Nail Care - Caring for Nails - How to get beautiful nails?
Since nails speak out of the general health condition and habits of a person, caring them and keeping them clean and shapely is indispensable. Also, an untidy wet nails can cause infectious diseases too. Spend about one hour a month, you can keep the nails in good condition. First of all modify the bad habits like -
Properly maintained nails last for a longer period. Polishing, filing, re-shaping and repair of damaged parts will give life for nails. Since nail polishes and removers are chemicals, use approved brands as it may cause allergic reactions. If you are not able to do it yourself, a beauty parlour is the best place you can visit. They are trained and licensed to use such chemicals. Manicurists always use sterilized equipments. Some Good Habits
Definition of nails and the need for nails Broadly, nails can be defined as the protective caps of your finger and toe tips. As hands and feet are the most commonly used organs in a human body, fingers and toes are more prone to injuries and shocks. Nails are the nature’s boon to mankind to prevent the fingers and toes from direct injuries and shocks.
The outmost layer of a nail which is called the nail plate consists of dead cells and is therefore immune to mild shocks and injuries. The main ingredients of a nail plate are keratin, a fibrous protein, and calcium. It is therefore very hard in nature which makes it an ideal protective layer for finger and toe tips. The nail plate rests on the nail bed. Nail bed is another thick layer of the skin. However it consists of living cells and it holds the nail to your body. Nails are transparent in nature and increased blood circulation through the nail bed gives it a pink shade. Therefore finger and toe nails which are pink in colour and without any deformity are termed to be the signs of good health. A protein rich diet will help you maintain strong and healthy nails.
Nail Structure The nails act as a protective cover to the delicate tips of fingers and toes. It is made of hard protein known as keratin. Nails are composed of three important parts, a root, body and an edge. Root is that part of the nail that joins with the skin and is placed underneath the skin. Body of a nail is the centre portion of the nail that constitutes the nail plate. Finally edge is the tip of a nail that often grows beyond the finger tip.
The nail is held to the skin by the so called the cuticle. It holds the nail from its bottom side and is referred to as the eponychium. Cuticle that holds the nails from side is known as the paronychium and that which holds the nail at its edge is called the hyponychium. Cuticle is in fact a thick layer of skin itself. Nail fold is that portion of cuticle that overgrows on to the base and sides of a nail. The vital role of cuticle in holding the nail to the body is in fact the reason behind the advice not to cut the cuticles for enhanced look of your nails. Always take care to push the cuticles back rather than cutting it for cosmetic purposes.
A normal and healthy nail will grow by a centimeter in hundred days. Finger nails grow faster when compared to toe nails. Normally a finger nail takes about six months to grow completely. The growth rate of a toe nail is about fifty percent slower and it takes more than a year for a toe nail to grow out completely. Growth rate of nails is dependent on various factors and often varies from person to person depending on the age, climate, activity level and also his hereditary factors. Like any other external organ in the human body, nails too require constant care and protection. Nails are prone to infections and if left unattended, it can lead to more serious diseases as there is every probability for the bacteria and other infectious micro organisms to enter your body through hand and mouth contact. In the circumstances proper maintenance of nails is a must to protect your general health condition. In fact healthy nails are pointers of good health. Viewed in a cosmetic angle, proper care and maintenance of one’s nail go a long way in enhancing the external appearance of the concerned person. Effect of nails
The colour and appearance of nails have an impact on your appearance. It makes your dressing complete. One can easily assess the cleanliness of a person by verifying the nails of that person especially the toe nails. A shabbily maintained toe nails full of dirt is a sure sign of shabby character.
Physiologically the main function of the nail is to protect the tender tips of fingers and toes. Nails are made of hard protein known as keratin. Nail covers the tips of fingers and toes from damaging. It also helps to pick up things. Nails are designed to protect finger tips and toe tips from damage. Nails being pointers to the general health of an individual; they have an important role to play in medical science also. Exposure of nails to polluted environment makes it highly prone to infections. We use hands to take food and it is easy to transfer bacteria accumulated under the nails to mouth. So it is essential that everyone should have a minimum awareness regarding nail hygiene.
Never allow your finger nails to grow too long. Chances are more for dirt and micro organisms to accumulate under long finger nails. So keep your finger nails short as far as possible and beauty conscious ladies, who are eager to grow their nails, should take extra care to keep their nails and under areas of their nails clean and infection free. Before you visit a beauty saloon for manicure or pedicure, ensure that the saloon you are going to visit is clean and hygienic.
Never use sharp materials other than manicure equipments to clean the areas under nails. Manicure kits are available in the market. It is better that you purchase a standard one for your use. Be extra cautious while dealing with cuticles. Cutting of cuticles may invite infections. To remove cuticles use only quality cuticle removers. You may gently push it off also instead of cutting it. You should be extra cautious if you are suffering from hang nail problem. In such a case, never use too much pressure on nails while undergoing a manicure or pedicure.
The persons affected while athlete’s foot should give extra care to their feet while washing. To maintain hygiene they should dry the areas between toes completely.
Fashion trends in nails The days of applying a single tone colour suitable for one’s costumes are gone. Over the past few decades, fashion trends on nails have undergone a radical change. This is an era of fascinating nail colours. Creating eye catching designs on nails using materials like nail paints, glittering powders or even stones including precious ones and beads and tattoos are the dominating trends at present.
