As mentioned, cuticle care is crucial. But beyond oil, Lim mentions regularly pushing your cuticles back can keep them from overgrowing.
“When [the cuticle] becomes thick and overgrows onto the nail, it’s tough to push back. You don’t want to ever get to that point,” she says. “When that happens, your cuticles are prone to cracking and infection.”
You don’t have to get too meticulous about it; a great tip is to gently push them back every couple of days after stepping out of the shower, as the nails will be softened from the spray.
Not to mention, pushing your cuticles back helps your polish last longer—just in case you’ve decided to go for an at-home mani.