Tik-Tok comes with another beauty hack — nail slugging — to lock in moisture and flaunt cute cuticles. A nail expert breaks down the steps of this trend
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No one speaks with their hands more than a person who has just gotten their nails done, and we raise ours in proud admission. Freshly manicured nails are definitely a mood-lifter, and these small mercies should not be taken for granted. You never know, something as small as a dry and unhealthy fingernail can be what drives you to the edge on a tough day. Protect your cuticle, protect your sanity, we say.
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Sneha Kewalramani
But if you don’t have the time to step into a nail salon, Tik-Tok offers you a solution — nail slugging. The trend has already been picked up by many beauty experts and users on the platform, and has started trickling down to Instagram. And for good reason, to moisturise the nail and cuticle. Because if there is one lesson you should take away from life, let it be this — if there is a problem, apply moisturiser on it. Technical cosmetic skin, hair and nail consultant, Sneha Kewalramani, shows us how to get nail slugging right.
Why slug?
Like skin slugging, nail slugging is all about locking in moisture. Kewalramani explains that we can lose much of our nails’ natural moisture if they are in constant contact with water. So, the trending beauty treatment and a little extra TLC can be beneficial for dry nails, as well as for nails that have been worked on a lot, or in case of rashes or abrasions. “Hydration is key. Moisture is very important not just for healthy skin and hair, but also for nails and will keep you away from roughness and flakiness,” she highlights.
Slugging steps
1. Cut and clean your nails properly with a hydrating and gentle soap. Maintaining nail hygiene is as important as moisturising.
2. Apply a pea-sized amount, or as needed based on nail size and dryness, of Vaseline on each cuticle.
3. Massage the vaseline onto your cuticle for better blood circulation. Don’t miss this step; you can also press key pressure points on your hands and fingers.
4. Use a hand and nail cream or oil for added moisture and softness.
5. Let it absorb for a while.
6. The best time to do this is at night.
Pro tip
For extra moisture, opt for creams that have shea butter, cocoa butter or aloe vera.