Today the flashiest part of women make up is nail art. Both East and West are after this new trend. To get your nail painted, you can opt for the assistance of a skilled beautician or even you can do it yourself at home with the help of the nail paint kits available in the market. Nail art kits that requires only five seconds to finish nail art are available in the market. It all depends on the design that you choose to apply on your nail. You can go for anything from classic floral designs to abstract paintings. While you choose a design make sure that it suits your style and costume.
Expense for nail fashion depends on the design you choose. More complicated the design more will be the cost. The procedure for nail fashion is simple. First you can undergo a manicure treatment. This is however not a must. Then shape your nails by filing the sides of your nail. There after apply the desired design on your nail. Then you have to apply a solution to make it stay for a long time. Both finger and toe nails can be painted like this. To paint nail pens and nail colors specially designed for the purpose are available. Pierced nails are also setting a trend now. Women pierce nails to wear small rings to give a special effect to nails. Some others use decorative stickers to make it beautiful. Even diamonds are being used by specialists to give nails an exclusive look. The trends in nail fashion are often seasonal. On Valentine’s Day you can see teens and young women wearing small hearts coloured in red colour on their nails. The fashion changes accordingly. These days nail art competitions are becoming more popular.
Before you go after fashion, make sure that what you do suits your over all appearance and occasion. Nails in vibrant colours and abstract designs are only suitable for parties. Never use these designs on formal occasions. As on today black and dark blue are the most popular nail colors among the youth and celebrities. Applying a silver colored nail coating is also considered to be trendy. It is no doubt that flashy nail fashion is an easy way to catch the attention of others and definitely it will make you stand out in the crowd. So do not hesitate, give it a try. Manicure procedure Manicure or treatment of nails and hands has an important role to play in the proper maintenance and beautification of hands and nails. The procedure has got three important functions to perform.
Following are the procedures normally followed by a beautician in a beauty saloon. At home we often use home made products for performing manicure. However in a beauty saloon often various commercial products manufactured by branded companies are put to use.
Pumice stones are used for the purpose of removing dead cells from hands and the areas around the nails. After that your nails are shaped by gently filing them in to the desired shape. For the purpose of exfoliation a small amount of sloughing lotion is often used. This is good especially for persons with dry skin. Massage your hands by applying the lotion for a few minutes and rinse the lotion from your hands and wipe it off with a clean soft towel.
Beautician may advise you to undergo a paraffin treatment in case your skin is very dry. In this procedure,
The hands are then washed thoroughly and patted dry with a soft towel. It will be ensured that your hands and nails do not have the remains of the lotions and oils applied on you. After the entire process nail polish is applied on the nails. At first a thin base coat is applied. After drying, it is followed by a minimum of two coats of nail polish so as to leave your hands smooth and silky. Manicure tips A manicure which involves thorough cleaning up of hands and finger nails comes under the category of cosmetic beauty treatment. Either As the process of manicure involves a risk of infection, it is always advisable to seek the help of a beautician specialized in this field unless you are an expert in doing it. Seeking the assistance of a specialized beautician to undergo manicure treatment definitely is expensive and so it has always been considered as a luxury by many. But if you are ready to take enough precautions against infections and wounds, you can do it yourself at home without spending much money. Here are some tips for performing manicure:
Do it yourself manicure A routine manicure without fail is a must to maintain your nails beautiful and attractive. Doing manicure every now and then may appear to be an expensive affair for you. In fact it is easy to under go a manicure programme at home with the help of a few materials without much effort or money at home. Following are the steps to be followed while performing manicure at home:
To apply nail polish first dip the brush in to the nail polish bottle and press it lightly against the edge of the bottle’s mouth to remove extra nail polish from the brush. Apply nail polish first in the centre of the nail. Then proceed from root to the end of the nail and then side ways. When the first coat dries up apply the second coat. This time apply the nail polish side ways and then in the middle. After application, leave the hands free to dry the nail polish. Now you are ready with soft pretty looking hands. Here are some other tips for the better care of your hands.
Caring for nails at home
If you can spare a few minutes daily for your nails, fingers and toes, you can make your nails good looking and attractive without wasting much money and effort. Here are some tips for a routine nail care programme at home. The best method to keep one’s finger nails beautiful is to manicure them regularly. As far as toe nails are concerned, pedicure is the simplest way to keep them attractive. It is easy to perform manicure at home. It will not take much time. The following are the tools required for a simple manicure:
Various stages of manicure
Care for your feet and toe nails at home (Pedicure)
Things needed for routine feet and toe nails care are:
Various steps of pedicure
Undergoing the above feet care programme will make you feel refreshed and relaxed. It will also give you a charged feeling and sense of self confidence. Bridal nail care Nail art is the most modern way of nail beautification. The fashion world gave up the old traditional way of colouring nails by using single toned nail enamel. The trend now is to paint the nails in catchy designs using vibrant colours and even by sticking stones, beads, tattoos etc on it. One cannot acquire beautiful nails in one or two days. It is not a one day magic. It requires routine maintenance to make your nails look healthy, beautiful and attractive to others. To keep nails good looking a bride has to undergo regular manicure treatment. For that she can seek the assistance of a beautician or opt for doing it at home simply without spending much money on that.
If you are intending to grow your nails long for your wedding day you may have to adopt some nail growth techniques to avoid breaking off or splitting off of your nails.
