10 Tips for Growing Strong, Healthy Nails
Having great, healthy nails can give anyone a confidence boost. This might be why women are famous for lacquering their nails in thousands of different colors and patterns.
However, nails can become brittle and break easily. The best way to avoid a broken nail is to have strong nails.
So, how do you grow healthy nails?
Here are a few tricks you can use to toughen them up.
Leave your cuticles alone.
Unfortunately, pushing back your cuticles—while “required” in many different nail styles—hurts your nails. Cuticles protect your nails from bacteria and fungus, so pushing them back isn’t great.
Don’t bite your nails.
It may seem obvious, but biting your nails is not suitable for them. It stresses your nails and creates bumps that can cause even more damage.
Drink water and eat healthy.
Remember that nails are part of your body. Feeding your body healthy food will help strengthen your nails and promote further growth. Water contains many minerals, so drinking plenty of it will promote stronger, longer nails.
Don’t peel off your nail polish.
Peeling nail polish off your fingers aggravates your nails and may lead to damage. It’s not a good idea. Use nail polish remover instead. If you must peel and pick, stick your fingers in warm water beforehand.
Beware of nail polish as a whole.
Most lacquers have some pretty harsh chemicals that are not good for your nails. To avoid that, try to use chemical-free nail polish.
If not, then don’t drown your nails in polish. Paint a thin layer, wait at least a minute, then paint another thin layer. You don’t want to leave nail polish on the nails too long either; your nails can’t breathe and may turn yellow.
If cleaning with chemicals, wear leather gloves.
The chemicals in your everyday cleaners wear down and weaken your nails. Wearing gloves, however, can protect them.
This also applies to hand sanitizer. While it kills germs, it isn’t good for your nails. If possible, try to avoid applying it to them.
Stay dry.
Water dilutes nails. Nails suck in the water, almost like a sponge. They need time to dry after a shower, swimming, or washing your hands.
Stay warm.
As winter nears, protect your nails from the cold. Cold air can dry out nails, making them extremely fragile and easy to snap. Consider moisturizing your hands often to battle the cold’s effects.
Don’t use your nails as a letter opener!
Sharp nails may seem helpful for breaking off a seal or cutting through some tape, but avoid it if you can! This strains the nails, weakening them and leading to more breaks, undermining your nails even more.
File rough edges.
If you don’t have smooth nails, leave them open for more abrasions and damage. Always remember to file.
These simple tricks will strengthen your nails. It’s okay to break one rule occasionally, but if you want healthy nails, stick to it as much as possible.
Nails can give any Gen-Y woman a more professional look, helping her land a job or earn some respect in the workplace. Plus, they can provide quite a confidence boost.
