Nail Care Tips
Humans have been playing with their nails for centuries. In 4000 BC, egyptians were buffing their nails with Henna; in 1500 BC, Chinese royals were painting their nails red, black, or white and as early as 100 AD, Romans were appluing fingernail polish made of animal fat and blood.
Maintaining healthy natural nails is not as complicated as many may think. As with hair, nails are usually their healthiest in their natural state, requiring a bit of nail polish for protection and regular applications of hand cream as a moisturizer.
In fact, many argue that using natural nail strengtheners, which chemically crosslink the nail plate, is actually a bad idea. Although they do make nails more rigid, they also make them less flexible and thus more prone to breaking on impact. It is actually more important that nails are kept flexible and moisturized.
Nails may be objects of admiration and beauty; nevertheless, they are homologous to the claws and hooves of lower animals. The material of the true nail develops from the matrix, which is the deeper portion of the proximal or posterior nail fold and the epithelium of the proximal part of the nail bed. The nail plate and the proximal nail fold are joined by a thin cuticle called the eponychium which makes the exterior groove waterproof. Its rupture by enthusiastic manicuring or dissolving of the eponychium, as in the case of washer men results in disease.
Lack of vitamin B12 can lead to dryness, very rounded and curved ends and darkening of nails.
Insufficient zinc can cause development of white spots on the nails.
Cuts and cracks in the nails may indicate a need for more liquids.
Red skin around your cuticles can be caused by poor metabolism of essential fatty acids.
Filing Nails:
File nails when the white part of the nail tip has grown 1/4″ from the pink part of the nail. Filing nails before the nail is 1//4″ long can weaken the nail. Allowing the nail to grow to a length longer than the base pink nail length will be sure to make them break easily. Nail files from side to side would weaken nails. When filing, go from the corner to the center in one direction. Follow the groove on the side of your nail.
CREAMING AND OILING
Fundamental to hand and nail care is creaming. The more often your hands and nails are soaked in oils (vegetable oils, salad oils and olive oil) and creamed (with lanolin or dry skin creams) the softer and more beautiful they will be. The healthier your skin and nail texture the better they will respond. A diet high in protein is best for nails, as it is for hair, although Nena and other well-known nail authorities say the strength and quality of your nails are pretty much determined by heredity.
Before beginning any manicure, whether its one you give yourself or have done in a beauty shop, a good soak in warm oil is imperative. Next file-the way I have suggested (it’s the way Nena files my nails). Don’t over-file and don’t file far down the sides of the nails. Do the minimum amount of filing necessary to smooth off rough edges and to establish the shape of your nail.
Tags: nail care nail care system nail care tips natural nail care
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