15 Do’s for Beautiful and Healthy Nails Like Never Before

Before doing anything, it is important to make sure that your nails and the skin around them are completely free of dirt. Then remove all traces of your last nail polish with a solvent without acetone (anything else needlessly dry your fingernail). Dr. Ava Shamban, author of Heal Your Skin, recommends applying soap to a toothbrush and gently rubbing nails and skin. This will remove dirt and exfoliate any dead skin without the use of harsh, drying chemicals or expensive scrubs.

Your nails are delicate, and brushing them too abruptly can expose you to certains infections.

According to Dr. Prystowsky, regular cuts are as important for your nails as for your hair. So, take the time to cut them every two weeks, adjusting them more or less often once you see how your nails react.

health.comLong nails are beautiful, but if you are someone who has had problems with your nails, Dr. Shamban recommends keeping your nails short – at least to start. A shorter style with a rounded edge tends to be easier to manage and looks cleaner, so you can focus on building strength without worrying about anything else. As long as each nail is uniform in shape and matches its nine neighbors, you will not miss the added length.

If you are someone whose work routine damages your nails a lot, Dr. Prystowsky suggests keeping a nail file handy to smooth the rough edges of your nails. The best way to do it? Work in one direction with the grain of your fingernail for a smoother finish.

The cuticle has a very important role to play: it seals the area at the base of the nail. So when you cut or remove the cuticle, you break that seal of protection, which makes you vulnerable to bacteria and the possibility of infection. If you want to remove the cuticles, Dr. Debbie Palmer, dermatologist and creator of Replere, recommends gently pushing the cuticle once a week with an orange wooden stick after getting out of the shower and then massaging with a cream thick.

To avoid all kinds of infection, Dr. Prystowski advises washing metal tools with soap and water, then wiping them with rubbing alcohol. And do not forget to regularly replace disposable tools like nail files. There is no reason to continue using a ragged tool when it is so easy to rotate with a new one..

Put nail polish on your nails at home is not an excuse to skip the base coat. Dr. Prystowsky emphasizes that this step not only protects the nail by preventing it from being stained by the varnish, but also helps the color to appear more saturated and opaque with a single layer. And if you really want to go to the next level, Dr. Shamban suggests adding a layer of glossy polish between each layer to add protection.

Just like for makeup and skin care, all brands of nail polish are not of equal quality, so be sure to buy or use a good product. Dr. Debbie Palmer advises you to avoid polishing products containing toxic chemicals such as dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and toluene, as these toxins can contribute to nail fragility and cracking.

It is essential to put a top coat when you do a manicure at home. This step is just as important as the base coat, as the top coat seals the color of the polish and adds a shiny finish to your nails. Dr. Prystowsky recommends adding a topcoat every three days to reduce the risk of flaking. Seriously, why spend all this time painting his nails if it only lasts one day?

Any nail expert you talk to will do his best to get away from acrylic or gel manicures. As durable and practical as they are, it must be admitted that they are very hard on the nail. But if you really want this type of manicure, there are ways to minimize the damage on your hands and on your nails. The main problem with a gel manicure is exposure to UV light in the drying device, which can damage the skin under and around the nail, which leads to an increased risk of cancer. To help reduce this risk, Dr. Prystowky recommends applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50 before the procedure to help block the damage. You can also wear special gloves that expose only the nails themselves, protecting the rest of your hands from harmful UV rays.

Give your nails time to rest and repair with a bright shine. According to Dr. Shamban, going from one strong color to another without giving your nails a break can dry them, make them yellow, and over time, even weaken the structure of the nail.

Whenever you clean your house with harsh chemicals, garden, or soak or soil your hands, Dr. Prystowsky stresses the importance of wearing rubber, vinyl, nitrile or plastic gloves, preferably with a cotton lining. Cleaning the dishes in hot, soapy water without gloves can weaken the nails, while gardening will require a level of cleaning that you want to avoid as much as possible. Likewise, now that the weather is getting colder, do not forget to wear a pair of mittens or gloves so that the cold air and the wind do not break the hard work you’ve done to hydrate yourself, leaving you skin dry and scaly.

Your nails are made of a protein called keratin, so just like for the clarity of your skin or the shine of your hair, you can improve your nails by changing your diet. Falcone recommends adding vitamins and supplements like biotin, vitamin E and fish oil to your daily diet, while Dr. Palmer recommends high-protein foods such as beans, fish and nuts. The only thing that any expert agrees on is that once you reach the right combination, you’ll be rewarded with stronger, clearer nails.

You do not sleep without moisturizing your face, so why should your nails be treated differently? Holly Falcone, an artist and nail specialist, likes to use a mixture of almond oil and avocado to keep her cuticles and nails hydrated while she sleeps. In a pinch, you can even use a little lip balm.

Source:

Good Housekeeping