Nail Care Guide

Fact file of Nails

admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:41:41 +0000

For something that’s dead, nails are important since they perform many different functions. Without them, it would be impossible to do certain things.
Nails or claws (if you want to be more specific) help animals catch and tear the food they eat. Humans who are blessed with eating utensils don’t rely on nails to eat. However, they protect the ends of the fingers and toes, and enable us pick up small things.
Some male guitarists, particularly classical and finger style players, grow long nails to serve as guitar picks and help them pluck strings. Without nails, it would also be impossible to scratch whatever itchy part you have!
Nails grow from the nail root that is found underneath the skin. They are made of keratin, the main protein in skin and hair. The hooves of a horse and bird feathers are also made of keratin. This makes the nail cells harden. As new cells form underneath, they push out the hard cells that we see as nails.
Contrary to popular belief, nails don’t grow after death since they are already dead in the first place. They appear to be growing since the skin shrinks. Neither do nails perspire since they don’t have sweat glands. What gets wet is the skin around the nails. Since they are dead, nails don’t need food or nourishment either. Their pink color comes from the tiny blood vessels underneath.
“The nail plates are dead cells and contrary to the popular belief, they don’t breathe. So they don’t require oxygen. However, the nail beds and the cuticles are live cells and they do need oxygen, vitamins and minerals,” according to the people at nail-care-tips.com.
Toenails are thicker than fingernails but the latter grow faster. It takes about four to six months for fingernails to grow back while toenails take from 12 to 18 months. In general, men’s nails grow faster than women’s nails. Young people and pregnant women also have fast growing nails.
“Seasons and weather also affect nail growth. Nails grow faster in warm climates and during daytime, than in cold climates and at night. Nails grow at different speeds on both hands. If you are right-handed, the nails on your right hand will grow faster than the nails on your left hand and vice versa. Light trauma, like typing on a computer stimulates nail growth. Well, this kind of trauma looks more like a massage actually,” said the people at nail-care-tips.com.
Nails reflect a person’s state of health. When you are sick, it will definitely show in your nails. One of the most common nail problems is onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nails that can make your nails ugly and deformed. To prevent this, take good care of your nails by washing and drying them thoroughly, wearing well-ventilated shoes and synthetic socks that absorb perspiration, and using a good foot powder.
For stubborn and embarrassing fungal nail infections, try Somasin AFS, a safe and effective herbal formula that penetrates deep into the nails and surrounding tissues, and strengthens your immune system to restore your nails’ healthy look and shine.

Take Care of your Nails

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:38:43 +0000

In my own opinion the nails on the fingers as well as on the toes actually reflect how hygienic a person is. It shows just how concerned a particular person is when it comes to cleanliness. With the busy schedules most women may be leading, it is common for most to neglect having their nails get the regular manicure and pedicure. You can actually have to die for nails at a fraction of the price and in the comfort of your own home with this nail care guide.
If you want to clean your nails it is best to remove and wipe off any nail polish that may be remaining on your nails. Soak a cotton ball with a nail polish remover or acetone and apply on nails.
Long nails are great to look at but nails of just the right length would be ideal. Cut and trim your nails with a nail cutter based on your desired length. Toe nails though are better if they are snipped short.
The nail cutter does not all the time give straight cuts so refine your nail’s cut with the use of either a nail file or emery board whichever one you have. It is best to file in one direction instead of going back and forth which have the tendency to cause your nail to break. The direction of filing should be from the outside towards the center. A square cut that is somewhat oval in shape as well is ideal to avoid ingrown nails which can be very painful.
To remove unwanted cuticle, rub a solution of cuticle remover and gently push it with a pusher. If you know how to use a nipper, you can slowly cut them as well but you have to be extra careful because an incorrect way may cause infections. It is best to have your cuticles cut by a professional. Soaking your fingers and toes with the cuticle remover in warm water helps speed up the softening of your cuticles.
Before any color application a base coat is important to help protect your nails as well as prevent it from absorbing the color. Before applying nail color rub the bottle between your palms to prevent clumps. Apply a first coat allow to dry before doing another coat. Prevent smudges by applying nail color in a single direction. A topcoat is then applied to help maintain the shine as well as prevent chipping.

