By- Aarti K Singh
Nails are the first personal impression anyone makes – especially if you are extending your hands in greeting. While beautiful nails enhance the delicacy of the nimble fingers of a woman, taking care of nails is part of basic hygiene of both men and women. It is therefore important to keep nails in good condition.
First things first, cosmetic practices are good only if basically nails are in good health internally. In fact, nails can portray the first symptoms of sickness. “Make sure to include plenty of fresh vegetables and fresh fruits for minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and zinc that are so essential for nail health. Eggs and fish are also good for beautiful nails. Take biotin supplements or Vitamin B to increase nail thickness and prevent splitting and breaking,” advises wellness coach and nutritionist Avni Kaul.
Here are some more ideas to keep your talons tantalizing and trendy:
- Hygiene:
Hygiene and cleanliness is the first step towards good looking nails and hands. Make sure to scrub your hands once a week and moisturize well after that.
Pammy Kaul, owner Scratch Nail Salon says, “Every week, take out 15 minutes to care for your nails. Soak your hands for ten minutes in lukewarm water to which a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 5 drops of chamomile essential oil and the juice of half a lemon have been added. You may also want to add some glycerine – just a couple of drops – in case you have dry hands and nails. This will not only cure stained nails, but also moisturize them.”
Binny Kaur, of Binny’s Nail Bar in Chandigarh says, “It is important that manicures are done hygienically. Whether at home or in a salon, ensure that the tools being used are sterilised. Make sure to never cut cuticles as they are the natural barrier to prevent fungal growth. Not many people realise this, but pushing cuticles can also damage them. If there is excess cuticle growth, use an orange stick sparingly – not more than once a month – to gently push them back.”
Related Posts
Jaspreet Dhingra, a ‘hand model’ favoured by several jewellery brands, says, “I always use a lightening scrub every week to make my hands look brighter. This is nothing but a paste made with 1 teaspoon each of besan or gram flour, tomato juice, potato juice and a pinch of baking soda. I apply it on my hands and simply rub gently and let it stay for 10 minutes before washing it off with warm water. Thereafter I put a nice hand cream – or a mixture of apricot oil and olive oil. I mostly do this in the night, because the goodness of the oils needs to seep in.”
- Maintenance:
Maintain hand and nail hygiene by opting for manicures regularly. “Trim the nails regularly. Clean them with an old toothbrush. Avoid using acetone-based nail polish removers as they dry the nail bed. Most importantly, refrain from using metal files if your nails are weak and file your nails in one direction only,” says Kaul. In addition, moisturizing is very important for strong nails. “I use a nail conditioning oil, but you can also make one at home yourself – using coconut oil, olive oil and almond oil,” says Jaspreet.
Blossom Kochchar, the grand dame of aromatherapy suggests, “Add five to six drops each of frankincense and lavender oils to your hand cream or moisturizer to make them even more potent.” For those that battle extremely dry hands and feet and weak nails, Kochchar suggests, “Make an extra strong moisturizer using five drops each of castor oil, jojoba oil and glycerine. Add a few drops of frankincense and carrot seed oils. Apply, and for best results, wear cotton gloves and sleep.”
- Grooming:
Once your digits are flaunt-worthy, you need to take care when highlighting them with nail polish as well. “Base coat is a must if you don’t want to stain your nails. Doing this will also make the polish last longer. Also, instead of applying thick coats, of the polish, wait for the first thin coat to dry completely before putting on another one,” advises Binny Kaur, adding, “Don’t heat-dry your nail polish. And do give the nail polish a break for a few days every once in a while to let the nails breathe.”
Also, do check quick nail hacks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWWc2VcsTjo