When you start to plan your costumes think about your nail colour also. A colour of your nail should go in tune with the colour of your wedding dress and jewelry. Try to give your self a unique look. Decorating nails with the help of a nail technician is the most modern trend in nail beautification. A bride who likes to go for nail art should plan the design of nails, the colours to be applied and the objects to be used to decorate the nails by consulting a nail technician at least one week prior to the wedding.
The orange wood stick introduced by Dr. Sitts is the first known scientific nail care product. Before this metal instrument, scissors and acids were used as tools for manicure and pedicure. In the beginning of 20th century women started using metal files to file their nails. Creams were used to massage hands and nails. A sort of glossy varnish made available in the market became popular among women by this time. This can be considered as the first nail polish.
It is the first thing that comes to one’s mind when we think of nail beautification. Nail polish is available in market in different colours and shades. Cost of this nail care product is totally dependent on the company that manufactures the product.
Use of nail polish necessitates the use of nail polish remover also. As the very name indicates polish removers are used to remove nail polish from nails. Frequent use of nail polish is not recommendable. Nail polish removers have a tendency to dry at the skin and nails. Better not to use nail polish removers more than twice a week. Also try to avoid use of acetone based nail polish removers.
Cuticle removers are essential for those who undergo a manicure process. This nail care product is very helpful in removing hardened cuticles. The habit of cutting of cuticles may invite serious infections to the skin around the nails. Use of cuticle creams is helpful to avoid the situation.
These products help to give a shiny white color to dull coloured nails. Nails usually become yellowish if you wear nail polish for a long time.
Nail files are commonly used to file nail to shape and them.
Apart from nail strengthening products, nail enhancers that are specially designed to enhance the nails are also available in the market. Acrylic nail enhancer is an example for this.
This product is helpful to keep nails away from fungal infections and to protect nails affected by fungal infection. Different brands of anti fungal creams are available in the market. These creams are helpful to keep away germs from nails and the skin around the nails. It is also helpful to prevent spreading of infection to other nails. The most common ingredient of an anti fungal cream is Benzalkonium Chloride or Tea tree oil. Nail care kits
You should have stainless nail scissors for trimming your finger nails and toe nails.
A stainless steel nail clipper set for finger nails and toe nails for fine trimming.
A cuticle nipper is a must in a nail care kit which will help you to trim the cuticle. It is better to use a cuticle nipper with large cutting surface as it will help you to cut your cuticle with fewer strokes.
Nail brush is used to remove dirt from the under portion of your nails. As far as nail repair is concerned, you should basically have an adhesive or nail bond which will help you to bond your nails in cases of cracks or breaks occurring on nails. The kit should contain a cuticle stick to apply the adhesive to the crack, a buffing board to remove excess of adhesive and a buffing block to remove excess shine.
As far as toe nails are concerned, always use quality footwear while working outside. Try to avoid direct contact of nails with dirt. Clean your toe nails while at home and try to be bare footed while resting. Repairing broken nails Breaking of finger nails is a common phenomenon among women. This is because hey often grow their finger nails long and do the house chores with that. Hands with uneven broken nails often look ugly. Maintenance of long nails without breaking may not be possible always. It is in these circumstances that methods to repair broken nails were developed by beauticians. Often small cracks or breaks to the nails can be rectified by smoothing the uneven edge by using and emery board. It is therefore good to have an emery board with you while traveling. The procedure to be adopted to repair a broken nail depends on weather your nails are natural or artificial. If your nails are artificial, the broken nail can be removed and replaced by a new one.
If your nails are natural and it tears off by snagging with some object, it is better to file your nail till the point of tear. Even if only a part of the nail is torn off, it is advisable to file your nail evenly rather than leaving the other portion intact. If your nail breaks at the base, file the nail up to the point it touches your skin. Allow your nail to grow as such and continue trimming regularly at the point it touches your skin until you reach the point of tear. In case of a break at the base, you can also use a good nail glue to hold the broken parts of the nail together till such time the nail grows and you are able to file off the broken parts. A broken nail can be repaired by using a nail repair kit.
A nail repair kit often consists of an adhesive material which can hold the natural nail together, a cuticle stick, a buffing board to remove excess adhesive apply to the broken nail, an a buffing block to remove excess shine from the nail due to the presence of the adhesive material.
It should however be noted that repairing of nail using a nail repair kit is not a permanent solution for breakage of your nails. It may temporarily help you to avoid embarrassment while attending a party or hanging out in public. Ultimately you will have to file of the broken part of the nail when your nail grows sufficiently long for filing.
In case you are using an artificial nail, you can either replaced with a new one or repair it. It is better to repair your artificial nail by removing it from your finger. Bond the cracked edges of the nail using glue and allow it to dry. If a patch is required to repair the nail, glue the patch evenly on the nail and allow it to dry. Re-fix the artificial nail on your finger and smoothen it using a buffing board. Apply appropriate nail polish to cover the repair. Nail care - Myths and Facts
Here are some myths and realities in connection with the maintenance and functions of nails.
This is not true. The fact is that nail polish and nail enamels can do nothing to enhance the quality of your nail. Instead continuous wearing of nail polish and nail enamel may destroy the natural texture of one’s nail. It is advisable to leave your nails without nail polish at least for a week every month to enable it to breath.
This is also a false belief. The nails are actually made of hard protein known as keratin. Drinking of milk may help you to strengthen your nail by providing calcium to your body. But splitting of top layers of nails has nothing to do with calcium deficiency.
The fact is that nails absorb moisture faster than skin and also it dries up speedily. So nails require creams rich in moisturizers and frequent application is necessary when compared to skin.
