Observe The Rule Of Five With Your Nail Polish
Dont worry, were not going to suggest you give up nail polish altogether. But with great color power comes great responsibility. Do yourself and your nails a favor and stick to the Rule of Five with all your nail polish applications. Thats five days on, five days off. Dont let nail polish overstay its welcome.
That goes double for toenails! Dr. Stern said that most people tend to leave nail polish on their toes far longer than they do on their fingers. That can lead to keratin granulations, which are those uneven, rough-textured white patches that occur when some of your nail cells get removed along with your nail polish after its been on too long.
Eventually, those spots will grow out, but wouldnt you rather avoid them altogether?
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.
Try A More Natural Nail Polish
Quashie recommends giving ‘free from’ varnishes a go, which purposefully exclude any potentially toxic chemicals. ‘In terms of natural credentials, the scale runs from “three-free” all the way up to “13-free”, which means that brand does not have any of the most commonly used chemicals that have been identified as potentially harmful in their varnishes.’
So, which brands to go for? ‘Some great ‘free-from’ brands are Kure Bazaar, Nailberry and Butter London some of the larger brands such as Nails Inc and Orly are bringing out similar formulas too.’
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Stick To A Natural Nail
Gels, dips, and acrylics may offer a candy-shell lacquer you adore, but they can actually be quite harsh on your nail plate. “Not only are acrylic and dip powder nails full of potentially nail-harming ingredients, but the process and wear can be very damaging to your nailbeds, and if done improperly can even lead to infection,” organic manicurist Eunice Montes-Hamaguchi has told us. To keep your tips healthy and strong, you might want to forgo the faux nails and stick to a bare-nailed look or coat of clean polish.
And if you do have gels, dips, or acrylics, don’t peel or pick them off, as this can only harm your nails moreyou can actually rip off pieces of the nail plate along with the polish. The thought alone makes my fingertips ache. Instead, use this step-by-step guide to remove your faux nails.
Ways To Keep Your Nails Healthy
Maintaining healthy nails that look fashionable doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Follow these tips and impress with your sexy, strong nails.
Regular nail care results in healthy nails that you can be proud to take to work or out on the town. Your nail care plan can be simple and inexpensive. In fact, says dermatologist D’Anne M. Kleinsmith, MD, of the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., being overly aggressive with cleaning and maintaining nails might actually put your normally strong nails at risk for yeast or bacterial infections. You won’t need frequent manicures to maintain good-looking nails if you follow these eight simple tips.
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What Ingredient Strengthens Nails
Biotin. Vitamin B7, coenzyme R, and vitamin H are all B-complex vitamins found in biotin. In addition to promoting healthy cell growth, it also helps to metabolize amino acids that are needed for nail growth by promoting the metabolism of protein-building amino acids. You may be able to strengthen your brittle fingernails by consuming biotin-rich foods and supplements.
Choose A File With A High Grit Number
Did you know every nail file has an accompanying grit number? It’s typically a tiny number stamped either on the packaging or on the file itself, and it conveys how coarse the board will be against your nails. The higher the grit number, the softer the file.
In terms of maintaining strong nails, you’ll want to go with a file that has a higher grit number . “You want something that’s just a little bit more coarse than a regular buffer,” says Lim. No need to go scratching up the nail plate, here. If you can’t find a specific grit number on your file, Lim says you can just take your finger and run it across the board: “You shouldn’t feel much friction.”
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Keep Your Tips Hydrated
Much like your skin and hair, hydration goes a long way for your nails, too. Moisturizing your tips will keep them from becoming brittle, a quick way to ensure they’ll snap right off. It’s as easy as remembering to rub in your hand cream post hand-wash. Cuticle care also comes into play here: Dehydrated, frayed cuticles can lead to damaged nailbeds and infection if they’re left untreated.
