural nails and nail enhancements," says NYC-based editorial nail artist, Linh Trinh. "The formulation is a natural blend of jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and vitamin E to create a light, penetrating oil with antioxidant agents."
Peeling nails are the woooorst (insert Jean Ralfio meme here), but there are definitely ways to curb the issue. Hanna says that Orly's Nailtrition is one of her favorite products for this very issue and adds that the price point makes it accessible to all. "Apply the product once a day for seven days straight without removing it. On the seventh day you remove it with nail polish remover, and then repeat for seven more days."