Contrary to this belief, cutting of cuticles will not do any good for the nails. In stead it will make the finger nails as well as toe nails more prone to infections. One can remove cuticles by using cuticle removers and not by actually cutting the cuticles.
This also seems to be a myth. Undergoing nail treatments like manicure and pedicure in a beauty parlor that do not follow strict hygiene standards will not be safe. Before you go to a beauty parlor ensure that they are sterilizing all the metal instruments used for treatment and that they are using quality products to treat your nails.
This belief also is not true. Dark nail colours never cause discoloration of nails. Do’s and Don’ts on nail care
In order to maintain your nails clean and healthy, you should take care of the following things:
Tips for beautiful nails
Some other tips for beautiful looking nails
Beauty tips for toe nails You can adopt the same steps of manicure for maintaining your toe nails also. While doing pedicure you should give extra attention to remove dirt from the corners of the toe nail. For that you can use a pin nails scrubber. Nail art, the most modern fashion in the nail beautification can perhaps be termed as the most fascinating part of nail care. Our hands and nails will be exposed to others more frequently than we imagine when we interact with them. It is therefore very important to maintain your finger nails and toe nails clean and beautiful. Decorating nails using objects like tattoos, stones or even by piercing them for wearing small jewels have become a trend today both in the east and west. For nail art you can use both artificial and original nails. Artificial nails are comparatively stronger and more flexible to adapt all types of nail designs. If you are intending to make a hole on your nail to wear rings or anything ornamental on your nail, it is more advisable to use artificial nails for the purpose. This is because your natural nails may not be able to withstand activities like nail piercing. Further it may even invite the risk of serious infections to your nails and the areas surrounding it. Another advantage of artificial nails is that the colour painted on artificial nails tends to last longer when compared to original nails.
Designing nails require a lot of skill. Nail technicians specialized in this area are available in the fashion world. Simple designs like sticking tattoos or ornamental stickers or even small stones can be done even at home. But if you are looking for an abstract painting to give you an exclusive look suitable for a special occasion it is better to seek the assistance of a nail technician. Your nail is like canvas for a nail technician. They use objects like gems, glitters, beads made of glass etc. to create art on nails. Even dried flowers and diamonds are used for beautifying nails as the occasion demands. Techniques to be used to paint nails depend upon the design you choose. The tools include nail pencils and air gun brushes. Nail art is more effective on long nails. If you do not have long nails or suffer from nail brittle problem you can go for nail art using artificial nails.
Bridal nail art is a specialized branch of nail art. Compared to ordinary ones, bridal nail art is complicated and expensive. Normally stones and diamonds are used in bridal nail art. Brides usually choose delicate designs. Digital nail art With the introduction of digital nail art, nail art, the latest trend in nail beautification, has become more popular and high tech in nature. The most attractive part of digital nail art is its speed in application. In normal course nail art is expensive and it also requires a lot of time. Though it can be performed even at home, the assistance of an expert is a must to create complicated and abstract designs on nails. Considering the cost involved in it, seeking the assistance of an expert nail technician is not always possible. And mainly for this reason, though we like to see our nails get painted beautifully always, we limit it to special occasions. Digital nail art is cheaper compared to manual nail art. The limitation however is the limitation in creativity. Another advantage of digital nail art is that all nails of your hand can be painted at the same time. You do not have to wait for long to finish work on all the nails. Procedure for application of digital nail art
To begin with, it is also advisable to paint the nails by applying a thick white base coat to enhance the effect of the colors used to paint the nails Now you can place your hands in the machine to get your nails painted. There is a special cradle in the machine to place your hand and you do not have to worry about any injury as the printings heads are not going to touch your hand at all. What they are actually doing is to simply spray paint on to your nails. A slight move of your nails will stop the machine to ensure safety of the person using the machine. While hand painting on nails takes hours to complete the process, digital nail art usually takes about 15 minutes to complete the entire process of digital nail art. Life of digital nail art is same as that of an ordinary nail art. Depending upon the care you give to your painted nail, it may even last for more than two weeks. To increase the life of nail paint, it is advisable to apply one or two coats of thin colorless nail varnish on the painted nail. A digital nail art can be applied both on hands and nails and no doubt you can even experiment a French manicure on this machine. Digital nail art is now available in almost all nail salons. Before you start doing this type of nail art make sure that the person operating the machine has expertise in operating it. Wedding nail art
Till recently nails were not been given much importance in bridal make up. At the most they were kept painted in a single colour matching the wedding costume. But today brides prefer to be unique and trendy in appearance. Today’s brides are bold enough to go after the latest trends in fashion world. Many pay special attention to nail make up these days and the most important trend in nail care is nail art. In the place of old single toned nail colour you can have unique designs perfectly matching your wedding theme done by a nail technician. Now we have specialists in nail art. If you are thinking of doing nail art on your natural nail, take extra care to keep it unbroken till the day of wedding. Otherwise you will have to drop the idea of painting your nails. Also choose the right design that would suit your costume well in advance to your marriage.
