Sunday, June 23, 2013

Top 10 ways to get HEALTHY NAILS this summer!⚘☀⚘

Happy Saturday everyone!! So, summer rolls around and all those dark nail polish colors we used throughout the fall and winter season has taken a toll on our nails! Why not start off the summer with beautiful, long nails to add some sparkly and bright neon polish to? Here are my top 10 things to do to get beautiful and HEALTHY nails this summer :)

1) MOISTURIZE! 

You would be surprised how much of a difference moisturizing your hand, nails and massaging the lotion into your cuticles can do. If you have extra dry hands, try using a cuticle oil and massaging it into your cuticles. I personally just use some body butter from Bath and Body works. I apply it while I'm watching tv or laying in bed and just massage it in, since I'm already just lazying around ;) Aveeno also makes various great lotions that are very moisturizing. As for cuticle oils, I would suggest the brand, OPI. 

2) DO NOT PICK AT YOUR NAILS

Picking dirt and playing with your nails is a sure fire way to cause them to chip and break. The alternative to this? WASH YOUR HANDS! If you wash your hands often, you will need to moisturize more. Healthy nails are ones that are left alone to grow. Similarly, chewing your nails is an immediate way to notice brittle nails that will definitely break off within no time (learned that the hard way!). 

3) ALWAYS APPLY A BASE COAT

So many people skip this step as part of giving themselves a manicure. It is very important you apply a base coat! Nail polish stains your nails. In addition, it strips your nails of their moisture. There are base coats specifically designed to avoid both these problems. A personal favorite is Nail Envy Dry and Brittle Nails by OPI. 

4) BE GENTLE WITH YOUR CUTICLES!

I have seen this mistake done by so many people! Pushing back your cuticles or even using a cuticle trimmer is perfectly fine. However, if you are hurting your cuticles in any way, you are hurting your nails indirectly. Your cuticles are what nourish your nails and protect them from germs and bacteria. If you trim your cuticles so much that they bleed, you are exposing your nails to infection. If you push your cuticles back so much that they hurt to touch, this could end up causing brittle nails. Your cuticles are there to protect your nails, so make sure you don't go overboard in trying to get rid of them!

On the left is a straight edge toe nail
clipper by Tweezerman. It works great
for fingernails to get a clean straight
edge. On the right is a curved edge
fingernail clipper. It will give a
rounded edge to your nails and can be
found in most every brand.
5) TRIM AND FILE YOUR NAILS REGULARLY

Nails, as anything, aren't going to grow exactly as you want them to. It is necessary to file and trim your nails to prevent chips. If you are a fan of round edge nails, almost all nail clippers come with a slight curvature. I personally have found these to make my nails more prone to chipping. I use a toe nail clipper by Tweezerman to achieve a straight edge cut on my fingernails. Find what shape works best for your nails! I would also suggest using a glass file, as they are more gentle on your nails and are less likely to chip your nails

6) USE A HAND SCRUB

I have found that using a hand scrub once a week on my nails has made them more healthy looking after the first use! Scrubbing your hands will stimulate blood flow as well as getting rid of the dead skin. Both of these are great for growing healthy nails and healthy looking nails! It will also help to strip the layer of "yellow" on your nails that are likely due to stains from nail polish. I like to concentrate the scrub for a little bit on my cuticles to get the blood flowing there. Make sure you use a gentle scrub, since your hands and nails are delicate! I use the True Blue Spa 60-second manicure hand scrub from Bath and Body works. Smells a little too lemon-y for my taste, but hey, works great!

7) DO NOT USE ACETONE BASED NAIL POLISH REMOVER

Did you know that insecticides, paint (to thin the paint) and shoe polish are some of the common household items with acetone in them? Of course, our body already produces small amounts of acetone and using acetone in moderation as nail polish remover does not necessarily cause some sort of dramatic effects to your health, however, why not use an acetone free nail polish remover when it is available? The acetone free nail polish remover will help your nails retain some of its moisture and will make them less brittle in the long run.

8) TAKE A MULTIVITAMIN OR BIOTIN

Let me disclaimer this one with, if you do not need additional amounts of these supplements, overdosing on vitamins is a waste of your time!!! Not only that, but all vitamins and medicines have an upper limit, meaning there is a certain amount beyond which taking them will actually
cause negative effects on your body!!! CHECK THE  UPPER LIMITS of vitamins and track your intakes. DO NOT take 5 different multivitamin pills and assume that your body will just be in better shape due to this. Whatever your body does not need, it will get rid of, and in some cases, will end up causing side effects. 

That being said, in moderation, a multivitamin a day or a biotin tablet a day when you are having trouble growing your nails or keeping strong healthy nails is perfectly fine for the average individua

l (again I say average since everyone has different things that work and don't work for them). I personally am a big fan of taking a multivitamin a day and taking a Biotin tablet every 3 days in place of the multivitamin. This has helped both my hair and nails grow healthier!

9) PROBLEMS WITH YOUR NAILS SIGNAL OTHER PROBLEMS IN YOUR BODY. PAY ATTENTION TO THEM!

Your nails are a direct result of what is happening in your body. If your nails are brittle and are not growing, you may have a calcium deficiency. If they are excessively dry, you probably are dehydrated or lacking vitamin E. If they are pitting and have dry spots, maybe it is a more serious condition such as psoriasis. If you see any odd changes in your nails despite actually taking good care of your nails, make sure you consult your doctor. There may be an underlying cause to it! 

10) DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

A simple and common sense tip, but often forgotten! Over 50% of your body is water. Water is needed as a fundamental for growth and nourishment in your body. Drinking enough water, especially during the summertime when you are easily dehydrated, will nourish your nails and cuticles and prevent dry, brittle nails. 

I hope these 10 tips have helped you in some way. Please consult your doctor before doing any dramatic changes to your daily habits and diet, but these should be some easy tips to get you started on your way to beautiful nails! Have an amazing weekend!! 

xoxo,
GirlontheGo

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