5 Things You Didn't Realize Were Damaging Your Nails

With so many chic manicure styles to experiment with, it's only natural that you want to grow your nails as strong as possible. Regardless of whether you go for a longer style or a shorter and neater one (and there are plenty of benefits that come with having short nails), healthy nails are the key to a great-looking manicure. In an exclusive chat with Glam, Dr. Ellen Marmur, board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare, revealed that there are a few common mistakes many of us make that unwittingly damage and get in the way of our healthy-nail dreams. 

Bad habits, like using your nails to achieve everyday tasks, can lead to unhealthy nails that split and break before you can even dream of getting to the salon for a manicure. Aside from the aesthetic consequences, nails that are damaged can even be painful. The good news is it's easy to avoid nail damage once you know which errors you may be making. Say goodbye to picking at your cuticles and ripping off your nail polish! And the even better news, Dr. Marmur assures us, is that all is not lost if you're guilty of a few bad habits and have ended up with some damage. "MMSkincare's Dry Skin Savior is formulated with rich creams and low-potency urea to soften and moisturize the nails and cuticles," she explains, adding that this product is "a definite savior for nail damage." Otherwise, you can look at a treatment oil for weak or damaged nails, like the Nail Tek Nail Nutritionist Keratin Nail Treatment. Overall, damage is reversible in many cases, but the best course of action is always prevention by avoiding the following nail mistakes.

It probably comes as no surprise that picking your nails isn't great for them. "Picking at your cuticles results in damage to your nail bed, and it could potentially cause an infection," Dr. Ellen Marmur warns Glam in an exclusive chat. "Nail pickers cause a dermatologic condition called habit-tic deformity. It can be embarrassing for some people because it reveals anxiety." While Dr. Marmur acknowledges that many people love picking their cuticles as a form of stress-release, this habit doesn't do you any favors. 

For those who use picking as a way to deal with stress, it's definitely worth seeking out healthier forms of stress-relief. For example, facial massages may help reduce stress, as can gently pulling at your earlobes. When done properly, these exercises won't lead to harmful consequences the way cuticle-picking can. More severe forms of nail picking can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy or social support, such as group therapy. If cuticle picking gets out of hand or the emotions behind it become too much to deal with, it's always best to consult a health professional who can give you tailored advice and provide one-on-one help.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

The fun police are here, and we're coming for your super-long nails. Yes, we know that maximalist nail styles, which are usually ultra-long, are the ultimate statement-makers. And we know that everything is more fun when you're rocking lengthy talons and click-clacking your way through life. But, unfortunately, the truth is that super-long nails are neither practical nor great for your nail health in the long run. There are tips and tricks you can follow to make your life easier if you're a long-nail fan, such as keeping a pair of tweezers nearby, but this doesn't change the fact that you're more likely to damage your nails when you let them grow long. 

"As great as nails look when they are long, longer nails are more susceptible to breaking due to the amount of wear and tear our hands go through on a day-to-day basis, which could damage your nails in the long run," Dr. Ellen Marmur confirms exclusively to Glam. If nail health is your goal, it's best to leave long claws for one-off occasions and keep your regular manicure a little more tame.  And there's no need to fret; finding short nail designs for your next manicure is easy-peasy. "Square tip shapes are more prone to easy damage so I recommend rounded shapes," Dr. Marmur suggests to us. Plus, we're not talking about long press-ons here; we're only talking about growing your natural nails out long. By all means, enjoy long press-ons to your heart's content.

Picking at your cuticles isn't the only unhealthy habit you should watch out for; scraping at your nail polish can be just as damaging. Dr. Ellen Marmur tells Glam exclusively that the damage is particularly bad if you're picking off a stronger gel manicure than regular nail polish, but any nail polish needs to be removed properly. "I would advise getting your gel manicure removed by a nail technician rather than picking it off yourself, as this will avoid damage to your nails," Dr. Marmur explains. However, you'll also want to set high standards for this process, as proper removal techniques carried out by the wrong person can be just as damaging as picking off your polish, particularly when they involve powerful new technology that buffs away your old manicure with force. "Be prepared to stop an inexperienced technician and ask for the manager to use this device if you have any pain or concerns," Dr. Marmur says. 

Regular nail polish can be removed at home with nail polish remover, but if you don't have any on hand, there are other tricks to try. If you're removing acrylics and can't get to the salon, using acetone is imperative. The strong acetone will melt away the acrylic so it can be safely removed without having to rip it off, protecting your nails in the process.

As much as we love trying out every new manicure under the sun, healthy nails require regular breaks from all that polish. This is especially true if your go-to manicure involves something stronger than regular nail polish, such as gel, dip powder, or acrylic. "Constantly wearing nail polish can dry out and chemically destroy your nails, which in turn makes your nails yellow, moth-eaten looking, and brittle," Dr. Ellen Marmur explains exclusively to Glam. "In the long run, this could make your nails more easily prone to damage."

You don't have to give up your beloved manicures completely, but try to schedule regular breaks so your nails can recover. If you use regular polish, give it a rest every three weeks to a month for about a week or so. When it comes to gel and acrylic manicures, it's a good idea to give your nails a break as soon as you notice any signs of damage, such as peeling, splits, and dry cuticles. Ideally, you should let the nails grow out completely before returning to the salon. An effective way of doing this might be saving your regular manicures for the busier portions of your year, which may be the summer wedding season or the festive holidays when you have lots of social events, and take a break in the shoulder seasons in between.

One of the most common bad habits that can seriously damage your nails is using them as tools to help you with daily tasks. Need to open a soda can? Pick up a coin from your desk? Unclip your necklace hook? We get it: Using your nails is often the easiest option. But it's not the best for preventing damage. As Dr. Ellen Marmur says, we already "do so much with our hands on a daily basis." It's best to minimize using your nails for those tasks that require pressure, as that could lead to breakage and weakening. Actions that you don't even notice you're doing can contribute to damage, too, such as "typing on your computer with too much force," as explained by Dr. Marmur. So, it's important to really sit back and observe how you're using your nails throughout the day. 

For those who prefer long nails, it's often a good idea to avoid tricky tasks altogether, as your nails are already prone to damage. "If you have longer nails, I would recommend asking a friend with shorter nails to open your soda can for you in order to avoid the chance of damaging your nails," Dr. Marmur advises Glam in our exclusive conversation. If you don't have a friend or an other human helper on hand, look for creative alternatives such as tweezers, pliers, credit cards, and car keys to help complete everyday tasks like swiping your credit card and opening cans. And, of course, don't forget that your trusty knuckles are there to help with pressing buttons. Taking the time to find a safer substitute is always preferable to putting your nails in harm's way.