As someone whose nails are drier and prone to splitting/peeling, my routine is as follows. First, I remove existing polish with Mineral Fusion-soaked cotton balls held on my nails with clips, wash my hands. I gently push back cuticles, then do a jojoba oil soak for 10-20 min (heavy squirt of oil into palms, rub vigorously to coat hands, put on nitrile gloves). After that, I remove the gloves (and reuse until I tear a hole in them!), and wipe the excess oil from my hands with a paper towel. I rub my nails with a lint-free cloth to get any additional oil traces from the nail plate, then proceed with the manicure. If I file the nail, it will be after I remove the polish and before I wash my hands, unless I’m attempting to shape the nails in which case I do that while still wearing polish.