Do you spend 15 minutes every night meticulously cleaning your face to remove dirt, oil, and blackheads? Then why do your nails look like they’ve been excavating in the dirt all day? We get it. Your hands are exposed to the dirtiest things almost every day. You wash your hair, cook, clean up spills, wash the dishes, and a million other chores that leave your hands dirty. But despite all these activities, how come your nails still get so dirty? While some of us have this issue only occasionally, for others dirt on fingernails is an everyday thing. That’s why today we will discuss 7 reasons why your fingernails get dirty so easily.
Why Do My Nails Get Dirty So Easily?
There are a few reasons why your nails might get dirty easily. One reason could be that you are not washing your hands properly. Make sure to scrub your nails when you wash your hands to get rid of any dirt or bacteria. Another reason could be that you are not using a base coat when you paint your nails. A base coat will create a barrier between your nails and the polish, which will help to prevent the polish from staining your nails. Finally, make sure to use a top coat after you paint your nails. This will help to seal in the color and prevent the polish from chipping.
Frequent Hand Washing With Harsh Soaps
Frequent hand washing with harsh soaps
One of the most common reasons why your nails get dirty is frequent hand washing with harsh soaps. If you wash your hands a lot, especially after coming home from work or school, you might notice that your nails gradually become darker and dirtier. Soap dries out the skin and nails, which makes them appear duller. Also, if you use a scrubbing brush or soap with exfoliating particles, the dirt can get trapped under your nails.
Using dark nail polish
Another reason why your fingernails look dirty is because of dark nail polishes – especially black ones. When you paint your nails with colors like black or deep blue, it makes it harder to tell if there is dirt trapped under them. The dirt can be on the surface of the nail or underneath it. When you use dark colors on top of lighter ones, there’s no way to tell if there’s any dirt underneath it unless you scrape against something rough and see what comes off on your skin or clothes. You can also see if there’s any color change when you apply a remover solution to the area around where they were painted to remove excess polish while keeping the actual color intact.
Long-term exposure to water
If you spend long hours in water as swimmers and divers do, then this could be another reason why your nails get dirty easily – prolonged exposure to water leads to discoloration and yellowing of fingernails. Chlorine, which is present in most pools, reacts with the keratin in your nails and causes them to change color and get thicker. This is why professional swimmers have a hard time with their nails. They don’t have a lot of time to take care of themselves and attend to their needs because they are always practicing for competitions or training for events.
Poor nail health
If you have brittle, weak, or soft nails, then there’s a big chance that they will get dirty easily. Brittle nails are more susceptible to chipping and peeling off so dirt can easily get trapped underneath them. Weak and soft nails can break easily so they tend to peel off when you do things like washing dishes or opening jars. If your fingernails aren’t healthy and strong enough to resist damage from everyday activities, then there’s no way you won’t be able to keep them clean for a long time. So if you want your nails to look clean, make sure that their health is up-to-par first!
Constant Exposure To The Elements
Constant exposure to the elements
If you constantly go outside, your nails will get dirty much faster. Running around in the park lifting your kids or walking through the mall with your friends, you’re exposing them to bacteria and germs which are not always visible to the naked eye. Sometimes they can be seen as smudges under your nails but other times they will remain unnoticeable until you clean them.
Sweat and dirt from gardening
If you like gardening or working on a farm, then you probably have a lot of dirt under your fingernails right now. Your hands are exposed to dirt and sweat that can get stuck under your nails if you don’t remove them regularly.
Long periods of time without cleaning
Your fingernails will get dirty after a long time without cleaning them. It doesn’t matter if it’s one day or three weeks, all that matters is that there was some time when they weren’t cleaned properly. This is especially true for people who suffer from an infection called onychomycosis which we will talk about later in this article. It occurs when there is constant moisture trapped under the nail because it hasn’t been cleaned properly for a long time so these fungi can thrive there for years before being detected by the naked eye! If you notice any kind of discoloration or changes in the color of your nail, see a doctor immediately!
