NAIL CARE
Your nails will be healthier, stronger, and much less prone to damage if you take care of them regularly. Get a manicure regularly. Once every 2 weeks would be fantastic. If you are a cleanliness nut, then you can opt for a once a week treatment. This should be the maximum frequency since manicures will involve using chemicals to clean and treat your nails. Doing it often can make your nails weak and brittle. If manicures are too girly for your repertoire, then just groom your nails once in awhile by washing it clean with soap and water and cutting and shaping it straight. This will help you avoid ingrown toenails. Use an emery board instead of a metal nail file to smoothen the edges of your nails. The process of maintaining your nails can greatly reduce the weakness and brittleness of your nails leaving it less prone to damage and chipping.
TIPS FOR NAILS CARE
- White bands across the nails are a result of protein deficiency. Eat yoghurt everyday. this helps in keeping nails strong and healthy.
- Scrub under the nails with a nail brush or toothbrush with soap or bleach solution to remove stains under the nails.
- Soak the hands in warm, soapy water for a few minutes to remove dirt. Clean under free edge of nail with orangewood stick.
- Dont put on gloves for a long time. It effects nails considerably and cause reduction in their growth.
- Regularly shape the nail, using a file or emery board. File each nail tip from corner to center; do not file in a see-saw motion with the emery board because doing so can cause ridges in the nail and nail splitting.
- Apply hand lotion and moisturize your hands and nails. It's not only relaxing, it helps strengthen the nails.This will also help prevent splitting of the nails.
- Keep your nails trimmed regularly. They will last longer.
- One of the most important parts of maintaining strong, healthy nails for life is making sure you have the vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients to maintain nail strength. Lack of vitamin A and calcium in your body causes dryness and brittleness.
- Remove any old nail polish. To remove the old polish, first moisten cotton with nail polish remover and press over the nail for a few seconds to soften the polish. Then with a firm movement, bring the cotton from the base of the nail to the tip. Repeat this process until all of the polish is gone.
- The cuticle is the skin that grows from the finger onto the base of the nail (nail root). We recommend that the cuticle not be pushed back. Leaving the cuticle intact helps to prevent infection of the nail growing tissue.
- Nail polish thinner can be used to thin out nail polish that has become too thick. Keep the polish in the refrigerator to make it last longer.
- A vitamin called biotin makes nails stronger in animals. Some studies suggest that it may help strengthen human nails. Biotin is available at health food stores.
- Try not to use nail polish remover more than once a week. Nail polish remover causes the nails to dry out. Dry nails crack and split more easily than nails that are well hydrated (well-moisturized).
- Remove dirt and bacteria by using a Q-tip or an orangewood stick with a cotton tip. Soak the cotton in 10 parts water mixed with 1 part bleach, then rub the nail where the stain is.