Nails can be a beauty obsession. They can also be an indication of your health. So it's important to take care of them!
Having healthy nails requires a lot of work. You need to care for them properly and do your best to avoid injury. But there are five steps you can take to keep your nails strong and healthy. If you follow these, you'll have less problems with breakage, chipping, and other issues. These five steps will also moisturize, strengthen and protect your nails, as well as make them look their best!
Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is a crucial part of having strong, healthy nails. Even if you don't have a nail issue now, if you are not eating the right things, your nails will not be able to grow and will break easily. You need protein from sources like beans, nuts or chicken to promote nail growth and strength. A lack of vitamin B12 can lead to weak nails that are more prone to breaking. Vitamin C helps the body produce collagen which is an important component for healthy nails and gums. And manganese helps with nail hardening by acting as a barrier against environmental toxins that weaken nails.
Drink Enough Water
Drink enough water. Your nails are made of protein, which is largely composed of water. So it's important to drink plenty of water to keep your nails strong and healthy. If you're not drinking enough water or if you're dehydrated, your nails can become weak and brittle.
Moisturize Your Nails
Moisturizing your nails is essential to preserving their strength. Dryness creates weak nails, which are susceptible to splitting and cracking. This can lead to painful tears that take longer to heal. Moisturizing keeps the moisture in your nails, which in turn keeps them strong and healthy.
To moisturize your nails, soak them for 5-10 minutes in warm water with a quarter cup of vinegar or lemon juice added. Add a drop or two of dish soap if desired. After soaking, gently rub some petroleum jelly onto your nails and cuticles for extra moisture and protection.
Keeping your nails and cuticles moisturized is essential to maintaining healthy nails. You can do this with a product specifically made for your nails, such as a nail polish that contains moisturizer, or you can use a hand lotion or even just plain hand cream. But be careful of using too much hand lotion around your nails or cuticles which can lead to over-softening. If you use too much it will make it harder for your nails to grow and will cause them to break easily. Moisturizer helps prevent this from happening by keeping the skin around your nail hard and strong!
Keep Them Short
The first thing you need to do is keep your nails short. Long nails are more prone to breakage and damage, which can cause them to look unattractive. You should always cut your nails straight across and never let them grow past your fingertips. If you want to grow them out, make sure that you only do so in a slow, gradual manner.
No Picking, Scratching, or Fighting
It's tempting to pick at your nails. But this is one of the easiest ways to break them! When you pick at your nails, you're risking breaking them and opening up the cuticle area. This will cause dryness and make it more difficult for them to grow. So make sure you avoid picking, scratching, or fighting with your nails to keep them in tip-top shape.
Conclusion
Your nails say a lot about you. They can be strong, healthy and beautiful! Keep these five tips in mind for the next time you care for your nails.
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