Nail health is more important than you think! While you might think of them as little shells on the end of your fingers, protecting your tips, they are a good indicator or your general wellbeing. There is also a lot to be said to be happy to look down at your hands, which are attractively tipped by glamorous and glitzy nails. Therefore, taking some time out to give those nails some TLC is a sound idea. You might think this is the job for the nail technician, but hardly any of us can afford the time or money to seek their services every day. So, here we have a guide to help you with the daily health of your nails.
What are nails?
It is interesting to being by understanding a little about your nails. They are not too dissimilar to hair, as they are made of layers of the protein keratin. They are also not dead cells, though they are also not technically alive either. If the cells in our nails were alive, we would find it painful to cut them. Yet, they have a blood supply and so their condition will be impacted by the health and wellbeing of the rest of the body.
Knowing that our nails are impacted by the functions of the rest of the body is helpful to know. On one level, what you eat will therefore affect your nail health. If you eat salmon and lean meats, other oily fish, eggs, whole grains and legumes, your nails will naturally look healthier. You might also want to supplement your diet with Biotin (Vitamin B), Vitamin A, iron, and silica.
Your doctor will be interested in your nails when making some diagnosis. Ridges, marks, and discolouration can all signal health problems. Therefore, keeping an eye on your nails and noting any changes is important. If you develop horizontal ridges on your nails, for instance, you may wish to visit your doctor, as it can be a sign of kidney or thyroid problems.
Stronger, longer, and lovely
The first step to good-looking nails is obvious but no less worth mentioning. Nail biting causes significant damage to the nail and sometimes to the cuticle. While it is easy to say “stop biting your nails” it is harder to achieve. Usually, nail biting is a consequence of anxiety and it is always best to address the underlying cause. Try to work out what triggers you into nail-biting and do something to deal with this directly.
If you want stronger nails, clearly improving your diet will do the trick. However, you might also want to apply oil to your cuticles, fingers, and nails. There are lots of products available for this from your beautician, which will cost a lot but come wonderfully packaged and scented. Yet, the best oil to run into your nails and cuticles is olive oil – which is considered the best product for the project.
Growing longer nails quickly first requires you to stop them from breaking off. Therefore, you need to strengthen and then stop doing manual tasks like gardening. You should also regularly massive cuticle oil in the cuticles and the nail, making sure the whole hand is moisturised.
Keeping them looking good
Once you have the strong, long, and healthy nails, it is now a case of maintaining these effectively. You should spend a few minutes per week shaping, clipping, and moisturising. Your nail care kit should include a file, buffer, clippers, polish remover, moisturising oil or cream and a cuticle pusher.
First, you should look to shape your nails. To do this you might feel you need to reach straight for the clippers. Yet, it would be better to resist this urge and instead reach for the file and the buffing block. Doing it this way will help you to gently shape the nail to the contour you like, whether it is oval, almond, square, or round.
There will be a time when you want to cut your nails. However, you must soak your nails in warm water to soften them before using clippers. It helps to avoid ripping and tearing. You should also keep away from the cuticle, as these protect you from infections. After trimming or shaping your nails, you should always apply oil and then moisturise your whole hand, including nails and cuticles.
It may be that you needed to remove nail polish before shaping and treating your nails. An acetone-free nail polish remover will work just fine- but remember to use oil on your cuticles and nails once the polish is gone.