Fungi and bacteria
If you have an infection called onychomycosis (which we will talk about later in this article), it is highly likely that your nails will get dirty very easily. This infection is caused by a fungus called dermatophytes which are responsible for most nail infections. Fungi love moist environments so if your nails are constantly wet and haven’t been cleaned properly, they will begin to grow and spread. This can lead to a variety of symptoms such as discoloration, pain, and even permanent damage!
The Type Of Job You Have
- The type of job you have makes a huge difference. If you work in a factory or construction site, your nails will get dirty no matter what. This is because dirt and dust are omnipresent in such places.
- The same goes for the kitchen if you spend a lot of time cooking and handling raw food materials.
- If you’re constantly working with your hands, they’re going to get dirty no matter what. For example, if you clean the house or do some DIY projects, your nails will be exposed to all kinds of dirt and dust that gets on your hands while doing these tasks.
- The same goes for people who work with their hands a lot like carpenters, painters, construction workers, etc., as well as those who work outside in dusty conditions such as gardeners and farmers (unless they wear gloves). And even with gloves on, there are still chances that dirt can get under them and end up on your nails too!
- Even if you don’t have any of the above jobs, it can also happen that dirt gets under your nails when doing other household chores like cleaning or gardening since these tasks involve getting down on the floor where there might be dirt or dust lying around too! So always remember to wash your hands after doing these activities!
Neglecting Your Nails And Finger Cuticles
Neglecting your nails and finger cuticles
It may seem weird, but neglecting your nails and cuticles is probably the main reason why they get dirty so easily. If you don’t take care of them, they will be left vulnerable to bacteria, dirt, and grime that are constantly around us. When you neglect your nails, they tend to turn yellow and become brittle. Your cuticles also tend to get dry and flaky. All these problems make your fingernails look dirty more often than not.
Working with dirt and grime
If you work with dirt or grime on a daily basis, chances are that it will eventually get under your nails. For example, if you work in construction or in a factory where there is constant dust, this can cause dirt to get under your fingernails. This can lead to discoloration of the nails as well as thickening of the cuticles because of the constant exposure to bacteria-causing agents like dust or mud. This is another reason why your fingernails tend to get dirty so easily most time.
Wearing cheap nail polish removers containing acetone
Acetone is one of the most common ingredients used in nail polish removers today because it works fast and effectively at removing nail polish quickly without damaging your nails too much. However, this ingredient also tends to dry out nail beds which makes them prone to cracks and chipping off easily. This is why it’s best to use a nail polish remover that contains less acetone in order to prevent your nails from becoming too dry and brittle.
Not properly drying your nails after washing them
After you wash your hands, it’s important to dry them thoroughly before touching anything else. Otherwise, the water will leave residue on your nails which will make them look dirty the next day. If you don’t have time to wait for the water to completely evaporate off of your fingers, try blotting them with a towel instead of rubbing them with one. This will help you get rid of most of the moisture on your hands and also reduce the transfer of dirt onto your nails.
Wearing nail polish that doesn’t match your skin color well
If you wear dark nail polish on light skin or vice versa, this can make your fingernails look dirty more often than not because the contrast between the two colors is too stark and stands out too much. It’s best to choose a nail polish color that matches well with the tone of the skin on your fingers and hands for an overall polished look that doesn’t really draw attention away from other features like discoloration or chipping off around the edges of your nails which are common problems when you wear dark nail polishes all the time.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why your nails get dirty more frequently than others, but you can take steps to reduce their appearance of dirt and discoloration. Investing in a manicure and pedicure at least twice per year can help keep your nails looking clean. Using a hydrating nail polish can help keep your nails from looking dry and brittle. Also, be mindful of the activities that could make your nails appear dirty. If you’re constantly doing things that make your nails appear dirty, try to reduce those activities to make your nails appear cleaner.
