Nail health. It's one of the things that tend to take a backseat in one's life. But if you look closer, the nails can tell a lot about someone's overall health. It is also an easy way to tell how well (or how poorly) you do even the most basic grooming. No, you don't need to have a perfect manicure every single day. But it's important to always keep them clean and well-shaped. The key? A good nail routine.
Nailed It!
nail health
Just like the rest of your body, your nails deserve proper nutrition. One must remember that when you eat healthy, the better off your entire body feels, inside and out. The cleaner you eat, the healthier you are. This goes for hair, skin, and nails. Eat foods rich in vitamins A, D, and calcium. If you're not getting enough nutrition in your diet, take vitamins or supplements. Biotin, likewise known as vitamin B7, is known to prevent nail brittleness.
moisturize your nails
It is vital to protect the moisture in your nails. Your dermatologist will recommend using petroleum jelly, vitamin E, or cuticle creams into your cuticles at night.
Applying a moisturizing hand creams to the nails on a daily basis will also help keep them moist and will help prevent cracking. Always keep handy lotions like Heathcote and Ivory Sweet Pea & Honeysuckle Hand and Nail Cream in your backpacks or office desks.
After your evening shower or before sleeping, apply Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Nourishing Oil or La Mer The Renewal Oil to help lock in the moisture to your nails.
lEAVE YOUR CUTICLES ALONE
The cuticle has a very important purpose: It seals the area at the base of the nail. As celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann explains, they act as a line of defence for our nails. So when you remove or cut them, it leaves your nails vulnerable to bacteria and even the possibility of infection. If you really want to do something about the cuticles, dermatologists recommend gently pushing them back once a week with a wooden orange stick after getting out of the shower. After doing so, massage them with products like Sally Hansen Cuticle Rehab or Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil.
file the right way
Forget about what you've seen in movies and television shows of how people quickly file their nails back and forth. When you aggressively file them, it makes the tip look frayed rather than having a clean cut. Filing it down too fast will give you less control over the shape you're trying to create.
The best way to get the smoothest nail is filing it from the side to the center in one fluid motion, lifting the file away from the nail, and returning to the starting point where the skin and nail connect. Doing this technique will give you a smoother edge and will be less traumatic to your nail bed.
If your nails are a little ragged, fret not. Applying nail oil with vitamin E will help hydrate the nail bed and will give your nail more flexibility.
Never Skip the base coat
Before applying nail polish, make sure to always put on a base coat. This step not only protects your nails from being stained by the nail polish, it also helps the color look more opaque even with just one coat.
No to harsh nail polish removers
Avoid using pure acetone to remove your nail polish. It is very harsh on the nail and can really dry out your tips. It may even make your skin look too white if you've used too much acetone, which means, you've definitely dried out your skin.Opt for polish removers that are minimal to no acetone solvents like Deborah Lippmann The Stripper Lavender Nail Lacquer Remover, which is enriched with lavender and aloe.
give your nails a break
While it can be very tempting to do an elaborate nail art or use those bold colors for the rest of the week, make sure you give your nails ample time to rest and repair themselves. Going from one polish to another without giving your nails some time to breath can dry them out, even turn them yellow, and over time, may even weaken the structure of the nail.
But if you're really bent on coating your nails with some pop of color, make sure you read the labels on your polish. Steer clear of nail polishes that contain toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, dibutyle phthalate, and toluene. These toxins can cause your nails to split, crack, and become brittle.
Always be gentle
Finally, always remember to treat your nails gently. Be aware of the soaps that you use when washing your hands or washing dishes. They can dry out your nail beds, which ends up making your nails weak.
Trim your nails as well. Just like your hair, it's important to clip your nails on a regular basis. Best to set aside time to clip them every two weeks, maybe adjusting the timing once you've observed how your nails respond.
Most of all, while long nails are beautiful, keeping your nails short will let you focus on building nail strength without worrying about anything else. As long as each nail is uniform in shape, you will be just fine.
