The Dreadful Hangnail: Prevent and Fix Them

I'm sure that most of us love testing out new nail polishes and almost all of us has a habit of biting and picking our cuticles (me included) so here are a few tips on how to prevent or get rid of hangnails if and when they occur.

But first, what are hangnails? Hangnails are usually dried skin that occur on the side of the nails but they can also come from the actual nail plate that are caused by the picking and biting of the nails. But why are hangnails so damn painful? If the hangnail is still attached to the live skin or nail bed then may the good lord be with you and the pain you are about to feel (lol)

So how do we treat a hangnail? Apply vitamin E oil to the area where the hangnail is immediately after you start feeling pain and reapply several times a day to keep the area hydrated. The oil absorbs into it very quickly and can also help in the healing process. Trim the hangnail with a cuticle scissors or a nipper once it is softened and please for the love of God DO NOT PICK IT (I learnt the hard way).

Lastly, to prevent a hangnail try to avoid biting your nails or skin and get into the habit moisturizing your cuticles daily with an oil like olive oil or cuticle oil. It will keep it from getting dry or brittle and will also keep the nail matrix hydrated which is where your nail plate grows from. Also, when polishing your nails always remove any polish that gets on your skin. Nail polishes, including base and top coat, is drying to the skin.