Significance of Nail Care

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:35:00 +0000

1.    Do not subject your hands and nails to extremely hot water, harsh chemicals, and strong household cleaners. Do wear gloves.
1.    Do apply hand lotion regularly to keep the hands moisturized and aid nails that crack or chip. If nails are soft and tend to tear, avoid putting lotion on the nails themselves.
1.    Do use a cuticle cream daily or massage a dab of olive oil into the cuticles.
1.    Don’t file or buff the nails excessively. This can think and weaken nails.
1.    Do be alert to allergic reactions from formaldehyde in nail polish or acrylics in sculptured nails, tips, and nail glues. The reaction may show up as a rash or itchiness on places touched by the nails, like the eyelids, cheeks, or neck - rather than on the less sensitive skin of the hands.
Manicure Basics:
A home manicure, once you learn the basics, can be an easy weekly routine to improve the appearance of your nails and hands.
1.    File each nail with an emery board from the sides in toward the center. File in one direction only, don’t “saw” back and forth.
1.    Soak fingertips in warm soapy water to soften cuticles.
1.    Apply cuticle remover and gently push back the cuticle with the blunt end of an orangewood stick.
1.    Trim any hangnails with small nail scissors. Do not otherwise cut the cuticle, as it is the protective barrier for the growth center of the nail.
1.    Scrub nails in soapy water and clean under the nails with an orangewood stick wrapped in cotton.
1.    Dry hands and apply hand lotion.
Polish Tips:
Polishing the nails creates a finished look, but your nails will be healthier if you let them go at least one day a week without polish. Here are some tips for a professional looking polish job:
1.    Wipe nails with polish remover after the manicure to remove any residue of soap or lotion.
1.    Don’t polish the underside of the nail. When it’s time to remove the polish, chemicals in the polish remover can life the nail away from the nail bed, providing a chance for infection to develop.
1.    Apply base coat and two to three thin coats of polish, rather than one thick one, for better coverage. An additional clear top coat protects against chipping.
1.    Tidy up polish that’s strayed onto the fingers with the following tool: a moistened toothpick wrapped in a bit of cotton puff and saturated in nail polish remover.
1.    If you have to dry polish quickly, try dipping fingers carefully in a bowl of ice water.
1.    Polish nails away from direct sunlight, which may cause bubbles in the finish.

How to maintain Nail Care properly

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:31:40 +0000

Many of us go about our day, not putting much thought into the nails of our hands. There is most always even less put into the nails of our toes. But if we took a minute to think about all of the hard work and fun our nails contribute to daily, there would surely be more appreciation given. Our bodies have nails for the protection of our fingertips and toes, and they are also the strength at the tips to better pick up or hold, and all of the other things taken for granted.
Our nails are made of hard keratin proteins, and they rampantly grow when there are drastic changes of hormonal bouts, this is especially true during pregnancy. During the rest of the time, nails will be at their healthiest condition when we are on a good lean protein diet, and high vitamin intake of fruits and vegetables. Some of the prime vitamins for your nail’s health are B-complex vitamin foods and Vitamin A foods that are the colors of orange, yellow, or dark green. Vitamin C foods, dairy products the Vitamin E supplement are all very important for your nails healthiness, too. Zinc, sulfur and essential fatty acids are also very important to be a daily part of your nail’s health too. Omega 3 filled foods, such as fish are a must for good strong nails.
Now that you have created these beautiful nails from eating so well, they also need outer care too. Just as our hands and the rest of our bodies needs to be well nourished with purely natural essential oils, moisturizers, and lotions, so do the nails. Wash your hands and nails often during the day, and make sure to clean any dirt directly underneath the nails. After washing your hands with warm water and a gentle soap, apply a good hand moisturizer. Make sure the moisturizer or lotion is gently rubbed into the cuticles and around the nails, so to keep the cuticles soft and moist. This will keep the hang nails at bay, and the nails nourished to hold in a healthy amount of moister.
Set aside a few minutes once or twice a week to properly trim and file your nails This is not only a beautification of appearance for your hands, but it is important for keeping any rough edges of nails removed so to not tear them, by getting them caught on various things during your busy week. When nails are caught and torn, this usually does more damage to a nail than what can actually be seen to the naked eye. So take the time to do a quick mini-manicure. It does not take long, and it is important for your nails, while also pampering yourself!

