Nail Care Tips: Stop Peeling Nails And Regain Confidence

If you want to stop your fingernails from peeling, you should keep them short and trim them regularly. File your nails into a rounded shape to prevent them from snagging and massage a moisturizing oil into your nails and cuticles every day. Don't peel or chip nail polish as this is really hard on your nails and the act of peeling or chipping often strips away a layer of nail.

Keep nails short to help them heal

Keeping your nails short is a great way to help them heal. After you shower, use a pair of nail clippers to trim your nails so that their edges are about even with the tips of your fingers. Repeat this once per week until your nails have stopped peeling. Your nails will be softer after you take a hot shower or bath, making it the best time to clip them to keep them from breaking more. Use a fine grit nail file to create a smooth surface on your nail. If you also want to reduce the length of your nails, use a rougher grit to file down your nail before smoothing it out with a fine grit nail file. Massage a moisturizing oil into your nails and cuticles every day.

File nails into a rounded shape

File your nails into a rounded shape to keep them from snagging. Position a nail file so that it's parallel to the side of your nail, and then move the file from the side toward the center. From the center, move the file down across the opposite side. Always file in the same direction (don't saw back and forth—that increases the chances of your nails breaking or peeling more). Keep filing until you've shaped your nail into a round shape, rather than square. Always file your nails after cutting them to get rid of any rough edges.

Massage oil into nails and cuticles

Massage a moisturizing oil into your nails and cuticles every day.

Keep your nails short for a few weeks. After you shower, use a pair of nail clippers to trim your nails so that their edges are about even with the tips of your fingers. Repeat this once per week until your nails have stopped peeling.

Use a fine grit nail file to create a smooth surface on your nail. If you also want to reduce the length of your nails, use a rougher grit to file down your nail before smoothing it out with a fine grit nail file. Always file your nails after cutting them to get rid of any rough edges.

Don't peel or chip nail polish. Doing so is really hard on your nails, and the act of peeling or chipping often strips away a layer of nail. Use cotton balls or swabs to apply the nail polish remover. Rub each nail gently until the polish comes off. If you currently have a gel or shellac manicure, you'll need to use acetone-based remover to get the polish off this time. Always follow up with a moisturizer after you remove nail polish. Even an acetone-free nail polish remover can dry out your nails.

Trim your nails after showering to prevent them from splitting.

Trim nails after showering

Trim your nails after showering to prevent them from splitting. After you shower, use a pair of nail clippers to trim your nails so that their edges are about even with the tips of your fingers. Repeat this once per week until your nails have stopped peeling. Your nails will be softer after you take a hot shower or bath, making it the best time to clip them to keep them from breaking more. After trimming, file your nails into a rounded shape to keep them from snagging. Position a nail file so that it's parallel to the side of your nail, and then move the file from the side toward the center. From the center, move the file down across the opposite side. Always file in the same direction (don't saw back and forth—that increases the chances of your nails breaking or peeling more). Keep filing until you've shaped your nail into a round shape, rather than square. Always file your nails after cutting them to get rid of any rough edges.

Don't peel or chip nail polish

Resist chipping or peeling away your nail polish. When you do wear nail polish, don't peel or chip at old polish. Even if you notice it has started flaking off, resist the temptation to pull it away. This often peels off a layer of your nail as well as the polish. Instead, use an acetone-free remover to gently rub away old nail polish.

Use cotton balls or swabs to apply the nail polish remover. Rub each nail gently until the polish comes off. If you currently have a gel or shellac manicure, you'll need to use acetone-based remover to get the polish off this time. Always follow up with a moisturizer after you remove nail polish. Even an acetone-free nail polish remover can dry out your nails.

Trim your nails after showering to prevent them from splitting. Keep your nails short for a few weeks to help them heal. After you shower, use a pair of nail clippers to trim your nails so that their edges are about even with the tips of your fingers. Repeat this once per week until your nails have stopped peeling. Your nails will be softer after you take a hot shower or bath, making it the best time to clip them to keep them from breaking more.

File your nails into a rounded shape to keep them from snagging. Position a nail file so that it's parallel to the side of your nail, and then move the file from the side toward the center. From the center, move the file down across the opposite side. Always file in the same direction (don't saw back and forth—that increases the chances of your nails breaking or peeling more). Keep filing until you've shaped your nail into a round shape, rather than square. Always file your nails after cutting them to get rid of any rough edges.

Use a fine grit nail file to create a smooth surface on your nail. If you also want to reduce the length of your nails, use a rougher grit to file down your nail before smoothing it out with a fine grit nail file. Massage a moisturizing oil into your nails and cuticles every day.

Frequently asked questions