Tips for protecting your nails while doing housework

Many clients get beautiful nails only to have them chip within days because of housework — washing dishes, doing laundry and cleaning are all "enemies" of polish, gel and extensions. The good news is a few small habits can make a real difference.

1. Wear gloves for wet work

Soap, dish detergent and cleaning chemicals cause gel or polish to fade and chip faster. Rubber gloves protect your nails while also protecting your hands from getting dry and rough.

2. Use your fingertips properly — avoid prying and scraping

Using your nails to pry open boxes, peel off stickers or lever objects open is the most common cause of extensions cracking or lifting at the edges. Use a tool (a small knife, scissors) instead of your nails.

3. Moisturize around your nails every day

Applying cuticle oil or hand cream around the nail bed helps natural nails stay flexible and resist cracking from dryness. Apply after washing your hands, especially during dry weather.

4. Don't pick at chipped polish or gel yourself

When polish or gel chips at one spot, many people pick at it further to "tidy it up" — but this often pulls off part of the natural nail layer with it, leaving nails thinner and weaker. Have it removed properly at a salon or get a touch-up on the chipped section instead.

5. Choose the right service for your type of work

If your job involves a lot of hands-on work (homemaking, cooking, caring for young children), gel or a hard top coat holds up better than regular polish — far more durable against water and constant friction.

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At Gạo Beauty Tan Phu, besides polish and extension services, the salon also offers a hard gel top coat (30,000₫–50,000₫) to strengthen natural or polished nails. Visit the salon for advice on the right service for your daily routine.