Different people have different beliefs when it comes to taking care of their nails. This is especially true for women who are obsessed with making their nails look beautiful. They have a lot of different myths and misconceptions about nail care that sometimes, it often results in them damaging their nails instead of taking care of them.

One practice that is often practiced but will not do your nails much good is the application of nail polish with hardener. Hardeners will only make you nails stiffer and easier to break. This is why it might be a better idea to use normal nail polish to give protection to your nails.

The best way to keep nails strong is by moisturizing them, especially after using nail polish removers. This makes sure that your nails stay hydrated. Hydrated nails are much more resistant to damage than stiff or dry ones. This is why it is always a good idea to use hand lotion whenever your nails become exposed to drying agents such as soap.

Cuticles are also one part of the nails which are often removed or pushed back. A lot of people believe that this will help their nails grow better. Contrary to this, cuticles help protect your nail bed, thus removing this will expose you to risks such as infection. In addition to this, instead of helping your nails grow better, it will actually do the opposite.

For those with already broken nails, the use of artificial nails to cover them up has been practiced by a lot of people. Unfortunately, the chemicals used in making the artificial nails stick can have potentially damaging effects to your nails. The space in between your nails is also a great place where bacteria and fungi may thrive. It might be better to just let your nails grow without the use of artificial nails.

In line with this, you should remember that nails grow very slowly so it is not very easy to just wait for your nails to grow. Infected and damaged nails will take weeks to months for them to regenerate as they grow as slow as 0.1mm a day. Preventing problems from occurring is always better than waiting for your nails to grow back.

Going to nail salons to have nails done is also a relaxing pastime for most women. One thing that you should consider when going to such establishments is their policy on cleanliness. Nail salons should practice proper hygiene and cleanliness so as to avoid transfer of infections from one customer to another. Salons that use gels and creams on their customers are a safe choice as this greatly reduces the risk of getting an infection due to indirect transmission.

Nail care is not that simple once you consider all of these common misconceptions that people do. Before you do anything with your nails, be sure to know what you are doing and verify if it can really help in making your nails look and grow better. You may ask your dermatologist for help if you are not sure with your current nail care practices.