We’ve talked about nail anatomy before but nail care questions come up all the time, so let’s talk about it.
Here are four of the questions I hear most often about caring for your natural nails.
Should you cut your cuticles?
This is one of those nail-care things that gets misunderstood a lot. First, what ARE cuticles?
Your cuticle is the thin layer of dead skin that’s attached to the nail plate near the base of your nail. It helps seal the space between your nail plate and the surrounding skin. You CAN gently remove or push back the cuticle. I use a cuticle remover every month or so and more often, I use a glass cuticle pusher. Good cuticle care is key to a lasting mani.
The skin just behind it is the proximal nail fold. That is living skin, and it helps protect the nail matrix (the part of your nail responsible for producing new nail cells). You don’t want to start cutting that living skin to make your nails look “cleaner.” Cutting or damaging this area can make it easier for bacteria and other germs to get into the surrounding skin and cause an infection.
Should you trim your nails?
Maybe. Keeping them at a manageable length can help prevent breakage and snagging. I prefer to use a glass nail file because I find this gentler on my nails than clippers. If you’re using a file, choose a fine-grit file and file in one direction rather than sawing back and forth, which can contribute to weakening and splitting.
Should you buff your nails?
Not so much.
Your natural nail is made of layers of keratin. When you buff the surface, you’re removing some of those layers.
A little gentle buffing once in a while isn’t a problem, but aggressively buffing your nails to make them perfectly smooth can leave them thinner and weaker. If you’re trying to smooth out ridges, remember that a ridge has a high point and a low point. Filing away the high point means you’re also removing some of the strongest part of the nail. Use a ridge-filling base coat instead.
If your nails are particularly oily and you’re having trouble getting polish, nail strips, or press-ons to adhere, slight buffing may help remove some surface shine.
Do your nails need to breathe?
No! That’s a myth.
Your nails are made primarily of keratin, so your nail plate isn’t sitting there waiting for a little fresh air.
What your nails do need is moisture and protection.
Regularly moisturizing your nails and the skin around them can help keep them flexible and less prone to splitting. And if your hands spend a lot of time in water washing dishes, cleaning, etc., wear gloves. Repeated or prolonged exposure to water can contribute to dry, brittle nails that crack or peel.
My favorite easy nail-care habit? Cuticle oil. Use it! Cuticle oil can go a long way toward keeping the area around your nails looking and feeling healthy. Follow up with a good hand lotion.
The bottom line
Healthy nail care doesn’t have to be complicated.
Leave your proximal nail fold alone, keep your nails at a length that works for you, don’t over-buff them, and keep your nails and surrounding skin moisturized.
And if you notice a significant change in the color, texture, or shape of your nails that doesn’t go away, that’s something to discuss with your doctor or dermatologist rather than trying to DIY your way through it.
Take care of those nails, friend!
Last updated: August 2026
P.S. Some links in this post are affiliate links. See disclosure here.
→ Try a sample
→ Shop Color Street
Need general shenanigans or want to talk nails? Join my Facebook group!