How to Properly Cut and Clean Nails To Fight Against Germs
How to Properly Cut and Clean Nails To Fight Against Germs
With the COVID-19 pandemic dominating the news cycle, we’re all taking extra sanitation precautions — not only for our own health and safety, but for others we come into contact with, too. According to the Center for Disease Control, the novel coronavirus can be spread from person to person through droplets in the air, skin-to-skin contact, or through bacteria picked up by our fingers.
Now that nonessential businesses like hairdressers and nail salons have closed down because of the coronavirus, many beauty buffs are struggling with upkeep during lockdown without the help of professionals. One of the most popular Google topics during this period of quarantine has been “how to take off acrylics,” a service we can no longer take for granted.
The undersides of our nails can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so it’s important to abide by healthy manicure practices — always, but especially right now. That means washing your nails, thoroughly sanitizing under and around them, and keeping them away from your mouth (i.e. no biting). Ahead, a few nail pros give their three simple recommendations for maintaining optimum nail health in the time of coronavirus.
Social distancing and government mandates require virtually all Americans to stay home and close business. And as countless businesses and newly unemployed workers face the unknown, the beauty industry is taking a hit. But just because your favorite salons are closed at the moment, that doesn’t mean you have to let your own personal care fall by the wayside.
The heightened stress and anxiety that comes with this global outbreak is enough to send any former nail biter right back into the bad habit — but it may be putting you at greater risk for contracting the virus. If we’re abiding by the CDC’s steps to prevent exposure, we know to avoid touching our eyes, nose, and mouth with our hands. Not only does biting your nails mean you’re ignoring that measure altogether, it also means you’re essentially eating the bacteria that could be festering under between your nail bed and your nail. That’s problematic for a whole host of health reasons, including (but definitely not limited to) COVID-19.