Healthy nails are smooth, firm and slightly pink. With a few simple habits — gentle cleaning, careful trimming, regular moisturising and good nutrition — you can keep yours strong and tidy.

Clean Your Nails

Soak your fingertips in warm, lightly soapy water for a few minutes to soften debris. Use a clean, soft nail brush to scrub the tops, sides and free edge in gentle circles, paying attention to the corners. Rinse and dry thoroughly, since dampness encourages fungus.

Trim and Shape Safely

Use clean, sharp clippers or scissors and a fine-grit file. Soften nails first in warm water, then take small cuts that follow the natural curve of the fingertip. Avoid rounding the corners too deeply, which invites ingrown nails, and leave a little white edge as a protective barrier. Smooth rough edges with light file strokes.

Care for Your Cuticles

Cuticles seal the gap between skin and nail, keeping out bacteria and protecting the nail matrix where growth begins. Rather than cutting them, soften after a shower and gently push them back with an orangewood stick. Apply hand cream or cuticle oil daily, and wear gloves when using harsh cleaners to prevent dryness.

Feed Your Nails from Within

Nails need nutrients to grow well. Protein supplies the building blocks; biotin supports strength and growth; vitamin E, an antioxidant, helps protect them; and iron and vitamin B12 keep the nail bed nourished. A varied diet of eggs, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, beans and lean protein covers most of these.

When to See a Doctor

Occasional ridges or marks are normal, but lasting changes in colour, shape or growth — or nails separating from the bed, pain or swelling — are worth checking. A dermatologist can identify any underlying cause; early attention helps prevent complications.