12 tips to maintain Nail care

admin — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:27:12 +0000

Finding a quality nail care system is very important!
Why?
When it comes to making a good impression, well kept fingernails rank highly. Poorly kept nails are almost immediately noticed and can greatly impact a person’s image and the all important first assessment when meeting someone for the first time.
Use these 12 care tips as part of a nail care system that ensures your nails serve as a good advertisement and help build a positive image:
1. Healthy looking nails should be smooth, curved, void of any spotting, and should not have any hollows or ridges.
2. Make sure your nails are completely dry before you file them.
3. Shape your nails with a fine emery board; do not use any type of metal file.
4. When filing, try to keep the shape of your nails oval not pointed, thus making the nails less susceptible to breakage.
5. The cuticle acts as a seal between the finger and the nail. Gently exfoliating the dry, rough, cuticle skin layers by actually sloughing off the dead outer layers exposes new and vibrant skin.
6. This new healthy skin protects the nails matrix which is the growth center of the nail and should be treated with care.
7. Don’t over manicure your cuticles. Over-grooming the cuticle damages the cuticle and causes it to thicken and overgrow.
8. Never use metal or sharp instruments on your cuticles.
9. Wear rubber gloves if your hands are going to be immersed in water for any length of time. Extensive periods in water can dry out the nails making them brittle.
10. Apply colorless nail polish or a nail strengthener to the tip of the nail to provide a protective shield.
11. Apply a base coat before putting on nail polish to avoid the nail polish staining the nails. Sometimes the dye in the nail polish can leave a residue and stain the nail.
12. If your nails carry stains you will need to let them grow out to remove the stain. Alternatively, lemon juice applied around the tips of the nails can remove some stains.
Nail Biting
If nail biting is a problem, setting up a good nail care system can do much to conquer the habit. Those who have the nail biting habit often neglect their hands and give up on them altogether.
As a first step, using a nail biting deterrent such as a bitter tasting coating which is applied to the nails can help. Patience is needed while nails grow out to eliminate the effects of mistreatment
Then, investing in quality nail care products as part of an overall nail care system will gradually help an individual take pride in having attractive hands.

