Do your nails split and peel, are soft and flaky, always breaking? Then you resort to false nails which makes the condition of your natural nails even worse.. I have been down that track, and then decided to work on getting my own natural nails in the peak of condition, which is so much better, and you can do your own manicures at home saving you heaps of time and money. We have lots of great tips to share with you today.
Want Strong, Healthy Nails?
If yours crack, split, or refuse to grow, try our solutions for fingers and toes
Sophia TsibikakiWhy is it so hard to grow and maintain gorgeous nails? One big reason: Nails aren’t alive; they’re dead (if they were living tissue, they could repair themselves instead of making us do it for them). If nails aren’t alive, then how do they grow? Actually, they don’t; new cells develop deep under your cuticles and push out the older, dead ones — forming those flat, hard surfaces we love to pamper and polish. Here’s how to have yours looking great in no time.
Doctor Dos & Don’ts
DON’T SHARE YOUR NAIL FILE
Resist the urge to let anyone — even a relative — use your emery board. This tool is a porous germ-trapper. Keep yours to yourself, and replace it often.
DO WEAR THE RIGHT SHOE SIZE
Are you cramming your feet into too-small or too-pointy shoes? If so, your toenails may grow into the surrounding skin — causing the dreaded ingrown nail, which can lead to pain, swelling, and infection. When nails are too long, tight shoes can cause even more damage, says Mitchel P. Goldman, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Diego. “If your toes hit the front of your shoe, nails can crack or turn black-and-blue. Or nails may lift, which can lead to infection.”
DO MOISTURIZE DAILY
Nails need to be hydrated, since most problems crop up when they’re parched. “Dry nails can crack, peel, and become brittle. Plus, dehydrated cuticles not only look ragged but also can turn into painful and infected hangnails,” says Audrey Kunin, M.D., a Kansas City, Missouri, dermatologist. The best moisturizers are thick — even greasy. Try Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Hand Cream.
DON’T GO BAREFOOT
Keep your shoes on while at public places (swimming pools, locker rooms, shoe stores) — if you don’t, we won’t be responsible for your toenail health. Why worry? “Warm, damp environments are a breeding ground for fungi and viruses,” explains Phoebe Rich, M.D., a nail disorders expert and a clinical associate professor of dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. Tip: If hose isn’t offered when you’re shoe shopping, ask for it.
TLC to Help Nails Grow
“Everyone has an individual rate at which her nails increase in length, and that can’t be changed,” says Paul Kechijian, M.D., a nail specialist and a former clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University. On average, nails gain about one eighth of an inch per month. Their growth can be influenced by hormones (which is why pregnant women’s nails grow like crazy) and temperature (more growth in summer than in winter). While most experts agree that there’s no single food or pill that will speed nail growth, it’s well-known that poor nutrition, infections, and aging can all slow it. “To keep nails healthy, hydrate them and minimize the use of harsh chemicals and tools,” says Marsha Gordon, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology and vice chairman of the dermatology department at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Help prevent breakage with a hardener like OPI Nail Envy.
But wait, there is more – please visit source below
Source: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/tips/a12807/strong-healthy-nails-aug05/
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