A wide range of designs suitable for brides are available in the market. Whatever be the design you choose it should synchronize with your wedding theme. A bride in white gown wearing splashy design on nails will create only an awkward appearance. Avoid such situations. Wedding day is your day that often happens once in life. If you are ready to spend more to make it more attractive or impressive you can even go for precious stones like diamonds to be fixed on your nail. No doubt that it will be noticed by every one attending your marriage. Another latest trend in bridal nail art is nail piercing. Artificial nails are more suitable for nail piercing. Making holes on natural nails to wear jewels on nails may invite infections or other serious injuries to your nails. Piercing tools are available in the market and it is better to apply a few coats of nail polish before you start making a hole on your nail. Even a sharp needle heated can be used for piercing. Every one prefers to see brides in traditional ethnic wears. In fact most of us prefer traditional dresses and jewellery on our wedding day. Those who choose this type of costume should go for classic designs on their nails. These designs will help them to complete the dressing. Bride maids can also go for nail art. But it should not be as catchy as that of the brides. Nail Salon A nail salon, a specialized branch of beauty salons, is meant to provide exclusively care for nails. The service provided by nail salons includes manicure, pedicure, nail art, fixing of artificial nails etc. The workers at a nail salon are known as nail technicians.
These days’ women seem to be more aware of the effect of nails. And this awareness prompts them to go to a specialist to give their nails a unique appearance to attract the attention of others. They believe that ordinary beauty salons are not for nails and seek the assistance of nail technicians to care their nails. This changing attitude of women resulted in the establishment of a number of nail salons all over the world. No doubt that nail salons are a lot more expensive when compared to our traditional nail salons. However those who like to give their nails a professional touch do not seem to be bothered about the cost involved in this expertise version of nail care. Unlike the beauticians who work in ordinary beauty salons, the nail technicians who work in a nail salon approach nails with a different attitude. For them nails are a canvas and they can convert them in to attractive paintings capable enough to set a new trend? Apart from nail painting, nail salons normally provide all other routine services in connection with nail beautification. For them manicure and pedicure do not mean a simple cleaning up of hands and feet. At nail salons you will be introduced to the most modern techniques in nail care including digital nail art. The modern trend in nail care is the French manicure with square tipped nails coated in white nail paint or painted with abstract designs. Some times it also results in sticking expensive gems and diamonds on the nails.
Many nail salons are providing a complete package for nail care. If it is not a package that your nail salon offers, it is better to ask them what all services are included in the prize quoted by them to avoid extra expenses. In case you wish to use artificial nails for beautification, it is the responsibly of your nail technician to make you understand about all the side effects associated with the use of artificial nails. If he is not doing so, feel free to ask your doubts and apprehensions and the details about the procedure, including the tips to maintain these nails at home. Always remember that artificial nails are not meant for all. In some persons it may create allergic reactions. Making of artificial nails usually produce strong smell. It is quite natural. But if you feel that the odour is unbearable, it can be an indication of improper ventilation. Ensure that the smell does not affect your respiratory system. Finally make sure that the nail salon that you propose to visit is a licensed one and that the technicians there are trained in this art. Acrylic nails Acrylic nails can be termed as the most modern trend in nail grooming. These are artificial nails made of chemicals and liquids. Cost of the acrylic nails depend on the chemicals used in it. According to scientists, Ethyl methacrylate is the safest chemical to be used in making the acrylic nail combination. But the problem with using this chemical is that it is a bit more expensive when compared to other chemicals that are used to make acrylic nails.
Many use acrylic nails for making nail art more effective. When it is impossible to accommodate a desired nail art on your short nail you can seek the help of an acrylic nail. Acrylic nails act as a good substitute for original nails in nail art. Try it as a temporary arrangement to make your dressing complete for a special occasion. You may use it as a permanent arrangement if you have serious nail growing problems. On the surface acrylic nails may appear to be a blessing for those who suffer from nail growth problems and extremely brittle nails. But the fact is that it requires extra care and extreme caution while wearing it. Damage caused to acrylic nails may lead one to serious nail infections that may adversely affect the growth of original nails. With regard to the application and removal of acrylic nails what is recommendable is to leave it to a technician who is skilled and specialized in acrylic nail art as it demands utmost care and attention Method of application First clean up your nails and remove cuticles from the side of your nails. You have to remove nail polish from your nails by using a nail polish remover. Put some nail glue on your nails and fix the tip of acrylic nails on your nails. Ensure that the tips of acrylic nails are closely adhered to your original nail. You have to make all adjustments before the glue dries up completely or otherwise you will have to repeat the complete process after removing the existing acrylic nail. Now you can trim these nails according to your desire. Method of removal Removal of acrylic nails requires a little effort and patience. It is always better to seek the help of a nail technician who is specialized in this field. If not possible you can even do it at home by following the process mentioned below:
Warm acetone requires only the half time to remove acrylic nails when compared to normal acetone. If it is warm keep your fingers in acetone bowl for fifteen minutes. Once the water becomes gummy you can remove hands from acetone and wipe off the remaining acrylic using a cotton ball soaked in acetone solution. Acetone has a dehydrating effect on skin and nail. So you should not forget to apply a good moisturizing cream or Vaseline after removing acrylic nails at home. Artificial nails Artificial nails are also known as fake nails. As the very term indicates it is hundred percent artificial in nature. These nails are usually glued to original nails. What makes it a trend in nail fashion world is that it is attractive in looking and one can even go for nail piercing to wear modern nail jewels without bothering about infections and other health problems.
Acrylic nails are the strongest among artificial nails. You can have these nails with any colour and length. You can use these nails to make complicated nail art as well as for piercing them.
In order to make sculpture nails, acrylic, fiber glass or gel is applied initially to the nails. The whole material is then sculpted over metal or metallic foil to create desired designs.
