- 1). Massage your nails and cuticles with a moisturizer twice a day, as part of your regular beauty routine. Use a hand cream or an over-the-counter moisturizer formulated especially for nails.
- 2). Reapply moisturizer after washing your hands or getting your hands wet.
- 3). Use gloves when handling chemicals -- such as household detergents -- that may having a drying effect on your nails.
- 4). Use acetone-based nail polish remover no more than once a week, or switch to an acetone-free product.
- 5). Apply moisturizer to the nail bed, cuticles and surrounding skin of each nail at bedtime. Cover your hands with cotton gloves to enhance the hydrating effects of the moisturizer overnight.
- 1). Soak your clean fingertips in a bowl of warm water for up to three minutes.
- 2). Massage an over-the-counter cuticle remover product into the cuticles, as per the manufacturer's instructions.
- 3). Gently push back the moist translucent cuticle skin of each nail using an orange stick, being careful not to apply excessive pressure that could damage the nail bed.
- 4). Move the orange stick in small circles at the base of each nail to remove any remaining translucent cuticle skin.
- 5). Massage a cuticle cream containing alpha-hydroxy acids into the base of each nail to moisturize and smooth the surface.