Nail Care Instructions

admin — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:17:23 +0000

Do’s and Don’ts of Nail Care
1. Do’s
” Leave your nails without nail polish once in a while at least in order to allow them to breathe.
“Keep a pack of hand lotion or cream near the kitchen sink and use it each time after washing your hands.
“Wear gloves while doing housework or gardening and rubs some hand cream or lotion before putting on the gloves.
“Apply oil to your nails whenever possible in order to strengthen them.
“Include ample quantities of calcium and vitamin A in your daily diet.
“Keep your manicure set clean in order to prevent any infection.
“Have a professional manicure done at least once a month.
“Prolonged exposure to the sun is not good for nails and a lot of swimming will dry them. This can be encountered by keeping the nails and cuticles well moisturized.
“Before doing chores like dusting or gardening, first dig the nails into a soap bar. This prevents dirt from getting embedded under them and also makes them easier to clean later.
“To keep nail polish intact in the bath, smoothen a little skin cream on it before going for a bath.
“If a nail breaks, we can get professional help in fixing ‘false’ nails. Otherwise, try to file them down. If the break is bad, remove all the polish from that nail and mend the break with a small piece of cello-tape, cut to fit. Then re-apply polish.
“If nails are brittle and break or split easily, keep them oiled.
2. Don’ts
” Don’t use your nails on a job that can be done just as well with a pair of scissors, pliers or a hammer
” Don’t file nails when they are damp.
“Don’t cut cuticles
” Don’t wash clothes or dishes in very hot water
” Don’t bite or chew your nails.
“Don’t clean your nails with a sharp metal instrument - use a nail brush and orange stick instead.
“Don’t be seen with chipped nail polish - it is a sign of careless grooming.
“Don’t leave your hands in detergent for long.
“Don’t peel-off your nail polish as you wish to - always use a nail-polish remover.
Hand
care products
1. Nail Polish Selection. Whenever we use nail polish, we should select the shade carefully. Deep toned polish looks good on long and slender nails. Pale colors make short nails look longer and they also look good on small, delicate-looking hands.
2. Nail- Length Decision. As regards the nail-length, not everyone can manage long nail. If we do a lot of typing or housework, play the guitar or are a sports freak, long nail are not for us.
File rather than cut as cutting weaken the nail and cause it to flake. File in one direction only from sides to centre, using the softer side of an emery board, not a metal file. Aim for a rounded tip: the shape at the tip should reflect the shape at the base to make a perfect oval.
Hand
care products
USEFUL TIPS FOR BEAUTIFUL HANDS
” If your elbows have been darkened, apply a mixture of lemon juice mixed with milk cream. Wash off after 30 mts.
” To get rid of elbow darkness, you can also apply a mixture of cucumber juice and lemon juice ( in equal quantities). Wash off after 15 mts.
” If there is a lot of hair on your hands, apply a smooth paste of gramflour and oil on them. Wash off after 30 mts.
” Massaging hands with almond oil is most ideal in order to maintain them in a good condition.
“If the hands are stained or discolored, rub a little lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide on the stain after washing and before drying the hands. This lightens the stain.
“For big hands, wear exotic bracelets high on the arm and wide ornamental rings.
“Slim, small hands call for daintiness in the choice of jewelry and nail polish shade. Narrow bracelets and rings with delicate elongated settings look the prettiest.
“To suit small square hands use small and simple jewelry.
“On wrinkled hands, use rich cream after steaming the hands
” As one matures, one tends to get freckles on the hand. Use a good bleaching cream for this. Although the results are temporary, they are quite effective.

Beautify your Hand works with Nail Care

admin — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:11:11 +0000

Your hands and nails are a major part of your overall look. You can have the best clothes, the best accessories, and the hottest, trendy makeup, but if your hands and nails are not cared for properly, the entire look goes down the drain. Taking care of your nails and hands are important, not only for sanitary reasons, but also for beautification as well. Shinning and healthy nails also reflect your general health as well as personal hygiene. So don’t overlook the health of your nails. Follow these simple yet very powerful tips to revitalize your nails.
Here, we will discuss a few of the top secrets to proper and essential hands and nail care. Tips are simple efficient and very effective and don’t require much time or effort to do.
Successful Hand and Nail Care Tip #1 – Wash
The first rule to making sure your hands always look great is to wash them. Washing your hands with the right type of soap can keep your hands clean and healthy looking, not to mention ridding them of harmful bacteria at the same time. Make sure you use a soap that is gentle on the hands, yet tough on dirt. Bar soap works great for cleansing, but it can lead to drier hands.
Successful Hand and Nail Care Tip #2 – Nail Brush
Nail brushes are essential to keeping your fingernails clean and healthy looking. Be sure that you try to use the nail brush each time you wash your hands. While the brush is cleaning your fingernails, you are also getting a real treat, your fingers will love the feel and so will you.
Successful Hand and Nail Care Tip #3 – Use Lotions and Hand Creams
Overuse and frequent washing can dry your skin, particularly the hands. Therefore, be sure that you use lotion or hand cream as a follow up to washing your hands. Either one of these products will keep your hand moisturized, eliminating dry skin, as well as keep your hands feeling silky and soft throughout the day. All of this means great looking hands and nails.
Successful Hand and Nail Care Tip #4 – Avoid Nail Biting
If you are a nail biter, now is the time to take steps to break that habit. Nail biting creates infections, uneven, and ragged nails. In some extreme cases, nail biters can bite their nails down past the skin, which creates and unsightly look. There are many remedies and over the counter products for nail biting that you might want to consider. However there are many natural remedies you can opt for as well.
Successful Hand and Nail Care Tip #5 – Polish
While this is no real secret, it is our last tip. Keeping your nails polished with your favorite color will always keep your hands and nails looking great. You can paint the nails yourself or treat yourself to a manicure, making sure your cuticles look great, your nails are even and beautiful, and you give yourself a treat at the same time.
Your nails need the same attention that the rest of the body requires. In today’s world it is difficult to find the time to really go out and get a professional to work on your nails, so these tips will give you an excellent opportunity to save time and money while looking after your nails. So the next time you look at your nails you will find them smiling back at you, thanking your for thecare and affection that you give them.

