Consider Having Your Thyroid Levels Checked
Abnormalities in thyroid hormone can cause many physical symptoms, including brittle nails. Changes can be seen in both hyper- and hypothyroid, but 90% of people with low thyroid have thin, brittle nails . So if you have this problem and other symptoms, particularly if the nail changes are new, it would be a good idea to check with your doctor.
Natural Nails At Home
A few weeks ago, right before I was at a friends wedding, I found myself in a nail salon for the first time in years. I tried to play it cool and sophisticated, but as I fumbled with white towels and little bowls of rinsing water, the guy doing my nails laughed and said, You dont do this a lot, do you?
Hes totally right. I dont go to nail salons a lot. I used to go occasionally, back when I was in college but those days are long gone. Most of the time my nails are completely free of polish.
My nails are still sporting a few spots of the pink polish all of us bridesmaids wore, but for the most part, Ive chipped it all off. Glamorous, right? Fortunately, I know nail salons are not the only way to keep my nails looking nice. There are so many ways to keep your nails neat and pretty without using chemicals or paying lots of money, and I intend to take advantage of them as soon as I chip off all of this polish.
Use Nail Hardeners Sparingly
“The take-home message here is that a lot of them do more damage than good,” says Stern. She reminds us that these products are not studied clinically, so most claims are not backed up by science. Unless nails are exceptionally weak and fragile, she says, most people don’t benefit from a nail hardener.
Healthy nails are flexible nails, she says, so to keep yours from breaking, avoid anything that makes them more brittle.
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The Best Nail Growth Treatments And Strengtheners
The world might be starting to reopen, but our nails on the other hand, are still in hibernation mode. To get them nail-art-ready, invest in a nail treatment that’s designed to promote growth and strengthen, so you’re ready for your full diary of social obligations.
We tested some of the best available, to see which ones really deliver results. Below are the ones we rate.
How we test
We asked over 1,000 women to trial over 42 brands of nail growth treatments and strengtheners for a one-month period the products ranged from oils to polishes to creams.
For nail growth products, testers assessed whether they prevented breakages and peeling, if they helped with growth, and if nails were left looking healthier and stronger.
For strengthening treatments, testers noted whether the products helped with any flakiness, as well as if they had an impact on smoothness and strength.
Both types of product were also judged on how easy they were to apply, their drying time and how often they needed to reapply.
Simple Ways On How To Get Healthy Nails Naturally Fast At Home
Like a terrific skin care regimen or a great new haircut, well-manicured, healthy nails are an essential part of a pulled-together, neat appearance one that can work as an asset in both the business and the social world.Nevertheless, some researchers said that both women and men fall prey to myths about ways to care for nails. Another danger: most of us rely on the spa or nails salons, some of which may not be giving the best treatments or advice.To get on the road to beautiful nails, you should focus on the following 12 tips for achieving healthy, elegant nails, well groomed.
1. Watching Your Nails To Catch The Signs Of Health Problems:
The first tip on how to get healthy nails that I want you to focus is that you should watch your nails and catch the sign of health problems. Hence, you can find proper ways to care for your nails.Most of the time, nail problems can show environmental attacks the exposure to the use of drying nail products, harsh cleaning chemicals, or just normal physical abuse, like excessive use of fingertips or typing.An expert suggested that your nails conditions can sometimes reflect a health issue. Here is some of what they say to look out for:
- Yellow-tinged nails with a slight blush at the base are associated with diabetes
- Pale nail beds are related to anemia
- Thickening and yellowing of the nail, slowed growth rate are the signs of lung disease
- Half pink or half white nails are the signs of kidney disease
- White nails will show liver condition
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Give The Polish A Rest
Many of us are guilty of trying to making our nail polish last as long as possible, says Choi. We hope to extend the life of our color with constant touch-ups, then when the chips become too noticeable to bear, we head straight to a salon for a fresh coat. This all makes sense for cosmetic purposes, but having nail polish on your nails for too long greatly damages their strength and overall health, warns Dr. Jaber. Even the safest nail polishes can leave your nails brittle, thin, and dry if left on for too long. Instead, fully remove your nail polish after five days and allow them the same amount of time to recover before getting them re-painted. Leaving polish on too long is just one of the surprising ways you could be ruining your nails.
