Beautiful nails come with proper care and diligent attention, not only to the nail itself but to the cuticles, which provide protection for your nails. Keeping your cuticles healthy with proper trimming and moisturizing will make all the difference in the overall beauty and health of your nails. Over-trimming cuticles is a common mistake; cuticles should be minimally trimmed and well-hydrated in order to properly protect your nails. Brittle nails are a natural part of the aging process, resulting in dry, cracking or splitting nails. For a number of reasons (illness, infection, medications, poor circulation, trauma, frostbite, diet, nutrition, etc.), nails can also become discolored, flaky, pitted and ridged. A variety of products are now available to help you both prevent and treat these issues and to provide ongoing care for your nails and cuticles. Choose from an array of products that repair and rejuvenate, plus nail strengtheners, thickeners, growth activators, cleansers, fungus fighters, moisturizers, oils and conditioners. And remember to keep your nail implements clean and change out your nail files often to prevent bacteria and infection.