Your nails and say everything about you. The overall appearance of your hands and nails can be a precursor of any underlying health issue. While I’ll let your doctor decode the medical side of your nail-health, we will tackle the aesthetics and nail-care-at-home part of it.
Partly genetic, but my mom has been a major contributor in all the sister’s good skin, hair and nails. She would involve us in all the DIY masks and packs she would make at home. We were like guinea pigs- all that she would learn at her herbal beauty class, she would test on us. Result- we sisters are a huge advocate of at-home beauty remedies. Call it old-school but I am happy to recycle those beauty remedies for my daughter and pass along the same to her as Grandma’s home remedies.
The tips that follow below are mostly hand me downs from my mom and some are just that I picked up from other beauty enthusiasts and editorials.
SEVEN TIPS TO KEEP YOUR NAILS HEALTHY AND HANDS LOOKING YOUTHFUL
1) Exercising– We all are no strangers to the overall health benefits of exercising. Be it for good physique, posture, skin, hair or even nails, there are lot of reasons to exercise. Exercising alleviates stress and anxiety which otherwise can be a major deterrent to your state of body and well-being. When you sweat your body releases endorphins that lead to feelings of euphoria, modulation of appetite, and enhancement of the immune response. With high endorphin levels, we feel less pain, we feel elated and when you are happy inside, it shows outside.
!function(d,s,id){var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)) {e = d.createElement(s);e.id = id;e.src = p + ‘://’ + ‘widgets.rewardstyle.com’ + ‘/js/shopthepost.js’;d.body.appendChild(e);}if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’) {window.__stp.init();}}(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);
2) Diet and Supplement– What you feed your body is vital for your overall health and being. A balanced diet rich in protein, calcium and other minerals helps keep you fit and strong from within. Protein is necessary for nail growth and strength, zinc keeps nails from weakening, and iron keeps nails from distorting into spoon shapes. You can even add Biotin supplement to your diet for healthier , stronger nails. Biotin supplements are available over the counter and 1000 mg per day is a safe dosage but you still might want to check with your general physician before introducing any newer supplement.
3) Manicure– I am a huge advocate of salon manicures. It is like my monthly me-time that I highly recommend everyone to get plus it is a must for the upkeep of your nails and hands. There are a myriad manicure options, but I usually go for the classic/ spa manicure, unless I am doing shellac or acrylic nails. When doing a classic manicure your manicurist soaks your hands in a warm soapy bath, then cleans and files, follows with nail and cuticle trimming and ends with massage and polish. The massage helps stimulate the blood flow which gives your hands and nails that youthful glow.
4) Self-care at home– In between spa sessions, self-care at home is a must. Everyday hacks like rubbing lemon wedges on your nails or lathering your hands with cotton ball dipped in potato juice to detan or just sleeping with your moisturizer-smothered hands in gloves to soften your hands overnight, works well. I like to moisturize my hands whenever I’ll remember. For that matter I like to keep small bottles of moisturizer around the house, in my purses, in the car and the travel sizes bottles come in really handy. Riri seemed to have picked up this habit of mine and likes to keep small bottles in her backpack and by her nightstand too. Additionally, I like to use cuticle oil every now and then. If not everyday, I try using it every other day. The cuticle oil helps keep my cuticles moisturized and prevents any peeling which otherwise can be painful.
5) Gloves– This one is for all the ladies who have to wash the dishes, do the laundry and all the cleaning chores around the house that may expose to our skin to the chemicals and hard water: time to make a pair of rubber gloves your best friend. The harsh chemicals in the household cleaning supplies can make your hands rough and nails super brittle. I know it can sound like another task to do when your to-do list is already so long, but no one likes dry hands and chipped nails or even chipped polish. Wearing gloves can protect your skin and nails that can become weak with over exposure to water and chemicals. So don’t wait any further, buy a pair of rubber gloves today and thank me tomorrow. Mine are pink and pretty and I make sure to wear them whenever I am on a chores-spree.
What are your hacks for keeping your nails and hands looking healthy and young?
SHOP NAIL CARE
!function(d,s,id){var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)) {e = d.createElement(s);e.id = id;e.src = p + ‘://’ + ‘widgets.rewardstyle.com’ + ‘/js/shopthepost.js’;d.body.appendChild(e);}if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’) {window.__stp.init();}}(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);
JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.
JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.
How true that we need to take more care of our hands and nails. I sadly neglect mine, even down to the simple task of applying hand cream. Thank you for the reminder. Regards – Jill stylishatsixty
http://www.stylishatsixty.wordpress.com