Modern women almost always have nail polish, acrylics, gels or sticks, all of which conceal the true condition of the nails while making them very beautiful. In their quest for beautiful nails, many women have also ended up with serious infections, which in some cases have required the amputation of a finger, hand, toe or foot.
So how do you keep your nails healthy and beautiful? Here are a few tips.
1. Cuticle removal
Most of the infections that we contract during our manicures and pedicures are due to poor cuticle removal. The main purpose of the cuticle is to protect the nail bed from inflammation and infection. The right way to remove cuticles is to first apply a cuticle lotion to soften them and then soak finger or toenails in warm water. Using a cuticle remover, gently push back the cuticles. The cuticle thus pushed back will then be lifted above the nail bed. This is what we call excess cuticle. Use a nail clipper to cut the excess cuticle. Do not remove or pull on the cuticles in an attempt to remove them, and do not let the beauty salon beautician remove the cuticles with force. If you do this, you leave your nail bed exposed and susceptible to infection and inflammation. After cutting off excess cuticles, apply a cuticle lotion or hand lotion to keep your nails and cuticles soft and moisturized.
2. Dietary Requirements
A diet rich in vitamin A, calcium and phosphorus will help keep your nails from becoming dry and brittle. Foods rich in vitamin A include apricots, carrots, cheese and broccoli. Foods rich in calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese and almonds. Carrot juice is rich in calcium and phosphorus.
Hangnails are small strips of skin that separate from the cuticles. To prevent ingrown toenails, take foods rich in protein, folic acid and vitamin C.
Spirulina and kelp are perfect dietary supplements that help make your nails healthy and strong.
3. Stay natural
I know how much better nails look with gels, acrylics and adhesives, but what you may not know is how much they damage your nail plate. I’m not saying you should never put them on. All I’m saying is don’t make it a habit. Once in a while it’s not so bad. The best way to keep your nails healthy is to keep them natural. Artificial nails contain chemicals and glue that could cause a fungal infection on your nails. The methacrylic acid used in the application of acrylic is corrosive, so if used in excess, it can seep through the nail plate and damage the nail bed.
Avoid polishing your nails throughout the procedure. Leave them unpolished for at least one full week over the course of a month to avoid discoloration.
Avoid nail polish removers that contain acetone or formaldehyde. It is preferable to use a nail polish remover that contains acetate. When removing nail polish, use as little nail polish remover as possible and then wash your nails thoroughly with soap and water to remove all traces of nail polish and nail polish remover.
4. Keep your nails clean and short
Long nails may have been in fashion in the 80s and early 90s, but that has changed and short nails are now in fashion. Some women, however, like to have long, polished nails. Long nails are difficult to keep clean because they hide a lot of dirt underneath them, and they are also prone to breakage. Very long nails prevent the full use of the hand for household and other tasks. So keep your nails short and clean. It’s classy, professional and trendy.
5. Moisturize and hydrate
Just as the skin needs a lot of water to stay hydrated, so do the nails. It is therefore very important to take at least one liter of water a day, but the recommended amount is two liters or eight glasses. Let’s be realistic, very few of us are able to achieve the latter, so the first option is preferable to no water at all.
To keep your nails hydrated, invest in a cuticle cream or softener such as lanolin and use it every time after using water to clean or do other tasks. Also be sure to apply a hand lotion or cream before applying your nail care product.
For all your nail care needs, Posh Nails Salon, located in the heart of Barsha Heights (Tecom) since 2010, offers a place where customers can relax and take care of their nails, their hair and their beauty.
