Tidy up your digits with these nail care tips!
You know that scene in Legally Blonde when Elle Woods’ only antidote for traitorous heartbreak was to sob her way into a neighbourhood nail salon? Same. As a life-long nail-biter – and that’d come as a surprise to anyone that’s met me as the manicured-like-clockwork person I am now – it’s an expensive vanity, sure, but paying hard-earned money for plastic to be fused onto my nailbeds have been, to date, the only way I’ve been able to stop myself from snacking on my fingers. So, let’s call it a necessary expense.
Point is, I’ve spent a considerable portion of my life thinking about my nails, my fingers, and my hands. (And with a marketing day-job that requires an on-call set of hands for ad-hoc photoshoots, I’ll keep trying to claim it as a monthly expense. It hasn’t worked yet.) If you’ve doom-scrolled your way into this article, hello! Is that a hangnail? We can fix that.
Get your digits looking fine with these nail care tips
Nail care step #1: Cute cuticles
Ask anyone in my office: I keep a thing of Rooar’s Vita-Renew cuticle oil at my desk. I like that it fits into my pen holder, and I like that it applies with a can’t-mess-it-up brush tip. With its unique blend of vegan, cruelty-free, organic essential oils, including the healing combination of myrrh and grapeseed, it’s a must-have to keep within reach at all times. And, if not for super hydrated cuticles, it’s a great midday activity to keep your hands occupied in-between emails.
Alternatively and rather luxuriously, I also like Hermes’ nourishing oil. It’s certainly bougie – it was a gift! – but it is dual-purpose as both a nail strengthener and a cuticle oil, so it’s really a two-in-one. Girl math. And it applies like a nail polish, which I find fun to use.
Nail care step #2: Cream of the crop
You, hopefully, moisturise day and night. As soon as you get out of the shower, and as soon as you wake up. Why should your hands and fingers be any different? I keep a tube of Aesop’s Eleos Aromatique Hand Balm in my purse, primarily for its intensely hydrating, softening, greaseless formula but also for its scent. (Fun fact: I can’t smell, but I like perfumed products purely as training exercises in, perhaps, one day getting my sense of smell back. I think I’m getting there!)
And, OK, I’ll be honest. I like that it’s in an Olivia Rodigro shade of lilac. So, sue me. Why shouldn’t you match your handbag’s hand cream to whatever you’re wearing? When a more neutral candidate is needed, Laura Mercier’s Ambre Vanille Souffle is set in a classic white tube, and is beautifully nourishing and really sinks into your skin. And, if it’s a Labubu-sized purse pal you’re after? Get the Tamburins hand cream gift sets, and keep both shell-shaped minis all for yourself.
Nail care step #3: You better be UV-ing
Admittedly, I often rely on the last remnants of sunscreen I’ve been smearing all over my face for the square footage of skin on the backs of my hands and, admittedly, I should do better. Do as I say, not as I do! In a genius move of marketing, Supergoop! made SPF 40 sunscreen for your hands – it’s called Handscreen, naturally – but the best sunscreen for your hands is the sunscreen you’ll remember to use. So, whether it’s an extra squeeze of Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun just for your fingers, or a healthy dab of Round Lab’s Birch Juice sunscreen, that’ll do it. Get to slathering.
And, bonus points if you bring along with you to your gel-nail appointments a pair of fingerless UV gloves. I feel especially ladylike when I have mine but, again, I forget more often than I remember. Do as I say!
Nail care step #4: Do bite (vitamins for) you nails
I’m Switzerland when it comes to the Kardashians and their empires of Things To Buy. I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to recommend this. But, for all intents and purposes, and if all Biotin is made equal, I’d always go for a chewable gummy over anything that must be swigged and swallowed. And, if I’m to be dosed with a serving a day, it’d best taste really good. Kourtney’s Lemme Glow is a gummy, check; tastes like summer peaches, check; and, well, that packaging is no slouch on my kitchen counter, either, check. It’s a goody.
Nail care step #5: Add oil
If you’re someone that enjoys going the extra mile – and if you, like me, are prone to bone-dry skin – you really should be sealing in your moisturiser with oil. In a perfect nighttime routine, I’d take my time following my post-shower full-body, every-nook-and-cranny schmear with a layer of Rooar’s massage oil. It’s pure self-care, soothingly infused with rosehip, apricot, and evening primrose oils that’d feel as indulgent on the tops of your calves as it will at the tips of your fingers. But if it’s one of those evenings where just a quick body shower is all you can commit to? I’d even skip the moisturising and go straight for quick all-over spritzes of Glossier’s Body Hero dry-touch oil mist that’ll see you meaningfully moisturised in, say, 10 seconds, flat.
Best nails achieved, onto some nail inspo!
And, just in case you’re kind of nosy and wanted to see what I’ve collected in my “Next-up Nails” saved folder on Instagram, here are my top three designs that I want painted and cured this summer…
Nail art #1: Polka dots
Trypophobics, look away. But between you, me, and Dua Lipa, it’s all-in on polka dots this summer and I especially like the simplicity of this set from Tinted. Or, take a page out of Ms Lipa’s book and make yours a dotty black Frenchie.
Nail art #2: Sunset on the beach
Imagine yourself with this super sweet set, complete with seashells and sunset-coloured flowers and little baby pearls by Sugar Nail. You’re warm and tanned and glowy, clutching a fresh coconut in Bali. Your OOO email signature is on and if someone needs something from you, they don’t. There’s nothing to do but to order your next Grab to a third coffee shop of the day. You might fire up ClassPass and see if there’s a reformer pilates class nearby; why not? Anything’s possible on vacation, in these nails.
Nail art #3: Floral leopard spots
There’s just something about the leopard spots with the turquoise hibiscus combination that screams noughties Roxy bikini. Kitschy, in the best way possible. And Chi Nailed does it just the way I like.
Want more beauty tips? DM @honeycombershk on Instagram or drop us an email at hong.kong@thehoneycombers.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can these tips help someone break the habit of nail-biting?
Investing in and focusing on nail care is an effective way to break the habit. By keeping your nails and cuticles well-hydrated with oils and balms, and by having professional gel manicures, you are more likely to be mindful of your hands and avoid biting. The regular application of products also keeps your hands occupied and provides a healthy alternative to the habit.
Where can I buy these products in Hong Kong?
Many of the brands mentioned are available at various retailers in Hong Kong. Luxury items like Hermes and Laura Mercier can be found at department stores and brand boutiques. Other popular brands like Aesop and Supergoop! are available at their respective standalone stores or through beauty retailers and online shops. Smaller, local brands like Rooar can often be found online or through pop-ups.
Are UV gloves necessary for gel appointments and where can I find them?
UV gloves are a smart way to protect the skin on your hands from the UV light used to cure gel nails. While not every appointment requires them, they are a good habit for long-term skin health. They can typically be purchased online from beauty supply stores or larger retail websites.