Top 8 Nail Care tips for Healthy & Strong Nails

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:07:45 +0000

Proper nail care is very important in today’s world where a first impression means so much. They say a person’s hands say a lot about them and your nails can make a big difference on how neat and attractive your hands look. If your nails are not attractive and healthy it will be obvious when you shake hands with people or simply introduce you. These days taking proper care of your nails is important for both men and women due to the reasons mentioned above. For men, however there is a stigma attached to going to a nail salon or purchasing a nail kit, and even for women the cost of a professional manicure can be prohibitive.
With that in mind here are 8 tips for naturally keeping your nails healthy and attractive without spending a fortune every month on a professional manicure.
1. You will need to get yourself at least the basics of proper nail care like a good nail file, nail buffer and perhaps some cuticle oil which you can usually find in a nail kit. Remember these are very basic products which can be found in any drugstore and you don’t need to spend a fortune on name brands with these products.
2. Use the nail file to file down your nails to a proper length. However be careful not to do this too often. You should really never file the nail unless it’s about a quarter inch grown from the top of the pink part. Filing before that can weaken the nails and cause them to break easier.
3. As with proper skin and overall health in general, proper water intake is important for naturally healthy, attractive nails. Aim for at least eight glasses of water per day.
4. When applying nail polish aim for doing two or three thinner coats instead of one thick one. This will give you a stronger coat of polish by drying faster and lasting for a longer period of time.
5. Be careful with the products you put on your hands such as soap and lotions. Avoid products with alcohol or other drying agents because that tends to dry and weaken nails, making them brittle and prone to cracking.
6. It is important to keep your hands and cuticles moisturized and hydrated. Try using cuticle oil to soften cuticles and provide hydration which will make them look smoother and feel more comfortable.
7. If you bite your nails you need to get rid of this habit as soon as possible, no matter what it takes. Not only is this a really nasty habit to observe it will destroy the appearance and health of your nails and hurt any other efforts at proper nail care you may be doing.
8. When using a nail file or nail buffer on your nails make sure not to use the back and forth motion because that generates excessive heat on your nail which will weaken it. Instead go from the side to the middle along the ridge line of the nails.
Follow these tips consistently and you will be on your way to naturally healthy, strong and beautiful nails which will be an important part of creating a positive first impression!

