Steps to Healthy Nails

Lately, i have been plagued with toe nail infection. I was appalled, i didn't know it can happen! Most people do not have a lot of time to spend on their nails. However, neat nails do add to a clean and professional appearance. Women are not the only ones who should spend some time taking care of their nails; Men too, as neat nails do add to a clean and professional appearance.

Here are 8 steps – applicable to both men and women:

1. Keep a good diet.

A good diet will help you with many things, not just your nails. A good diet means consuming the right quantities of food from all food groups in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. It must include several food groups because one single group cannot provide everything a human needs for good health. Protein-rich foods such as lean red meat, poultry, eggs, and fish such as salmon are recommended foods for shiny hair and strong nails.

2. Moisturize your finger nails.

If you have the habit of applying hand cream or lotion, make sure to rub some into and around your nails. This massaging action promotes nail growth because blood is circulating in the fingers. The lotion also helps to soften cuticles. It makes nails less dry and brittle so they are less likely to break once you have longer nails.

3. Keep your nails even.

If you find that some of your nails are super long while the others are broken-off, trim or file them back to match. When filing, be sure to use a good quality filer. Only file in one direction, back-and-forth sawing will weaken the nail and cause it to break. Also, try not to make them to round as that would put you at risk for ingrown nails.

4. Gently tap your fingers on a hard surface.

Using your fingers will stimulate the blood flow to your nail beds. Activities such as typing, tapping your fingers on a hard surface (such as a table top), or playing piano for several minutes each day will create adequate stimulation to help your nails grow faster.

5. Stop the biting habit.
Biting your nails will make them look ugly and uncared for, and can hurt if you bite too far. Use an anti-nail biting cream or polish your fingernails, so that when you go to bite your nails it tastes bad. Once you get out of the habit, you can stop using the cream.

 

6. Trim your nails regularly.

Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers. Trim your nails straight across, then round the tips in a gentle curve. It might be easiest to trim and file your fingernails when they’re soft, such as after bathing. How often you should trim your nails will depend on how quickly your nails grow and how long you want them.

7. Soak your nails every other week or so in warm water and a moisturizing soap.

Clean them using a soft nail brush. You can also soak your hands in some baby oil that has Vitamin E which would help to keep your hands soft.

8. Last but not least, probably for women only – Give yourself a mani-pedi at least once a month to keep your hands and feet looking nice.

You can get a professional mani-pedi once in a while if you like, so long as you make sure the salon is sterile.

 This is a repost from Porcelain Face Spa's blog.