How Can I Grow My Nails Faster Naturally
Home remedies for nail growth
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Strengthen Your Nails By Giving Them A Break
“While there’s no scientific evidence that keeping your nails polish-free will make a difference, anecdotally I can tell you that we totally notice a difference in the strength and health of the nails when our clients do take a break,” says Tuttle. Choi and Holford agree all three recommend keeping your nails au naturel for at least a few days after sporting a gel, acrylics, or dip.
If you really need to keep them polished, use a nail strengthener as a base coat, suggests Holford. You can also look for a color that contains strengthening ingredients.
How To Make Your Nails Stronger Diy
You should soak your nails in a mixture of three tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon of lemon juice for ten minutes. The nails will be strengthened by following this home treatment for about 10 minutes every day. In addition to growing your nails, you can also use warm olive oil to nourish your nails by applying it to them.
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How Can I Make My Nails Stronger And Longer At Home
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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Apply Cuticle Oil Regularly
The end of every manicure finishes with a shiny slick of cuticle oil painted across the bottom of our nails, but what does it do? When applied daily and massaged into the base of the nail, cuticle oils help with the nail condition and stimulates the growth, explains Gray. This is due to the massage action, which brings blood and nutrients to the brain of the nail, also known as the matrix. This is the full moon at the base of the fingernail where the cells of the nails are formed.
Draper adds, You should also use cuticle oil at least twice a day to encourage strong regrowth I love Dadi oil, a treatment oil high in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Keep it by your toothbrush to help to remember to apply it and massage it in twice a day.
Do You Skip The Base Coat
As for makeup, priming your face is of utmost importance for the makeup to stay longer, likewise, trust base coat to let your nail paint stay for a long time. Be it a neutral shade or a bright one, before putting on any nail color, applying a base coat is a must. This will provide a protective layer to your nails and will help your nails stronger and healthier.
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Take Biotin Or Collagen Supplements
So much about nail health and growth comes down to diet. In fact, your nails can act as something of a canary test to your overall health, with breakage or slow growth signaling dietary, mineral, and vitamin deficiency. “Pay attention to your diet,” explains Amy Lin, the founder of sundaysa nail care brand focused on wellnessabout strong nails. “Your nails are made of proteins and naturally need a lot of vitamins.”
Well specifically, your nails consist of the protein keratin , so it’s important to make sure you’re getting your fill of keratin-building amino acids. Two of the most popular ways to do so are biotin and collagen supplements, as they tend to be the most effective in supporting nail health.*
First up: Biotin has been shown to support thickness and firmness of nails in several human studies.* One study, in particular, found that those who took biotin supplements had 25% thicker nailbeds than the placebo group.* In terms of collagen, another study showed that when patients took collagen daily for 24 weeks, their nail health was better maintained, including faster growth rates, reduced breakage, and improved appearance.*
Be Careful When Cutting Your Cuticles
It is a common misconception that cuticles need to be cut and for those who choose to do so, actually cut the eponychium, says Gray. The eponychium is the slightly thicker skin around the base of the nail and should be removed as it protects the nails from infections.
The true cuticle that does need to be removed is the small, scaly area of dead skin cells stuck to the nail plate. However this should not be pushed back as this is how the nail matrix becomes damaged.
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A Dozen Tips For More Beautiful Nails
Long, strong, healthy nails are possible — if you don’t fall prey to myths and old wives tales! Three experts tell you what you need to know.
Like a great new haircut or a terrific skin care regimen, healthy, well-manicured nails are an integral part of a neat, pulled-together appearance – one that can work as an asset in both the social and the business world.
Unfortunately, experts say both men and women fall prey to myths and old wives’ tales about how to care for nails. Another pitfall: many of us rely on the guidance of salons, some of which may not be doling out the best advice — or treatments.
To help set the record straight — and get you on the road to beautiful nails — three top dermatologists offer these 12 tips for achieving healthy, well groomed, elegant nails.