Gel nails are stuck to your original nails and made to set using ultraviolet rays. Fixation of gel nails often requires professional assistance.
In order to add glamour to nails, it is a trend now to paste attractive pieces of various fabric materials like linen and silk on original nails. In addition to the fact that it adds beauty to your nails, the process will also help in strengthening your nails tips. Use of silk over nails may be more attractive. However it is linen that is strong and that stays for a long time.
Different nail diseases The main function of the nail is to protect tissues of the fingers and toes. Apart from that it works as a tool to pick things. The over all health and strength of one’s nail reflects his personal hygiene and health. Different types of nail diseases
Apart from these scientifically named nail diseases, in day to day life we face some other problems which we can effectively treat our selves without much effort.
This needs no special treatment. It will grow out with nails.
Treating the cause may help.
It can be cured by treating the cause disease.
Zinc and iron intake is recommended for vertical splitting. Massaging using almond oil is also suggested to be an effective remedy for vertical splitting.
Using rubber gloves while using detergents, cutting nails according to size and filing it and also intake of iron and zinc helps in curing this type of nail problem. Other nail problems:
ONCHOGRYPHOSIS
The nails affected by this nail disorder will show the tendency to grow long in a shapeless manner. Normally shaping, trimming and filing of these nails are not easy due to their unusual thickness and hook like shape. This abnormal shape and condition of the nails affected by Onchogryphosis will also make it a home for bacteria and fungus to grow. Causes for Onchogryphosis The primary cause for Onchogryphosis is the damage caused to the cells constituting matrix that makes the nails grow. It is this damaged cells of matrix that cause the nails to grow in abnormal shapes and thickness.
Chances are there for the symptoms of Onchogryphosis to be misunderstood as that of a fungal infection. This may result in wrong treatment and unnecessary waste of money. Care should therefore be taken to consult a seasoned medical practitioner for proper diagnosis and treatment of Onchogryphosis. Symptoms
Treatment The general idea behind any treatment plan for Onchogryphosis is to reduce the abnormal thickness of the nails. Exact treatment plan will however depend upon the gravity of the disease.
In extreme situations doctor may advice the patient to remove the nails through a minor surgery. Along with nails, the nail root matrix will also be removed to avoid further production of thick nails by the damaged cells of nail matrix. Neighboring nails can be prevented from being infected with Onchogryphosis by preventing contact of neighboring nails with infected nails. This can be achieved by keeping a roll of clean cloth or wool between the toes. ONYCHOLYSIS Loosening or separation of finger nails or toe nails from its bed is clinically known as Onycholysis. Unlike fungal infection, Onycholysis does not cause pain. Usually Onycholysis starts affecting the nail tips first and will gradually spread to the bottom of the nail.
Apart from this, diseases like psoriasis, thyroid infections, chemical reactions, reactions to certain medicines can also cause Onycholysis.
Discolouration to nails can also be an indication of a secondary infection. Skin under the nail may start thickening there after, depending on the cause behind the infection. Normally the process of loosening nails from nail bed due to Onycholysis will not be painful as it is not a disease that affects the matrix. Usually what makes this disease complicated is the possible accumulation of bacteria and other micro organisms under the bulged part of the nail. If unattended this further infection may lead to permanent deformity of the nails. The change of the nail colour to green indicates the beginning of bacterial infection and white yeast. The treatment to be given for Onycholysis is totally dependent on the cause behind the disease. To rule out the possibility of fungal or yeast infection, doctors usually scrap a small portion of debris from the under part of the nail.
Following these tips would be helpful in avoiding further deterioration and recurrence of the disease:
One can prevent this disease by taking care of the following things:
Koilonychia, is a commonly found nail disorder. One of the basic causes for this nail disorder is stated to be anemia. In this type of nail disorder the finger nails become thin and abnormal in shape. This nail disorder will make the nails to look strange and awkward by causing an upward growth of nails and thus causing concavities with raised edges to the nails which often resemble a spoon. This type nail disorder is therefore commonly known as spoon nails. Nails in this case will become flattened also. The nails affected by koilonychia usually appear to be thin and brittle in nature. Once affected with this disease, the nails usually take a long period to return to its original form.
Along with the reasons mentioned above, the habit of nail biting, picking and rubbing of nails can also be termed as the factors that cause koilonychia. Koilonychia being a pointer to various complications relating to anemia, the disease demands immediate attention and treatment. Even if the cause behind this nail disorder is a stroke or a trauma, beware that excessive use of cosmetics like nail enamels or nail polish removers can always aggravate the problem. Whatever be the reason behind koilonychia, do not attempt to treat it yourself. It is always advisable to consult a qualified medial practitioner to avoid complications.
If the cause koilonychias is trauma, usually a full cycle of nail growth will be needed to get the affected part corrected. If koilonychia is an out come of anemia only proper diet intended to male up the deficiency of iron in your body and intake of medicines can help you to get rid of it. You will have to consult a doctor soon after you detect the symptoms of this nail disorder. In such cases you will be advised by physician to improve the quality of your regular diet by adding adequate nutrients helpful to increase your hemoglobin count. Never go for self treatment in such cases as over intake of iron can create serious health problems. Follow the treatment plan and dosage of medicine as prescribed by your doctor to avoid complications. Include plenty of vitamin rich food in your regular diet. Vitamin C will help your body to accelerate iron absorption.
