Nail Care Guide

I have been polishing nails for over 20 years now and have used polishes, like lipsticks, trying this one and trying that one. Over the years, I have heard some nail technicians say ‘polish is polish’ or ‘they’re all the same, just cost different prices’. I have found brands by Zoya, Nail Tek and Essie, to be excellent nail products and a great cost. As a former client, I liked to purchase salon quality polishes, to be sure I am getting my money worth, but could never decide which was better. As an active nail technician, who has attended training for some of these products, I found there to be a clear difference in quality and reliability.
Zoya is a nail lacquer that contains no Formaldehyde, DBT (DibutylThalate) or Tourlene, which are chemicals that some women find drying to their nails, when they wear a polish style regularly. Zoya’s line is mild, yet their colors are brilliant and their nude shades are truly nude and sheer. Colors such as Arielle, Fawne, Nikki and Corrinne are fabulous shades that are soft and vivid. Even through a salon, Zoya cost less than most brand name lacquers in a drug store. The great thing about this is, it is available only at a salon, so when you get your manicures, you are getting a product not available at stores. Your style is your own and you’re wearing the true original color, mimicked by many
Have you been annoyed by polish that seem to easily peel and chip off the nail, in a short time? This is because of our body oils and moisture or a dusty/dirty nail plate. The enemy of a nice polish comes from these factors, which can easily be fixed, to give you a lasting polish. Remember, it is not always the polish quality that causes chipped polish. Avoid applying polish, after having showered, washed dishes or water bath manicures. Also polish will not set well, over nails that have not been cleansed of oils and dust/lint. So don’t toss out your polishes, they can certainly be saved.
Nail Tek is a natural nail care line that specializes in repairing damaged nails and hydrating dry skin. Again, this is a salon product only, but you can certainly purchase from your salon, if they carry it. It cost more than most strengtheners from the drug store, but it has worked on 95% of all damaged nails, I have used it on.
One client, came in and had nails that were thin, peeled off in layers of nail from the tips and bend so easily, washing dishes turned them thin and see through. After two weeks of using the strengthener, she came back for a manicure and told me, how she could see the difference, when she washed dishes. As I looked over her nails, I could see it too. Great! I get to see this for every client that comes to me with nail conditions. Dry cuticles that are white and hard can lead to finger nails that are the same, dry and hard. The nail will grow and just start to crack, usually on side folds of the nail or the nail will break off in one crooked or jagged piece. Nail Tek has a formula that gives this kind of nail, elasticity and moisture. The nail becomes less prone to cracking under minimal stress, i.e. typing.
Finally, Essie I have found to have excellent nudes and sheers, which with one coat, the finish is even and seamless. When using sheer shades for nails, it is annoying to see the brush strokes in the finish, where there are lighter spots than others, causing streaks and strokes to be evident. With Essie, whether you apply the first coat or second coat of color, Essie is thick and silky, leaving behind and streak less nude sheer color coat. Perfect every time and phenomenal over French Manicure whites, pinks and neutrals.

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Nails are made of keratin an object in the body. Nails grow at an average rate of 0.01 centimeters a day. Caring for nails is equally important as taking care and pampering all the other body parts. Nails keep on growing so one need to regularly clean them and keep them in shape. Smoking damages nails very badly so one should avoid smoking or should cut off the intake to keep oneself healthy and to keep the nails healthy. Women do wear long artificial nails matching with their outfits to make their fingers look different and they do different art work on the nails to make them appear unique by using gels, colors, sequins on them. Women who always keep color coated on the nails too spoil the health of their nails. Shaping and cutting nails perfectly needs a little practice and patience. Keeping your nails trimmed and shaped properly helps to create a glamorous look to your hands.
Nail polish can help your hands look younger, smoother and even thinner. If you want beautiful and health nail eating a healthy diet. It is important to include certain vitamins in your daily diet to ensure that your nails are healthy and look beautiful. Every day apply a little bit of lime juice on your nails and let it rest there for 5 to 10 minutes. To avoid this unhygienic condition, remove the dirt with carbon papers or thick clothes. Never use sharper objects to remove dirt from your nails as it would break the nails. Supplement your diet with spirulina and kelp to make your nails strong. The water can work as a beautifying agent as well as a destructive aid for nails. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to dryness, very rounded and curved ends or darkening of nails. Red skin around cuticles indicates poor metabolism of essential fatty acids.
Beautiful and Health Nails Tips
1. Eat protein rich food for white bands across the nails.
2. Deficiency of hydrochloric acid causes nails to split.
3. Deficiency of vitamin B 12 can lead to dryness, rounded and curved ends and darkening of nails.
4. Eat food rich in zinc to prevent white spots on the nails.
5. Poor metabolism of essential fatty acids causes red skin around the cuticles.
6. Eat food rich in sulfur and silicon like broccoli, fish, and onions.
7. Eat food rich in biotin such as soy, brewer’s yeast and whole grains.
8. Drink plenty of water and fresh fruit juices.
9. Drink fresh carrot juice as often as possible as it is rich in calcium and phosphorus and good for strengthening the nails.
10. For dry and brittle nails eat food that is rich in vitamin A and calcium.
11. For hangnails eat food rich in protein, vitamin C and folic acid.
12. Supplement your diet with spirulina and kelp to make your nails strong.
13. Use Blue Tinged Translucent Polish.