Nail Care guide at ease

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:04:26 +0000

People spend a fortune on their hands and feet getting to have scrubbed, clean and manicured nails. Well manicured nails say it aloud when you need to present yourself well whether at the office or even at home, a well manicured hand is a pleasure to look at. Getting beautiful nails is a time consuming job, if you do not want to go to a salon, while regular care can keep your nails looking shiny and pink, perfect healthy nails.
Some nails are brittle and break easily while other nails may be soft. Everyone has a different nail types so you have to look after your nails according to the requirement.
If you do not care about your nails or neglect minor discomforts then it may blow up to be a severe case of fungi or bacterial infection with swelling, pus and pain are the normal symptoms. Any minor infection should be cured and shown to a dermatologist for treatment. Looking after your nails is important for being healthy also. Dirty, unclean nails with build up are a major cause for concern as they induce germs inside the body when in contact with your mouth. Kids specially catch half the infections in this manner.
Putting in a little effort even in a fortnight is enough to have well manicured nails. Soak your hands in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes and add some herbal cleansing lotion to the water. Take it out and exfoliate your hands with an organic scrub while the nails can be cut easily. After drying your hands and nails, take a file to gently shape your nails in gentle, round strokes. For less breakage and cracks, file from the middle along the edges for a better look. Application of pressure on the top is not recommended as nail tends to crack and break easily.
If you want to apply nail polish after the hands dry out, do not put one thick layer of nail polish but apply 2 or 3 coats of it. Wait for each coat to dry out before applying the next one. It is best to avoid alcohol based lotions and creams as they tend to weaken and dehydrate the nails. For brittle nails which break easily is due to lack of proper moisture so it is better to lubricate the nail cuticles with special nail oils to nourish and moisturize the nails making then soft and healthy.

Homely way to Nail Care

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:01:02 +0000

While many people spend hours in the nail salon getting artificial fingernails put on and painted there are more people out there who neglect their nails in a most atrocious manner.
Next time you are standing in line at the supermarket, check out the fingernails on all the people ahead of you while they unload their carts. You may be quite surprised to see the large number of really bad looking fingernails on both men and women.
One of the reasons that nail care seems to be a non existent part of many lives is that it just appears to be too complex to tackle on your own. The tools involved are intimidating and how to even know if you need such tools?
Anyone get their own nail care under control with just a little bit of knowledge however. Keeping it simple and straightforward is a good idea, especially in the beginning and after the basics are mastered they can move on to trickier feats if they decide they want to.
The first thing about your fingernails is that they need trimming. Nails continue to grow throughout our lives and even the loveliest filed and painted nails will soon be out of shape without trimming.
So, if you have short nails a basic, sharp nail clipper will do the best job. Do not trim them right down to the quick. This can be very painful and it also makes it hard to use your fingernails to pick up coins for about a week! Once your nails are trimmed you may want to run a nail file over them to make sure the edges are all smooth.
If you have long natural nails, you can either use a nail clipper to take a little off all around and then file them smooth or you can simply opt to take a little length off with the file alone.
The next matter in your new nail regimen is to check out your cuticles. Many people have a lot of hangnails and ragged skin growth on the bottom and sides of their nails. If this is something that you deal with you will want to purchase a cuticle knife at the pharmacy.
This is a tool with a curved v shaped knife in the end of it. You carefully go over the ragged skin areas surrounding your nails and shave off the excess skin. This will give you an instant appearance boost. Be very careful not to dig because you may cut too deep and draw blood.
If you have dry skin and especially if you have the ragged cuticles, you may want to consider putting on a cuticle cream or a thick hand cream to try to soften the skin there. A moisturizing cream rubbed into your cuticles before bed is a good way to start changing how your cuticles look during the day.
Your diet and overall health is another part of your nail care. Make sure you get a healthy balanced diet and that you are getting enough calcium for your fingernails (as well as your bones and hair). A healthy diet plays a part in the health of all our body parts and your fingernails are no exception to that rule.
Having beautiful nails does not always mean regular trips to the salon for artificial ones although that can be a great treat. Your own fingernails can look a lot better with just some simple care and attention and maybe a new tool or two.
Who knows, once you get your fingernails looking better you may even feel confident enough to take those nails into the salon for the first time and pamper yourself with a professional manicure!