While you may experience some glow during pregnancy, you may also experience surprising changes to your body parts, such as your nails. Your nails may become too hard, brittle, or even split into your hands or feet. Thanks to your surging hormones.
Ideally, you can get your nails looking healthy and beautiful is to going for a mani-pedi (manicure or pedicure). However, most pregnant women often worry about whether they can get a pedicure while pregnant. Suppose you fall into this category and haven’t gotten a definite answer to this pressing question. Then, you are in luck! In this post, we will answer that question and more.
Is Manicure Safe During Pregnancy?
Yes! Getting a manicure or pedicure is generally safe during pregnancy, and you can get a manicure or pedicure while pregnant.
A manicure is simply a cosmetic beauty treatment done for the hands and fingernails, either at home or in a beauty salon.
It involves trimming the nails, filing, clipping hangnails, and pushing the cuticles backward. It also involves massaging the hands with special oils and coating the nails with nail polish. Applying the same treatment to the feet and toenails is referred to as a pedicure.
Although nail polish consists of chemical substances, it’s very unlikely to cause problems for you and your baby as those chemicals are not absorbed into your body.
Also, your exposure to them is too little to pose a threat. So, say yes to giving your nails that tender loving care.
Below are a few tips on caring for your nails during pregnancy.
How To Take Care Of Your Nails During Pregnancy
If you’re doing your mani-pedi yourself, here’s what you should do.
- Don’t bite your nails: biting your nails can damage your nail beds and put you at risk of infection. If you’re already biting your nails, then it’s time to quit. Your nail bed and nails will be grateful that you did.
- Keep your nails short: long nails trap dirt and germs often. So keep your nails short and neat.
- File your nails: if your nail tips are irregularly shaped, filing will give them a more defined shape. To get smoother tips, file only in one direction.
- Apply hand and foot lotion to keep your hands and feet soft. It’s best to use it before bedtime.
- Please don’t share your nail clipper: some items are meant to be personal, and your nail clip is one of them. This would help prevent risks of infection.
- Consider a DIY treatment: There are several DIY treatment options online that you can try. A common one is to massage your hands and feet with olive oil and brown sugar.
If you’re considering getting your manicure or pedicure done in a salon, then here’s what you should note:
- Ensure that the salon and nail technician attending to your nails are licensed and certified.
- Nail tools and equipment should be sterilized properly in an autoclave. Not sterilizing them before use could lead to an infection.
- Also, items like files, buffers, and pedicure baths should be sanitized before use. To be on the safe side, you can bring your items along.
- Go to a salon with a good ventilation system. This way, you’re sure to get sufficient air and not feel choked up in the salon. Also, good ventilation will enable the smell from some chemicals being used to be dispersed properly.
Due to the heightened sensory perceptions of pregnancy, some women may feel nauseated by the smell of nail polish or any chemical substance used. They may also feel dizzy or get a headache. If you feel this way, it’s OK to step out for a while till you feel better.
Benefits of Getting A Manicure Or Pedicure During Pregnancy
While there are many things you shouldn’t do when pregnant, your mani-pedi is not one of them.
A mani-pedi is just more than having their nails trimmed, filed, or painted for most pregnant women. It’s an opportunity to connect with friends, catch up on old gist, and meet new expectant moms. It can also be a time for relaxation and a little pampering.
Also, for women who often experience swollen feet during pregnancy, especially in their last trimester, massaging their feet is a great way to soothe their feet, relieve stress, and improve circulation.
So, if you’re pregnant and considering getting your manicure or pedicure done, go for