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People use nail polish or nail varnish on the nails of fingers and/or toes for cosmetic purposes, or sometimes for the protection of their nails. Artificial nails, such as acrylic nails, serve the same purpose, and occasionally help people kick the bad habit of biting nails. Do these cosmetic products affect pulse oximeter readings? This question is often asked by people who are well manicured and are in need of a pulse oximeter.
Generally speaking, nail polish and acrylic nails do not affect the readings of modern state-of-the-art pulse oximeters. This has been proved by many recent researches. Many published papers can be found on the website National Center for Biotechnology Information which is operated by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health in the U.S.A. There are also numerous other resources, either on the Internet or found in published professional magazines, discussing effects of nail polish and acrylic nails to pulse oximeters.
In the early days of pulse oximetry, researchers conducted some trial to verify the effects of nail polish on pulse oximetry. In the tests, a number of adult volunteers had various colors of name brand nail polish applied to their finger nails. Measured data from some commercialized pulse oximeters are analyzed. Cote et al. reported that the reading of SpO2 is significantly lowered by 3% to 6% for those who use blue, green and black nail polish, and then suggested nail polish should be routinely removed before pulse oximetry monitoring. [1] White and Boyle tested several colored nail polishes and agreed with Cote et al.[2] Meanwhile, Rubin [3] also found that a blue color fingernail polish decreased SpO2 from 97% to 87%.
However, with the advance of technology, most pulse oximeters can ignore other tissues or nail polish[4] and discern only the absorption caused by arterial blood by examining only the varying part of the absorption spectrum. [5] Brand et al. tested the effects of colors of enamel nail polish to pulse oximeter readings on 12 healthy nonsmoking normoxic volunteers. The results showed that blue, green and black enamel nail polish which had the most significant impact on pulse oximetry, reported by Cote et al. earlier, does not interfere with pulse oximetry. [4] The test results of Rodden et al. in 2007 also drew a conclusion that fingernail polish did not cause a clinically significant change in pulse oximeter readings in healthy people. This test involved in 27 healthy volunteers with SpO(2)> or =95%. [6]
In reference [7], Hinkelbein et al tested the effect of nail polish on pulse oximeter readings in critically ill patients. Their conclusion is: “Nail polish does not alter pulse oximetry readings in mechanically ventilated patients to a clinically relevant extent. The mean error of measurement for all colours was within the manufacturers’ specified range of 2%.”, although black, purple and dark blue nail polish had greatest effect on the readings.
With respect to acrylic nail, Hinkelbein et al showed that acrylic finger nails may affect the measurement of oxygen saturation results depending on the pulse oximeter used and may cause significant inaccuracy.[8] On the other hand, a research conducted by Peters [9] demonstrated that unpolished acrylic nails do not affect pulse oximetry measurements of oxygen saturation. Patients may not need to remove unpolished acrylic nails before surgery.

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Having a pair of well-groomed hands is as fashionable as any accessory you’ll ever wear. The hands are constantly used to perform the simplest to the most grueling manual tasks, so they need special attention that oftentimes goes overlooked. Maybe you’re in your 20s or early 30s and you think you can’t possibly have (gulp) aging skin yet. Well, you’re wrong. Your skin’s ‘youthfulness’ has less to do with age than how it’s been treated, so if exposed to sun, smoke and stress, your skin will start ‘acting old,’ losing collagen, glow and elasticity. Lines will develop and pores can seem more pronounced. It’s easier to prevent damage than to repair it but the good news is you CAN reverse skin damage. The nail is comprised of keratin and amino acids, separated into different sections. The most important parts are the nail plate and lunula. The lunula is the bottom part of the nail nearest the cuticle. This grows into the nail plate, which covers the nail bed. Nail care focuses on the nail plate.
Here are dos and 5 don’ts to help slow down and reverse the aging process and leave your skin glowing at any age.
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.
“Cut nails straight-sided with slightly rounded tips to look fingers longer and more slender. This shape looks very nice on short nails too.
“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.
” A hand massage will boost your circulation and encourage nail growth.
2. Don’ts
” Do not use nails or blades to remove nail polish use only nail polish remover.
” 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.
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.
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.
How do I avoid getting polish on my cuticles?
Instead of painting right from the cuticle, place the brush on the nail bed about 1/8″ away from the cuticle and push backwards toward it, stopping just before the skin.
Nail facts
* Nails grow roughly 1mm each week.
* Lose a nail completely, and it’ll take half a year to grow back.
* The longest fingernails ever recorded belonged to an Indian man who sported 48-inch-long specimens.
* Up to 45% of blokes bite their nails.

