Manicures, pedicures, artificial tips, paraffin treatments, nail jewelry - the nail care industry is booming, with nail salons seemingly on every corner.
Why is this, do you suppose? There was a time when only the wealthy had regular manicures, but now it's commonplace. Whether you go to a salon weekly, or choose to buff and polish your nails at home, it's important to take care of your fingertips.
Take a look at your hands. What do they say about you? Think about what they say to others. Are your hands rough, red, irritated? Or, are they smooth and pampered?
Are your cuticles ragged? Or have you cut or pushed them back? Hot pink, French tips, or clear-coated, it's not the color you wear that matters. What really matters is the condition of your hands and nails, and you can improve the state of your nails by taking a few simple steps.
Protect your nails
Wear gloves when washing the dishes or the kitchen floor. Do not use your nails as tools. They aren't meant to scrape the price stickers off your new picture frame. Be sure to apply sunscreen all the way down to the tips of your nails. Sun damage affects nails, too.
Moisturize your nails regularly
Every time you wash your hands, you need to moisturize your hands. Keep hand cream in your purse. Have a bottle in each bathroom of your home and one at the kitchen sink.
Nails need to breath
Every so often, leave the polish out of your manicure routine. Let your nails get a little oxygen.
Do not use nail products containing formaldehyde
It?s not used in biology class anymore. Don?t use it on your nails, it?s not safe.
Gelatin really does work
You thought it was a myth when you heard it as a teenager, but it?s true. Eating gelatin helps your nails grow strong and healthy.
Nutrition
Water, fresh fruits and vegetables, protein from meats and fish, and vitamins (multi and E, in particular) all stimulate nail growth.
Sterilize, sterilize, sterilize
Keep your home manicure kit clean. At the salon, purchase a set from the nail technician. The salon will label it, store it, and use it just for you.
They?re inexpensive and essential to protecting yourself from fungus and communicable infections. Don?t be shy, be sure your manicurist knows that you take cleanliness seriously.
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Allison Saunders is a MAC qualified Make-up Artist and the author of an amazing new course, Hollywood Makeup Secrets a step-by-step simple video system for maximizing your inner and outer beauty potential. You can learn more about Allison, and subscribe to her free newsletter by visiting:
http://www.hollywoodmakeupsecrets.com/dt/s.php?id=9
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