Everyone wants gorgeous hands with long, strong, healthy nails, right?

I used to have long, strong nails naturally but these days I have to work at it. Fortunately shorter nails are in vogue, so that helps. But as a mom of three kids with her hands going from dishwater to bath water to the garden throughout the day, it takes some work to keep my hands looking nice. Sometimes it’s tempting to just let them go, but with my job, the last thing I want to do is show up at a ritzy press event with hands that look like the yard guy.

It takes a little extra effort, but if you develop these six habits, you can keep your nails looking gorgeous.

How To Care For Your Nails

1) Eat right.

Well, you knew that one was coming. Nails especially need protein and B vitamins to grow healthy and strong, so be sure to be eating lots of leafy green veggies and good sources of protein. Don’t avoid fats either — just eat good fats . . . butter, olive oil, and plenty of Omega 3s.

2) Don’t bite your nails or your cuticles.

Duh, right? But seriously. If this is a habit for you, get your closest friends and family to help you by reminding you when they see you biting. There’s nothing worse than a beautiful woman with bitten-down nails. EW.

3) Wear gloves.

Wear gloves when you garden. Wear gloves when you wash the dishes. Wear gloves when you go outside in cold weather. You must protect your hands from the elements, or they will get dry and cracked and your nails will get brittle and break. Hey, look at it this way  – it’s an excuse to go shopping and buy some fashionable gloves!

4) Moisturize religiously.

Every night, I rub coconut oil into my cuticles. I keep it in my bathroom so it’s the last thing I do before I go to bed. (I use it on my face too, so it’s easy to rub the excess into my cuticles.) In the wintertime, you should really lotion your hands every time you wash them. Keep a bottle of good quality lotion by each sink.

5) Don’t use your nails as tools.

It’s tempting, I know, but don’t use your nails to pry open soda cans and the like. It weakens them and wears them down. Be good to your nails and they’ll be good to you!

6) Keep your nails groomed.

Keep a nail file in your purse, in the junk drawer in the kitchen (come on, admit it. you know you have one!) and in the car. If you crack or break a nail, file it back immediately so it doesn’t get worse.

Get regular manicures, whether you do them yourself or get them done at a salon. Make sure the manicurist doesn’t clip your cuticles or saw your nails when she files. You should only file in one direction to prevent splitting.

Keep them squared at the ends, and don’t try to grow them too long. It’s not really in style to have super long nails, and they are harder to maintain that way.

Whatever you do, stay away from the fake nails! They ruin your natural nails and take months to grow back.

What are your best tips for keeping your nails healthy and strong??