Cuticles: To Cut Or Not To Cut
This is another myth we need to dispel. Cutting your cuticles is absolute blasphemy in the nail world. Your cuticles serve an important purpose because they seal the area at the base of your nails. So when you remove them, you break this vital means of protection and leave your nails open to all sorts of infections. The more you leave your cuticles alone, the more your nails will thank you. And if a nail technician goes anywhere near them, you have our permission to swat them away!
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Trimming Your Nails Regularly And Correctly
One of the most important aspects of keeping your nails healthy is to trim them regularly its an important aspect of personal maintenance and hygiene. But, as important as it is to trim your nails regularly, its even more important that you trim them correctly otherwise you can risk doing more damage than good, such as by causing an ingrown toenail.
As Dr John P. Fritz advises in the video above, these are the things to remember when it comes to cutting your toenails:
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The best time to cut your toenails is immediately after a bath or shower, when your nails are soft and supple.
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You should use a proper toenail clipper to cut your nails, and the nails should be cut straight across.
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You should aim to leave approximately 1mm of nail showing, similar to what youd expect from a French manicure.
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Avoid cutting into the sides of your nail, because this can leave to an ingrown toenail.
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Dont push your cuticles back or cut the cuticles. They are there to prevent infections from getting into your nail matrix, which is where your nail grows from.
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A light emery board also works well, to smooth the nails and prevent jagged edges that may catch on your socks.
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If youre an athlete , then you should consider cutting your nails more frequently as repetitive trauma at the tip of the shoe can lead to an black toenail or infected, ingrown toenail.
Clean With A Nail Brush
Many women risk infection with rigorous cleaning under the nails using long, pointy tools, both at home and during manicures. “Women themselves or the manicurist are trying so diligently to clean under the nail that they end up with a kind of a gap between the nail and the nail bed,” Kleinsmith explains. This kind of aggressive nail care is an open door to bacterial or fungal infections. Instead, scrub gently with an old-fashioned nail brush for healthy nails.
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How To Get Long Strong And Healthy Nails
The strength and appearance of your nails can give an indication of your overall health. However, your nails may not be as strong and healthy-looking as youd like them to be. Nail strength and health can be affected by a number of environmental stressors and your lifestyle. Would you like your nails to be longer, stronger and more healthy? Small changes to your lifestyle and habits can make a big difference to your nail health.
There are a number of ways you can ensure that your nails long, strong and healthy. One of the main tips is to try and get plenty of vitamins in your diet by eating healthily and if needed, taking dietary supplements. Drinking plenty of water is also very important. Going for a nail treatment, if professional quality products are used, can leave your nails longer and healthier. Here are 10 top tips for stronger, healthier nails.
Care For Your Cuticles
Treehugger / Sanja Kostic
Avoid having your cuticles trimmed during a manicure. Cuticles are meant to be a barrier for bacteria, and cutting them can lead to painful infections. You can moisten and push them back with a cuticle pusher, and trim away only dead pieces of skin.
If youre planning on having a conventional manicure done, then at least protect your cuticles by dabbing with olive oil or almond oil prior, in order to reduce the amount of chemical that soaks in from the polish.
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Indulge In Acrylic Or Gel Treatments Sparingly
Any nail expert you talk to is going to do their best to steer you away from acrylic or gel manicures as long-lasting and convenient as they are because they’re very hard on the nail. But if you’re keen on getting them, there are some ways to minimize the damage to your hands and nails.
The main issue with a gel manicure is the exposure to UV light in the drying device, which can damage the skin below and around the nail, leading to an increased risk of cancer. To help reduce that risk, Dr. Prystowsky recommends applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50 before the procedure to help block the damage, or you can try special gloves that expose only the nails themselves, shielding the rest of your hands from the harmful UV rays.
There’s also a professional service that the Good Housekeeping Institute‘s Beauty Lab found won’t ruin your nails: CND’s Shellac Luxe salon service, which won a Good Housekeeping Beauty Award in 2019.
Eat More Foods That Promote Strong Nails
Avoid yo-yo dieting, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies that may put the strength of your nails in jeopardy. Make sure you eat enough protein and calcium too, which are thought to promote nail health, says Robin Evans, MD, Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Loading up on biotin-rich foods, such as veggies, eggs, and nuts, may also help.
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Dont Overdo The Hand Sanitizer
Because hand sanitizers are typically alcohol-based, constantly applying the stuff can dry out your nails and leave them super brittle. If you have to use hand sanitizer, try not to get it on your nails, and dont overdo it, says Dr. Solomon. Using hand sanitizer wipes can make it easier to avoid the nail area during applicationor if you prefer the liquid variety, make sure to slather on moisturizer afterward to balance the scales.
