Our nails say a lot about a person. They are exposed, everyone can see them and they are an essential part of a neat appearance. If you see a person which you find attractive and find that the person’s nails are not well taken care of, the overall look is getting its turn. Healthy looking nails are important and give a first impression; they are an asset both in your personal and business life.
Therefore it is important to keep them healthy and strong and you will be proud to wave and shake those hands with anyone.
So how do you best practice good nail hygiene?!
Stop biting those nails!
To keep your nails beautiful and healthy means that nail biting is banned! Nail biting is not only giving you a bad appearance but it also means putting your health at risk…read this: 9 Reasons to Stop Nail Biting Now.
Simply keep them clean
To keep your nails healthy can be simple and inexpensive. You do not have to make manicures often if you can keep a daily hygiene around your nails.
What is most important is to keep your fingernails dry and clean. Keeping them clean prevents bacteria from growing under your nails which can result in illness for nail biters. Make it your daily routine to check your nails and remove dirt from under the nails. Be gentle when removing the dirt so you don´t separate the nail from the skin. This can increase the risk of getting infections.
Wash your hands in mild natural made soap and gently scrub the nails and cuticle and ensure that you keep the nails dry to prevent them from brittle.
Spoil yourself with the polish
To have the nails nice, clean and polished is making every person look good! It gives that little extra to the appearance whether it´s with a natural or a strong color matching that outfit! Regardless, it is important to choose a non-toxic nail polish with natural ingredients. Look out for nail polish which is “3-free,” meaning they don’t use toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or formaldehyde, which are all known carcinogens.
When it is time to remove the nail polish, make sure that you do it with acetone-free remover. Anything else will make the nails dry out.
Keep them moisturized
Keep the cuticles smooth and soft. The cuticle is the u-shaped thin layer of skin which overlaps the plate (basically where your nail meets your skin). This area often gets dry and you keep your nails looking healthy by applying a moisturizer especially for nails or a thicker lotion. To get the best result, take a nail file and use it to move back the cuticle and then take a thick layer of the moisturizer and give your fingernails a massage. If you do not want to buy a cream you can as well try with olive oil.
Protect those nails from soap and water
When doing the dishes we expose our nails to water and soap which may damage them in the long run. The nails will dry out and make them fragile. To keep them healthy it is recommended to wear gloves which will also protect your skin for dryness.
Trim them regularly
As important it is to keep your haircut to make it look nice and healthy, as important is it to keep your nails trimmed. You should make it a habit of clipping them every two weeks, even if you are having long nails. After the trimming, you can use the nail file to get them nicely shaped with soft edges. It is important to do this in one direction instead of back and forth which can weaken your nails.
Don’t use your nails as a tool!
Your nails are not a tool and you would not use them as one. Using those perfect nails for opening the soda can is very tempting, but don´t! Just don’t! You may damage the nails, making them brittle and split. Our nails are not meant to act as can openers and the risk of hurting the nail is high, such as separating the skin from the nail.
Stop overdoing manicure
Next time you go for your manicure, keep it to a minimum. Get your nails cleaned from the old polish with acetone-free removers, let the experts trim and shape them nicely but avoid the chemicals you may need for extensions. When going to a clinic you may be exposed to more chemicals and harsher ingredients. So next time, make sure you ask and check out the products the clinic is using and if you can bring your own tools you are guaranteed no one else has been sharing them.
See a dermatologist
Most of the times bad conditions of nails can be traced to environmental issues such as exposure to chemicals or humidity, but it may be for other reasons. Often nails are a good way to reflect your medical condition. If your nails are discolored it may be because you are suffering from an infection or more serious sickness. The best advice is for you to consult a dermatologist and get help on the treatment needed. The dermatologist will be able to provide you the prescription on the cream and supplements you may need to get your nails healthy again.
Take care of your nails!