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Do you end up spending upwards of $4 for a bottle of nail polish, only to have it start chipping, flaking, peeling, and fading within a couple of days? Do you paint your nails blue one day, only to decide the next day that you want pink nails, and feel guilty for removing that expensive polish? Are you short on cash but still want to have pretty nails? Well, it’s time to forget those expensive nail polishes! You can find low cost nail polish at your local drug store in fun colors. And guess what? It’s really not any different from the expensive stuff! I’m going to tell you about my favorite low cost nail polishes and let you decide which ones are right for you.
Petites are a very low cost nail polish that comes in a myriad of exciting colors, including ones with sparkles! This polish comes in a small .25 fl. oz. glass bottle that is, as the name suggests, petite. Bright Star is a great Petites polish. It is a clear polish with flecks of silver glitter, but not just little dots of glitter like in most polishes. In addition to the small dots of glitter, Bright Star contains long flakes of glitter. This looks great over a French manicure. I’ve found that Petites doesn’t often chip, but that the polish will just peel right off the nail in one piece. This is great for quick removal. Petites are definitely my favorite low cost nail polish. This polish can be found at stores like Wal-Mart, CVS, and Walgreens for around .99, but can also sometimes be cheaper.
Maybelline Colorama nail polish is a great little low cost polish from trusted brand Maybelline. Colorama comes in a cute .3 fl. oz. glass bottle with a tall cap for easy application. Maybelline says this is a five day polish, but it will start to peel, chip, or flake before five days is up. The gimmick with Colorama is the special top coats. In addition to the selection of colored polishes, there is also a selection of top coats available to give your polish a little kick with effects like glitter, shimmer, and pearl finishes. These top coats can be worn alone and in fact, my favorite Colorama top coat, #21, which is a milky barely-there shimmer, looks fantastic for a subtle shimmer to clean looking nails. These top coats would also look great over a French manicure. The actual colored polishes come in a variety of shades, with tones in the red, pink, and bronze family being the most abundant. Maybelline Colorama nail polish will remove easily, sometimes just peeling right off without acetone. I paid $1.82 for this nail polish at Wal-Mart.
N.Y.C. nail enamel is another low cost nail polish option. This polish comes in a cylindrical glass bottle and weighs in at .45 fl. oz. N.Y.C. nail enamel is known for its cheap price and wild color selection. Being that I’m in a glitter phase right now, I recently purchased #105A which is called Starry Silver Glitter. It’s a clear polish with small dots of silver glitter and larger dots of purple, blue, and silver glitter. It goes on very nicely. I also have #114A which I believe is called Taxi Cab, which as I’m sure you can imagine is bright yellow. The polish will start to peel, chip, or flake after a few days, sometimes making the use of acetone unnecessary. This polish can be found for under $1 at Wal-Mart and most drug stores.
Wet ‘n’ Wild nail color is a longtime favorite of those who love bright and flashy nail polish colors. This nail polish comes in a .5 fl. oz. glass bottle, making this the largest quantity of the nail polish in this article. Wet ‘n’ Wild chips and that is a fact of life. Every teenager who goes through a goth phase will undoubtedly purchase at least one bottle of Wet ‘n’ Wild’s black nail polish for around .99 at their local drug store. Wet ‘n’ Wild also sports a number of wild pinks, greens, blues, and purples.
Milani nail lacquer is on the high end of low cost nail polish, if that makes any sense. It comes in a rich looking .45 fl. oz. glass bottle with a tan cap. I say that this is on the high end of low cost nail polish because a bottle will usually run you about $2-$3, which is more than Maybelline Colorama, but less than Cover Girl or Revlon. Milani nail lacquer comes in an assortment of bright and bold shades, including blues and purples in addition to the standard pinks and reds. Milani nail lacquer also offers a special line of French manicure polishes, including a number of pink and beige tones as well as the illusive blue. Not too many people would do a French manicure in blue, but it looks surprisingly good. Milani also offers a base coat, top coat, and nail strengthener. It will take a few coats to get a color more closely resembling how it looks in the bottle and it will of course chip after a few days.
I hope that this article will help you in making the right decision about what low cost nail polish to purchase. I am also eager to hear about your experiences with them, so leave a comment!

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