10 Ways You're Ruining Your Nails10 Ways Youre Ruining Your Nails

Taking good care of your nails can prevent a lot of problems, from changes in color to brittleness, which is why it’s important to avoid a few bad nail habits, particularly if you keep them covered with polish or acrylics most of the time.

Find out which bad ideas to avoid when it comes to your nails, so you can make sure they’ll stay healthy and look great, even without any polish. From skipping important steps in the manicure process to getting rough when you file them or remove polish or fake nails, here are the habits that can threaten your nails.

1. Skipping the Base Coat

Even if you’re going for a subtle shade, the base coat is very important to the end result. It doesn’t just protect your nails from staining, it can also help the polish adhere better to your nails. If you skip it, you risk yellowing your nails, and you’ll notice chips and other issues with the polish sooner.

2. Not Cleaning Your Nails Before Polish

If you start painting your nails right after you’ve moisturized your hands with lotion, you’re making a big mistake. It’s one of the bad nail habits that will also effect the time your manicure looks flawless, because any moisturizer or lotion acts as a barrier between your nails and polish, base coats and other nail products. Use a little nail polish remover to make sure they’re completely oil free before applying any polish or coat.

3. Skipping the Top Coat