As far as persons with black coloured skin are concerned, melanonychia may not be a disease. This is because the level of colouring pigment melanin is found to be more in persons with this skin type. However this is not the case with white skinned persons. As far as these persons are concerned, presence of melanonychia may be a symptom of a form of cancer by name subungual melanoma. Persons with this skin type therefore have to be very cautious in case of detection of melanonychia on their nails. They should immediately seek medical advice to rule out the possibility of malignancy.
Melanonychia may occur due to various reasons. It can be due to the intake of various antibiotic medicines or undergoing a chemotherapy treatment. Drugs prescribed for onychomycosis can also cause melanonychia.
Treatment for melanonychia
YELLOW NAIL SYNDROME
In some patients it has been reported that yellow nail syndrome even cause collection of fluid in the space around the lungs and in some others bronchiectasis may also appear along with yellow nail syndrome. The nail growth of a person affected by yellow nail syndrome slows down significantly when compared to other healthy persons. In some cases the nail does not grow at all. The growth rate becomes nil.
In this kind of disease, the nails tend to remain smooth. However it may have a wavy character with the nail surface remaining uneven. In acute cases of yellow nail syndrome, the nails may get detached from the nail bed due to the loss of cuticles which hold the nail to the body. Majority of patients suffering from yellow nail syndrome complain about swelling in their legs. The primary symptom of yellow nail syndrome is the discoloration of the nail rather than the swelling. In some cases swelling may appear even on the hands, face and genitals. In about 36% of the patients, a condition called pleural effusions occurs. Pleural effusion may appear as a primary symptom of yellow nail syndrome. Respiratory disorders associated with yellow nail syndrome are often found in patients with along history of Bronchitis, acute sinusitis and pneumonia.
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We always wonder why women have gorgeous nails. Imagine the girl who extends a shabby finger in the Church for her boy friend to adorn it with a ring! Well polished, shapely and colourful nails add to the overall appearance of women. Even though nails are waste materials, caring them and keeping them clean and shapely is very important. The size and shape of nails depend on the size of the finger. A thick finger will have a large nail. Nails are to protect the finger tips which are very sensitive. They look beautiful on female hands because they have long fingers compared to men. 
The finger tips and toe tips are highly sensitive areas as these areas are rich in nerve endings. Therefore an injury to the tips of the toe or a finger can be very painful and at the same time serious. A nail, which in fact is a type of skin itself, cover and protect these delicate parts of the human body. 
Nails can help in protection and helps in being a part of healthy and disease free person. The uses of nails are:
Nails grow from the root region. As the nail grows it gradually pushes the edge of the nail beyond the finger tip. When the cells constituting the nail die, it becomes the nail plate; the outer surface of the nail. Chemically analyzed, nail plate consists mainly of a protein called Keratin and calcium. 
The underside of the nail that connects the nail to the finger tip is called the nail bed. The upper most portion of the nail bed is scientifically known as lunula which is white in colour. In fact a nail is transparent in nature and it is the lunula that lies beneath the nail plate that gives the nail its white appearance. 
One cannot ignore the importance and effect of nails in the total outlook of a human being. A beautifully maintained nail attracts every one’s attention. A magnificently dressed up lady with patchy nail polish will create an impression among others that she is not keen in minute aspects of perfection. It will promote to create a negative impression about her among spectators. 
Apart from the cosmetic value, nails have an important role to play in keeping a man healthy. The discoloration of nails and patches appearing on nails may be an early indication disorders to some internal organs. In short it acts as an indicator of your general health. In fact condition of nails is an effective tool in a physician’s armory to diagnose various diseases. 
Excessively long nails trap more bacteria. So always keep your nails short and clean. 
Usage or sharing of emery boards, filing instruments, pumice stones used in saloons may invite infections. 
Comparing to finger nails, toe nails are more prone to infections. As in the case of finger nails, never allow your toe nails to grow too long. Properly maintain the length of your toe nails by timely shaping them. 
Another problem that usually affects the health of toe nails is a condition called athlete’s foot. To get affected by this problem you need not be an athlete. The main cause behind athlete foot is ring worm or fungus. Normally only men over twenty years are seen to be affected by this problem and the reason is wearing of undersized shoes especially in cold weather. Peeling and cracking of the skin is as a result of reduced oxygen to the skin. Itching can also occur. 
Appearance of your nails gives you the ultimate look. Till recently we painted our nails using plain colours in accordance with the costume that we use. To make it more fashionable, what we had was only a nail polish mixed with glitters. Other varieties available were only mat finished or glossy finished nail enamels. 
Artificial nails can also be used for effective nail painting. If your nails are short or you are suffering from brittle nail problem you can very well opt for nails made of fiber or acrylic. Fiber nails require a simple pasting of the same on your original nail. You can use these nails for one or two months. Fiber nails are suitable for nail art as they are strong and flexible as original nails. 
Now women are the ones seen to be crazy about nail fashion. Usually men who undergo manicure and pedicure opt only for a colorless coat of nail colour to give their nails a finished shiny look. 
However take note that manicure is not a medical treatment and is generally intended for beautification and relaxation of hands and nails. For optimum results it is advisable that you perform manicure at least once in every fifteen days. Basically the procedures involved in manicure are simple. It can be performed either at home or in a beauty saloon with the assistance of a qualified beautician. There is absolutely no need to pay regular visits to a beauty saloon for performing manicure. However it will be better that you seek the assistance of a qualified beautician once in a while for manicure. This will help you to understand the new trends if any and the latest quality products to be used for manicure. 
