How To Keep Your
Nails Healthy And Beautiful
As a woman I believe that modern women today are most likely
to suffer from unhealthy nails or health conditions that damage them. Why?
Modern women almost always have polish, acrylics, gels or stick ons all of
which conceal the true condition of the nails while at the same time making
them look very beautiful. In the quest to attain beautiful nails, many women
have also ended up getting infections that were severe and in some cases
demanded the amputation of a finger, hand, toe or foot.
So how can you ensure that your nails stay healthy and
beautiful? Here are a few tips.
1. Cuticle Removal
Most infections we get while having manicures and pedicures
done are as a result of wrong cuticle removal. The main purpose of the cuticle
is to protect the nail bed from inflammation and infections. The proper way to
remove cuticles is by first applying some cuticle lotion to soften the cuticles
then soaking your fingernails or toenails in warm water. Using a cuticle
remover, gently push the cuticles back.
Once this is done the pushed back
cuticle will be raised over the nail bed. This is what we call the excess
cuticle. Use a nail clipper to cut the excess cuticle. Do not remove or pull
the cuticles to try and remove them and don't allow the beautician at the salon
to forcefully remove the cuticles. Should you do this, you leave your nail bed
exposed and susceptible to infections and inflammation. After cutting off
excess cuticle, apply cuticle lotion or hand lotion so as to keep your nails
and cuticles soft and moisturized.
2. Dietary Needs
A diet rich in Vitamin A, Calcium and Phosphorous will help
prevent your nails from being dry and brittle. Foods rich in Vitamin A include
apricots, carrots cheese and broccoli. Foods rich in calcium include milk,
yoghurt, cheese & almonds. Carrot juice is rich in calcium and Phosphorous.
Hang nails are small strips of skin that separate from the
cuticles. To prevent hangnails take foods rich in protein, folic acid and
vitamin C.
Spirulina and kelp are very good diet supplements that help
make your nails healthy and strong.
A diet rich in Vitamin B 12, which is found in foods such as
eggs, fish, liver, beef, oysters, can prevent your nails from dryness, rounded
nails, curved nails and darkening of nails.
Overall, a diet rich in fruits and raw vegetables will
result in very strong healthy nails since these foods are rich in Vitamins and
minerals essential for your nail growth and overall health.
3. Keep it Natural
I know how much better nails look in gels, acrylics and
stick ons; but what you may not know is how badly they damage your nail plate.
I'm not saying don't ever put them on. All I'm saying is don't make a habit of
it. Once in a while is not too bad. The best way to keep your nails healthy is
by keeping them natural. Artificial nails contain chemicals and glue that could
cause fungal infection on your nails. The methacrylic acid used during
application of acrylic is corrosive and so if used in excess it can seep
through the nail plate and cause damage to the nail bed.
Avoid polishing your nails through out. Leave them without
polish for at least one full week in a month so as to avoid discoloration.
Avoid nail polish removers that contain acetone or
formaldehyde. It's better to use polish remover that contains acetate. While
removing nail polish, use as little polish remover as possible and then wash
your nails thoroughly with soap and water to remove all traces of both the
polish and remover.
4. Keep your Nails
Clean & Short
Long nails may have been fashionable in the 80's and early
90's but that has changed and short nails are now trendy. Some ladies however
like their nails long and polished. Long nails are hard to keep clean as they
conceal a lot of dirt beneath them and they are also prone to breakage. I'm an
African woman and I find it totally ridiculous for an African woman to have
long nails because we at one point of another have to do some household chores
no matter how subtle. Very long nails inhibit your ability to put your hand
into full use when carrying out tasks; be it household or otherwise. So keep
your nails short and clean. It's classy, professional & trendy.
5. Moisturize &
Hydrate
Just like the skin needs lots of water to stay hydrated and
moisturized, so do your nails. So it's very important to take at least 1 liter
of water a day but the recommended quantity is 2 liters or 8 glasses. Let's
face it; very few of us can manage the latter so the former option is better
than taking no water at all.
To keep your nails moisturized, invest in a cuticle
cream/softener such as lanolin and use it every time after using water to clean
or do other chores. Also make sure you apply some lotion or hand cream before
going to bed.
Now you know what to do to realize healthy beautiful nails.
Be nice and share the same with a friend.
By:- Susan Aquila Mburu
