Health & Beauty: How to Avoid Traveler’s Nails

This Pretty Emery Board from Madewell was in My Birchbox

Disclosure: I am not a medical professional and recommend consulting with your physician before adding supplements to your diet and educate yourself before trying anything mentioned in this post. This post contains affiliate links.

No matter how careful I am and whether I’m traveling by air or car, I always break at least one nail. Of course, it’s not a clean break but some funky, pointy angle. If it’s a 10-day to two week adventure, at least half of my nails will break. Yuck! Here’s how to avoid traveler’s nails.

I Fixed Up My Traveler's Nails Before Dinner at Yellowtail Sushi at the Bellagio in Las Vegas Last Month
I Fixed Up My Traveler’s Nails Before Dinner at Yellowtail Sushi at the Bellagio in Las Vegas Last Month

I haven’t been able to prevent traveler’s nails but just fix them by carrying emery boards, like the one pictured below from Madewell which came in my Birchbox, in my purse.

Speaking with other women travelers, I’ve learned I’m not alone but what can be done?

This Pretty Emery Board from Madewell was in My Birchbox
This Pretty Emery Board from Madewell was in My Birchbox

Gloves!

For one, I suppose I can wear gloves. Remember the days when we dressed up in our Sunday best to travel? Growing up I always loved those sweet, white gloves so maybe I can be a trendsetter and in addition to my Scottevest Travel Vest, I can wear elegant gloves.

Not ideal?

Damsel in Distress

I could vow to never carry my luggage again and find someone to accompany on all my trips and handle my bags. Or, I could bat the eyelashes and play the helpless damsel in distress with hopes a gentleman will take care of my bags. I’ve seen it work with other women but that’s just not my style and neither is flaunting dollar bills to tip this valet and that bellman. Yeah, definitely not ideal.

I asked my sister Lizzy Dugan, a Buffalo-based hairstylist and makeup artist, what she recommends to prevent traveler’s nails. These take a little bit of planning prior to your next trip.

Power of B

Having a well-balanced diet is important to healthy nails. To keep her hair and nails strong Lizzy takes a Vitamin B supplement. Specifically, she incorporates Nature’s Made Super-B Complex into her nutrition plan. Vitamin B boosts metabolism and prevents heart disease and cancer. Dr. Oz has a clip about the benefits of the Vitamin B. Cutex has a list of additional vitamins important for nail health in this post.

Beautify Your Fingers

Book an appointment at your favorite nail salon before heading out on your travels not just for a manicure but a gel manicure. They’re a little more expensive than other manicures but the color and nail should last about three weeks without chipping. Do your homework before getting one, though. The removal process could be a bear, at least according to Dr. Oz. View this clip about the safety of gel manicures.

Do you have an issue with traveler’s nails? If so, what do you do to keep them chip-free and clean during your journeys?

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Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

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