Moisturize The Nail Bed And The Cuticle
While there is little in the way of medical data showing that moisturizing the nail bed will help nails grow, it can make cuticles look better and help protect nails from breaking due to a lack of moisture. “If your nails are prone to breakage, it could mean they need moisture — and putting oil around the cuticle helps moisturize the entire nail, which will reduce the incidence of chipping, cracking, and splitting,” says Margaret Ravits, MD, a dermatologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
Continued
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Easy Steps To Make Your Nails Stronger
By Ana 0
Our nails have been through a lot in the past few months. With the pandemic outbreak, our bodies went through a significant amount of stress our diet might have changed, our living or work situation might have changed, plus our frequent hand washing and usage of hand sanitizer all contributed to our nails becoming weaker. Your nails are actually quick indicators of both diet change and your stress level. So taking care of your nails is a mind-body experience.
In that light, we wanted to share a few tips on how to make your nails stronger, but bear in mind everyones body can be different and our advice is general advice. However, we would love to hear about what works for you, so feel free to comment!
1. Manage your stress level and have a positive attitude
We are talking about nails, but your mind and stress can greatly affect your immunity. Check-in with yourself to see how you feel how is your stress level, are you overwhelmed? A 10-minute mediation or journaling can be helpful too.
2. Pay attention to your diet
Diet change can impact your nails. Your nails are made of proteins and naturally, need a lot of vitamins. Make sure to make a mental note when you change your diet to ensure you have a variety of all the necessary nutrients.
3. Implement a monthly manicure and pedicure routine
4. Use nail treatment products in between
5. Protect your nails from chemical exposure
Use Cuticle Serums For Moisturization
Healthy cuticles are the key to healthy, strong nails. However, it is quite common to damage your cuticles or push them too far, often increasing the risk of infection in the nail bed. Your cuticles may also get damaged due to medical conditions that lower blood circulation to the extremities, such as diabetes.
To help strengthen your nail cuticles and boost blood flow to them, it is suggested to perform a quick massage. You can use coconut oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil, almond oil, double-duty ointments, hand creams, and skin protectants to massage your cuticles.
Invest in a cuticle oil that not only moisturizes the cuticles but also nourishes and repairs them, all of which contribute to improved cuticle health. You can purchase cuticle oils with a high content of shea oil.
Simply gently massage your nails with the product for 510 minutes. Wear cotton gloves once the product is absorbed and leave it on overnight. Wash your nails in the morning using warm water. Eczema-friendly creams are also available for people with eczema.
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Use Nail Strengthening Products
There are plenty of products that you can use to make sure your nails don’t break. Dr. Garshick says using products like Vaseline Healing Jelly or any petroleum jelly-based ointment nightly will help trap moisture and strengthen the nail. She adds that it also helps keep the skin around the nailthe periungual areasoft and smooth this will minimize trauma and inflammation and help make the nail appear healthier.
She also recommends using cuticle oil as it helps hydrate the cuticle as well as the nail bed. Dr. Graf agrees and recommends something like ISDIN’s Si-Nails nail serum as it’s been proven to increase nails’ thickness, density, and durability.
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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Remove Gel Polish And Acrylics Correctly
Okay, so technically this isn’t a repair tip, but do this first and it can save you from having to deal with a lot of potential problems. First and foremost, repeat after us: I will not pick off a gel manicure.
“Picking off gel is probably the worst thing you can do to your nails,” says celebrity manicurist Geraldine Holford. “The immediate effects are harming the nail plate because you’re removing the top layers of the actual nail along with your polish,” she explains.
“The long-term effects are thinning of the nails, harm to the nail bed, and irregularities on the nail plate and in growth patterns.” No thank you.
ORLY’s Senior Product Testing Manager, Kelly Bannon agrees, adding that even if you soak your nails to remove the polish, you can still damage your nails if not soaked long enough or if the topcoat barrier is not broken, prohibiting the remove to reach all the gel layers. She strongly recommends having your gels removed by a professional top prevent any damage.
Pro tip: Whether you’re having gel or dip removed, ask your tech to cover your hands in hot towels while your nails are wrapped up in the acetone-soaked cotton pads the heat will help speed up the process, explains Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder and CEO of Olive & June.
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