在我开始之前照顾好我的指甲d learning what I needed to be doing to keep my nails nice, they were very short and they'd peel like crazy. If I let them grow, they'd just break right off again and it drove me mad! But I learnt a few tips that are easy to do that have seriously helped my nails to grow and that's what I'm going to share today. I should also mention that while my nails may not look massively long in the photo this is because I don't let them grow too long! Having very long nails gets in the way of life sometimes so I like to keep them a nice medium length.While all nails are different and some nail types need little extras and different treatments, these tips should work for pretty much anybody. Even if you have lovely long nails already, these tips will help to keep them in great condition!
Keep your Cuticles Neat.
I always keep my cuticles pushed back and trim off the excess skin when I need to. This is because untidy ragged cuticles can not only make the nails look scruffy, but they can catch on things and tear the skin and if the cuticle becomes damaged, the resulting nail growth may not be so great either. The nail is made up of hard keratin, the oldest part being at the very tips of your nails and the newest right at the cuticle. The cuticle protects the new, soft keratin as it grows onto the nail, meaning the cuticle plays a very important role in the overall condition of your nails. Keeping your cuticles neat and pushed back will not only keep your nails looking lovely, but in better condition too.
Cuticle Oil.
On the topic of cuticles - cuticle oil! I preach this to everyone, friends, family, clients, but it really is a miracle worker. I've been using the CND Solar Oil but there are loads of great ones out there, the Jessica Phenomenon Oil is fab, as is the OPI Avoplex Oil. You can also try high street cuticle oils, but any oil is going to do your nails good. The nail you can see is the nail you are stuck with, but keeping your cuticles nourished means the resulting nail growth will be stronger and healthier. Think of your nails like your hair, if the hair you have is already damaged, you can try to maintain it, but really, your only hope for truly healthy hair, is new hair growth, which will be healthier if you look after it from the very beginning. The cuticle area is the beginning of your nails, so you need to take care of it! I keep my cuticle oil on my bedside table so I always remember to apply it just before bed.
Hand Cream.
As well as applying cuticle oil, it is a good idea to apply hand cream throughout the day, as this not only keeps your hands soft, but will nourish the cuticle area too, keeping it from drying out. I love the Soap & Glory hand creams as they are moisturising and non-greasy, but any hand cream will do really. Just make sure that when you rub it into your hands, you rub it into your nails and cuticles too.
Keep them Covered.
A mistake a lot of people with weak nails make is thinking they should stay off wearing nail polish, but it's not true! While nail polish - without a basecoat - can discolour your nails and regular use of strong nail polish removers can weaken them slightly, wearing nail polish won't damage your nails. Infact, if you find your nails bend, peel and break easily, wearing nail polish to protect them is probably a good idea. My nails used to be very weak and one thing that's really helped to strengthen them is keeping them painted to protect them. I use shellac or other gel polishes most of the time, as regular nail polish can get in the way when I'm doing clients nails. The gel polishes in particular form a thick, hard layer over the nails, not only keeping them protected, but making them look lovely too! I've heard horror stories about gel polishes and some people seem to think they damage nails. However, gel polishes such as shellac, jessica GELeration and OPI Gel colour need to be soaked off by a professional, people try to pick and peel them off at home, which is what ruins peoples nails. So if you want to go for Gel, go to the pros! If not, keeping your nails painted with a basecoat, colour and topcoat will keep your nails looking lovely and they'll be slightly more protected too.
Keep your Nails Shaped.
I always make sure my nails are filed, as ragged tips can lead to your nails catching on things and breaking off. If you've spent time and effort growing your nails, the last thing you want is for all your hard work to be ruined because you forgot to file away the scruffy ends! I generally keep my nails filed to a rounded off square shape, as this keeps them neat and tidy, with no pointy edges that can catch on things. The shape you want your nails is entirely personal preference, but this is what I've found works for me. Nails that are filed too square will have sharp corners, that can catch and break and nails that are too rounded, or pointy at the top (i.e. pointy nails or almond shape), can be weaker as the tips will be very narrow and therefore will bend more easily.
So, those are my quick tips for healthier nails!
I really hope you enjoyed this post and let me know what you think about these kinds of posts. Would you like to see more?
