Best way to avoid hangnails?

Question

I have finally stopped biting my nails after many years of trying, but I still get hangnails, especially on my thumbs. What can I do to prevent this?

Answer 1

Get a nice cuticle conditioner. I like Burts Bee's. Use it every night before you go to bed and you will see a remarkable difference.

Answer 2

By stopping biting your nails, u already did half of the job. Nice hands r very attractive, but u need lots of time and care to keep them beautiful, silky and soft.

Dryness is the cause of hangnails. So be sure u apply nutritive oils every week. u probably use hand cream, that is good for skin, but the hangnails need special attention. Apply it a few times a day to keep the hangnails hydrated and prevent peeling.

Cuticles form easily if u don't watch out regularly. Especially now, when winter is coming. U will need special care(strong masks and more frequent treatments, if u can afford them of course). U should get a good cuticle softener. If u don't know a good brand or aren't familiar with that kind of things(I mean those kinds of products), or haven't used them before, consult your beautician. Some look like a pen, and r very practical because of their minimalistic design. Others look like nail-polish. It's up to u to choose which one u would like to use.

When cuticles start to form, cut them off. Watch out, cut them from the root, if u cut somewhere in the middle it might look untidy, and u will have even more trouble handling them later.
Just trim when needed.

Hope I helped!

Answer 3

Hangnails are usually the result of dryness (and neglect) of the cuticles. Try these tips: After washing your hands, gently push back the cuticles with a towel. Then treat each cuticle with an emolient cuticle cream, which you can buy wherever nail products are sold. Use the cuticle cream each night before you go to bed, massaging each one gently with the cream, as well as after handwashing. If you do get a hangnail, clip it off with a nail clipper, but don't go too far down on the skin around the nail. Finally, when you do housekeeping chores, you might find that rubber gloves will protect your hands and your cuticles from further damage. Good luck!

Answer 4

Congrats on stopping your nailbiting! Now let's get to the care and prevention of your hangnails!

To help PREVENT hangnails:

1. Keep your hands clean and well moisturized. Especially in the winter months, use an oil-based lotion or creme (like Burt's Bees - ResQ Ointment) and focus on massaging it into your fingertips and cuticle area.

2. Keep a nail file with you. File the edges of your nails to help keep the edges (which can get caught) smooth.

3. Eat well. Improper diet can lead to a number of stress-related issues like hangnails. By making sure that you are consuming foods with vitamins and nutients such as EFA's (Essential Fatty Acids) your hair, skin and nails will look and feel MUCH better. Your nails can give you clues to your health....so much so that this should be the "Number 1" on this list!

Answer 5

Clip your present hangnails even with the skin. Then NEVER use cuticle clippers again. Don't file your nails lower than finger tips--damages skin and creates hangnails.
Keep your hands moisturized; use one with lots of plain aloe at bedtime. In NO time, your problem will be gone.
Don't bite, tear, or clip off hangnails again--because you won't have them. Hold a pencil in your hand while watching TV, etc. to avoid picking at your thumbs. Pretty Hands will follow!!

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Best way to avoid hangnails?
I have finally stopped biting my nails after many years of trying, but I still get hangnails, especially on my thumbs. What can I do to prevent this?

Answer 7

Most of the answers you have received have good information. But the one from 'Rowee 100' is the best one. But, as to putting band aids or some kind of wrapping on the fingers is not necessary unless they have an open wound. I am a ex-manicurist, not an expert, but I have a lot of experience.
If you have your nails done do not put extras on your nails. Polish and polish remover is the only thing one should use on their nails to beautify them except for the daily care of your hands as explained by Rowee100. Believe me when I tell you that acrylic, gel, and all the others are not good for the nails. If you take good care of your nails and eat properly you will have beautiful nails without the extras. One answer suggested vitamin E. This will help. Also search for good nail protein.
Do not expect instant results. But within a short period of time you will be happy with the results.
I do hope you will take the information seriously.
Rene

Answer 8

Keep your nails trimmed, manicured, and for those pesky hang nails keep the cuticles moistened preferably with a nail oil. And when you get a hangnail, take your nail trimmers or cuticle trimmers and just cut off the dry skin that is sticking up or away from the nail bed. If you use a cuticle cutter, be very careful, since they are very sharp. Good luck, and congrats on quitting the nail biting!

Answer 9

How to prevent hangnails! :--#)
1. Avoid picking at the cuticles. This can be as addictive as nail biting and can contribute to hangnails.

2. Use cuticle oil or cream to keep the skin supple around the nails. Dry cuticles contribute to hangnails.

3. The minute you see a hangnail, snip it off with a pair of nail scissors.

4. Nighttime is the perfect time to baby those cuticles. Even a little lipbalm massaged into the area will work wonders as you sleep.

5. Petroleum jelly is another good moisturizer for your cuticles. The fats in the jelly penetrate the layers of skin while the jelly forms a film preventing air from drying out the skin.

6. Vitamin E oil is another great method of healing hangnails quickly. Keep a supply of vials available at all times.

Answer 10

In order to avoid hangnails, you usually take any finger and where the nail is white, push the skin down. That way you dont get hangnails..If you keep doing that you wont ever have hangnail problems!

Answer 11

Well, when you let your nails grow out, they shouldnt be touching the skin. They should be long enough to have a separation. You can't cut your nails too close to the skin. Of course, if you are picking at your nails, that is just as bad as biting and it will result in a hangnail. If your nail does happen to break, coat it with clear nail polish. DO NOT try to pull it out. You will extend the crack to the root, and when you nail becomes longer, they separated nail will imbed itself in your skin, cause a painful hangnail. For hangnails that cannot be avoided, get a manicure or pedicure at first sign of one. That will help prevent them from getting worse. Then again, some hangnails just simply can not be avoided. I hope this helps, and good luck !