The surface of a nail is called the nail plate.
--The cuticle
is the skin that grows from the finger onto the base of the nail (nail
root).
--Nail moons are found at the base of the nails. Small or no
moons may indicate low metabolism while large moons may indicate an active
metabolism.
--The average growth rate a day is 0.1 mm. Weather,
activity, hormonal changes & age all have an effect on the rate of
nail growth.
--With age nails tend to thicken, harden, grow slower
& ridges appear.
Tips on Nail Care
Wear gloves when washing the dishes or scrubbing dirt because
immersing hands in water & coming into contact with chemicals found in
most cleaning agents can make nails brittle.
1. Apply a good hand &
nail lotion on your hands & nails to protect &
moisturize them. Dry nails tend to crack & split.
2. Give a
shine to the nails by massaging coconut oil or warm castor oil on
them.
3. File your nails instead of clipping them (unless you need to
shorten a big part) at a 45-degree angle. A good clipping moment would be
after a shower or bath where nails are much softer or you can also
soak your hands in a bowl of lukewarm water first before you clip. Avoid
filing deep into the corners.
4. Remove all nail polish every week
and allow nails to breathe.
5. Dip a cotton-tipped swab in
hydrogen-peroxide or clean under the nails, to whiten them.
6.
Before a manicure dip your nails in a cup of warm water with one
tablespoon of lemon juice added to it.
7. Vitamin C and Vitamin D are
important for nails. So, lemon, orange, cabbage, milk are good food in
this regard. Iodine improves blood circulation in the nails. So, iodine in
any form may be good for nails.
Nail painting:
-- Painting nails can protect them from being damaged, to a certain
extent. You see, colored nail polish blocks light from the nails & to
some people, this would prompt fungal growth on their nails.
-- Give
every nail 3 strokes of polish, starting either from the center-left-right
or from right-center-left, it's really about preference.
-- Add a top
coat (clear nail polish) to protect the polish & keep nail under wraps
away from the sun.
-- Use acetone-free nail varnish remover. Acetone
(alcohol) dries nails & can make them brittle over time.
-- A
bottle of nail polish should be kept in a cool & dry place, out of the
sun.
An all-star manicure:
Add some razzle dazzle to your nails when you most
need a manicure but can't get one. Just polish your nails with a
chip-resistent nail color and slick over a top coat. Then stick on a
rhinestone or a swarovski crystal onto each nail or every other one to
retain these starry nails for a bit, just seal your creativity with
another layer of top coat. Walk in to a party feeling proud of your
new-look nails.
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