Nail Infections Should Be Taken Seriously
No matter how care-free you try to ride on with your nails, getting infected at some point is one thing you cant do without. At some point, nails are bound to be infested, and when this happens, it is recommended to see a dermatologist for a possible prescription.
Though Nail bacterial infections may include swelling around the cuticle, redness or pus, these are some of this early signs of Nail fungal infection we dont pay attention to which may include irritation around the cuticle.
When this happens, it is recommended to see a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Now that we are halfway towards rounding up this actionable tips to take if you must grow healthy natural nails in 2019 lets quickly answer some questions being asked by our blog visitors.
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Always Cut Your Nails
As much as you might love the look of long, beautifully-shaped fingernails, its best to avoid growing them out if you want to make them stronger. Keep your nails shorter, as the longer they are, the easier it is for them to get traumatized, says Dr. Jaber. Short nails are far less likely to be broken in your everyday life. As an added bonus, its also much easier to maintain the appearance of nails when theyre short! Discover more tips to protect your nails.
Add A Nail Strengthener To Your Routine
Prescription topical agents, such as Nuvail and Genadur, can help to strengthen weakened nails. While OTC nail hardeners can do the trick in the short-term, prescription strengtheners are the best choice for long-term use, since they contain chemicals that both increase the strength of the nail and trap moisture in to prevent future brittleness. Consistent and dedicated use of the nail hardeners is key for successful results, says Dr. Allawh.
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Lemon Juice For Stronger Nails:
Lemon is a good source of vitamin c which helps to prevent yellow nails and also keeps your nails healthy and strong.
Youll need:
- Mix olive and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a bowl
- Slightly warm the mixture and let it cool until it is touchable
- Dip a cotton ball in this mixture and apply directly on your nails
- Wait for about 10 to 15 minutes
Repetitions: Do this method at least twice a week.
Note: Do not use lemon if there is an injury on your nail or on the skin around your nails. The acid content of lemon causes a burning sensation on the wounds.
Black Currant Seed Oil
Black currant seed oil is great in gamma linolenic acid (GLA that can be used to treat dry and cracked nails. This oil also includes flavonoids and vitamin C that can make the nails shiny. You can take the seed oil every day to have the best result. Or the supplements are advisable but you should ask the doctor before using it.
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Don’t Forget To Take Care Of Your Nail Tools Too
Disinfecting your nail tools between uses is just as important as regularly cleaning your makeup brushes, and for the same reason bacteria. To keep your nails infection-free, Dr. Prystowsky advises washing metal tools with soap and water and then wiping down with rubbing alcohol. And don’t forget to regularly replace disposable tools like emery boards. There’s no reason to continue using a tattered tool when it’s so easy to rotate in a new one for a few bucks.
Preventing And Treating Dry Skin
Dry skin often means that the nails are also dry. Very dry skin can even crack open and bleed, exposing the nails to fungal and bacterial infections.
When the skin surrounding the nail bed or nail matrix is dry, it could damage the nails as they grow.
To prevent dry skin, moisturize hands and nails during the winter months and apply lotion after washing hands. People who have eczema should choose eczema-friendly creams that are highly moisturizing.
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How To Make Your Nails Grow Longer And Stronger
Buh-bye, brittle nails.
Maybe its been the lockdown boredom , but it seems so many of us are attempting to grow our nails longer and stronger right now.
If youve ditched the acrylics and taken a much-needed break from the gels, yet your nails are still brittle and flaky, we feel your pain.
On a mission to achieve the long, resilient talons of our dreams, weve tried out all the hacks and enlisted some of the best experts to reveal exactly how to make our nails grow longer, stronger and healthier for good. Stay with us for everything you need to know..
How To Grow Longer And Stronger Nails
Avoid Picking At Your Nails Or Cuticle
Do you pick at your nails or bite the skin surrounding your cuticle? If you do, then you need to stop doing so right away.
When you bite your nails, youre creating room for bacterial or fungal attack. So how do I stop biting my nails? Heres an article for you. How to stop biting your nails in 1 hour
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Avoid Using Your Nails As Tools
A lot of persons with long nails are guilty of this. Am I sure youre not among them? Are you? Well whether youre guilty or not, heres something you should know.
When you use those nails as tools, youre rendering them weak. A weak nail is liable to break.
Besides that, your nails may lift away from your nail beds in the process and lead to a more severe health complication. So dont do it.
