The Ultimate Nail Guide

The jewels of the hands, our nails are one of the first things people notice about us, so it’s important we take good care of them by keeping them polished and in good shape. As we use our hands everyday, our nails can be seceptable to damage, wear and tear, making regular, professional care a must. 

Nail technicians do much more than apply a layer of polish, they can assess your nail’s health regularly and treat any potential issues before they become a problem through manicures and pedicures. Here at RM-UK, we’ve put together a guide covering all your nail care queries so you can maintain healthy, glowing nails.

How to get healthy nails

How to strengthen nails

Weak nails will easily crack, tear and break so it’s essential you know how to make your nails stronger.

1/ Cuticle oil

Cuticle oils are often composed of natural ingredients and need to be brushed over your whole nail once or twice a day. This ensures your nail bed remains hydrated, keeping your nails resilient and strong.

2/ Omega fatty acids

Omega-3 is a natural nail strengthener as it promotes strength and cares for cells in the nail bed. 

Eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, cereals and vegetable oils are all great ways to increase your intake. Alternatively you can purchase particular supplements including those for healthy hair, skin and nails.

3/ Biotin

Biotin is an essential B vitamin that helps improve the thickness and hardness of the nail. You can increase these levels of biotin again through eggs, fish, seeds and nuts, or you can opt for supplements such as Solgar Biotin Vegi Capsules.

4/ Protein

To strengthen weak or fragile nails you need to increase your intake of a protein called keratin. This keratin forms the cells of your nails beneath the skin before it grows out into the open.

Foods such as eggs, onion, sunflower seeds and salmon are all fabulous for boosting your keratin production naturally.

5/ Hydration

Like with most things, hydration is key. Drinking plenty of water allows your nails to retain their moisture and prevents them becoming brittle or dry.

6/ Moisturising

Moisturising the skin surrounding your nails supports and nourishes the nail to reduce the chances of your nails becoming brittle, ridged or peeling.

How to make your nails grow faster

1/ Apply coconut oil

Coconut oil nourishes nails to help them grow faster. Due to it’s high fat content it forms a protective layer which helps seal in moisture and in turn stimulates better nail development.

Simply warm some extra virgin coconut oil in a bowl and massage the oil into your fingers using circular motions.

2/ Soak in orange juice

Orange juice is packed full of folic acid and vitamin C which will not only help strengthen the nails but promote faster nail growth. Vitamin C is known to increase collagen formation, while the folic acid which stimulates cell generation which speeds up nail growth.

Squeeze the juice from an orange into a dish and soak for 10 minutes. Wash your hands and apply moisturiser. 

3/ Massage in olive oil 

Olive oil contains vitamin E which significantly improves blood circulation and promotes faster nail growth. 

Warm some olive oil and gently massage it into your cuticles and nails for 5 minutes. Put on some lightweight gloves and leave overnight as a treatment. This will nourish and hydrate the nails to keep them healthy and attractive.

4/ Exfoliate your nails

Just like your skin, your nails accumulate dead cells around the cuticles and need to be exfoliated. For a gentle exfoliation you can rub a light sugar scrub around your nails to loosen and remove dead skin. 

Be sure to wash away any debris and residue then follow with a rich moisturiser.

5/ Trim your nails regularly

A bit like your hair, your nails grow with a healthy shine when you trim them regularly. Keeping your nails trim will prevent breakage or splitting. Should you see a breakage forming, try to file out the uneven regions before the snap occurs.

How to repair split nails

A split nail is not only inconvenient but can be extremely painful too. Here are our at home remedy for repairing in an emergency:



1. Remove any nail polish from your nails using a cotton pad. Be sure to move in the direction of the split to not damage the nail further.
2. Take a tea bag, cut the top and empty the contents into the bin. 
3. Now you have the teabag paper, cut to fit your nail (Ensure the sides of the cut teabag reach the sides of your nail, don’t worry it’s hanging over the free edge though, you can remove this later). 
4. Apply a clear base coat of clear nail polish which will act like a glue to hold the teabag in place. 
5. When the base coat is still wet apply the teabag paper to your nail and gently smooth it out with your finger or cuticle stick ensuring there are no air bubbles.
6. Allow the polish to dry for 5 minutes. 
7. Once dry carefully cut any remaining tea bag hanging off your nail.
8. Now secure, apply another layer of clear polish and leave to dry for 5-10 minutes.
9. File away any access paper particles on the edge of your nail.
10. Apply another layer of clear polish swiping along the free edge of your nail to prevent any lifting and leave to dry for a further 10 minutes.
11. Apply a coloured polish of your choice.

How to stop nails from peeling

How to keep nail polish from peeling off

If you don’t have your nails manicured or pedicured by a professional, you may experience your nail polish peeling off in a few days. If you’re going to risk manicuring at home, here are a few top tips to help you:



• Buff your nails before applying. 
• Apply a base coat.
• Apply nail polish to the middle of the nail first, then move to the sides.
• Apply several thin layers rather than one thick layer.
• Don’t shake your bottle before use (this causes bubbles).
• Don’t touch your cuticle with polish.
• Wait a few minutes between coats. 
• Always apply a clear topcoat.

How to prevent damaged nails

Damaged nails? We’re not about them here at RM-UK. Follow our simple rules below to heal breaking and flaking, flimsy nails.

You don’t need to avoid gel nails 

(Louder for those at the back) 

You may have heard the myth about gels damaging your nails, well we are here to squash these rumours once and for all. Nails really grow when they have an extra added gel layer of strength. People think gel ruins their nails when in fact it’s more because they’ve picked it off or removed it improperly which has caused trauma to their nail plate. A gel polished applied, maintained and removed properly can work wonders for your nails. 

Our customers love gel nails because they have that toughness that prevents chipping and peeling. They also find them a more natural and less rigid alternative to full acrylic nails.

Do not peel your polish

We know how tempting it can be to pick at lifting gel polish but please don’t. By doing so you are lifting the top layers of the nail plate leaving brittle, thin natural nails underneath. 

Leave cuticle cutting to the pros

Unless you’re super advanced in nail care please don’t try to cut your own cuticles. Book in at a salon who can do this properly for you. Your cuticles play a big part in stopping bacteria getting into your body so cutting them improperly could lead to infections. 

Seek professional help

If your nails are flaky, dry and brittle then it’s always worth visiting a salon where you can get advice and a little TLC from professionals.

Our manicures include filing nails, cuticle soak and trim, hand and arm massage and a nail polish in a colour of your choice. 

Looking for some extra indulgence? Our top-of-the-range manicure is our Aveda Manicure which, along with the usual contents of our manicure, also includes exfoliation and a mask.

Our pedicures consist of filing of the toe nails, cut back of the cuticles, foot scrub, massage of the lower leg and feet and then a choice of colour applied.

Uplift the look and health of your nails by booking a manicure, pedicure or gels at our nail salon in Leeds today!

0113 243 6842      |      info@rm-uk.com      |     57 Great George St, Leeds, LS1 3BB