Orange wood stick is used to clean the areas under the free edge of the nail plate. Ensure that your beautician applies only moderate pressure while doing so. Applying pressure in this area may lead to break or tear of nail plate and may ultimately lead to infections. 
If the surface of your nail is uneven, it can be smoothened by using a buffer. A buffer is used in direction of the nail growth so that it does not cause any harm to the various layers of your nail plate. Buffing the surface of the nail will also enhance the beauty of your nail as it will help the nails to shine. Buffing the nails will also help them to remain stain resistant.
hands or nails alone or both the hands and nails together can be treated by using manicure programme. It involves the process of cleaning, filing, shaping and painting of nails by using nail polish or even applying nail art on it. It may often include the application of artificial nails also. 
Before you start manicure always remember to remove the existing nail polish from your nails. For that you can use mild nail polish remover. Mixing a few drops of vegetable oil will help you to prevent dryness of nails caused by application of nail polish remover. 
A gentle rubbing of hands with a pumice stone will help you to remove dead cells from your skin. 
Attractive beautiful nails are a dream for every woman. Cleanliness and health of one’s nail are pointers to one’s character and attitude towards personal hygiene. They reflect one’s personality as well as general health. Beautifully made up nails compliment your dressing. Appearing in public wearing patchy nail polish will destroy your total appearance. Apart from this, a total neglect of your nails may ultimately lead you to serious infections.
At first remove your nail polish using a nail polish remover. You can mix a few drops of oil to avoid excessive drying of your nails. Never use sharp objects like blade or knife to scrap off nail polish from your nail. 
To give a beautiful shape to your nails, remove dead skin from the corners of the nails. 
A routine care of the feet and toe nails at least once in two weeks would be helpful to keep them healthy and good looking. Diabetes patients should undergo a routine feet care programme without fail.
File your nails using an emery board. 
Apply the cream on the nails and their sides to soften them up. You can use petroleum jelly for this purpose. 
A bride has to pay extra attention to her nails as it can be noticed by every one who wants to see her wedding ring. So it is a must that she should maintain beautiful fingers as well as nails. 
Take effort to continue this process till the day of your wedding. It would be better if you are able to begin this treatment at least a month before your wedding date. 
Avoid constant contact with water by using rubber gloves while washing dishes or using detergents to save your nails from breaking. 
The products that help to enhance the beauty, health as well as appearance of the nails have a long history. In the beginning of 19th century women liked nails in almond shape and used chamois cloths to buff their nails and also used perfumed red oil to give it a different colour. 
Even today, nail polish is the most popular nail care product available in the market. The question as to whether it is a nail care product or a nail beauty enhancing product is yet to be resolved. However the fact remains that nail polish provides a minimum protection to your nails. At the same time continuous wearing of nail polish is not advisable as it prevents your nail from breathing and does alter the natural texture of your nail. 
Nail strengtheners are developed with an intention to correct your nail problems. These products are helpful to those who are suffering from brittle, weak and fragile nails. Nail strengthening agents are usually the nail polishes itself that are enriched with natural proteins and vitamins that are meant to make brittle nails to grow fast and strong. Nails strengtheners include a combination of basic nail coat and nail polish. Nail strengtheners can be classified as problem nail products, weak nail products, peeling nail products, brittle nail products etc. 
Proper nail care includes its protection, beautification and repair. Nails are made of a protein called keratin. In order to have strong healthy nails, basically you have to take a protein rich diet. In order to have healthy nails, one should ensure proper blood circulation to the finger tips. Massaging your hands and nails using quality moisturizing creams or lotions will help you to maintain good blood circulation to your finger tips. 
Your kit should contain a nail file for shaping your nails without damaging the nail surface. Separate nail files should be used for finger nails and toe nails. 
In order to add glamour to your nails, you should essentially have various colouring materials like nail polish and materials like nail polish remover to remove the same. Always wash your hands thoroughly with special attention to nails after work. Pat your hands and nails dry after wash with a clean soft towel. Liberally apply, moisturizing creams on your hands.
Tips to repair natural nails 
Apply adhesive material directly on the crack using the cuticles stick. Allow the material to dry out. Remove excess adhesive material if any using the buffing board. Remove excess shine using the buffing block. After repair, you may apply a good coat of nail polish so that the repair done to your nail is not visible at all.
There exist a lot of myths regarding the functions and maintenance of nails. To maintain one’s nails in good condition one should have awareness about the true functions of nails. Blindly following the existing myths regarding care to nails invite unnecessary trouble and complications. 
Hand cream is enough for nails 
Nails play an important role in the over all appearance and health of a person. Neatly kept nails will create a positive impression about a person in others. It is therefore very important that you keep your nails neat, tidy and attractive. 
Do not grow your nails too long: If you have long nails, more are the chances for accumulation of bacteria and dirt under it. When we use hands to eat it is easy to transfer these impurities and micro organisms directly to mouth. Ultimately this may lead to serious infections. So always keep your nails short and clean. 
Use nail brush to clean your nails: A plain regular washing of hands cannot remove dirt from the nails. Use a nail brush for this purpose.
Good looking, shiny nails are a dream for every one. A nail in good shape with a good colour nail polish by itself is an accessory that complements one’s elegance. Apart from this your nail is a clue to your general health. A nail which looks strong and shiny indicates that you are a healthy person. To make ones nail beautiful and good looking, regular maintenance is a must. 
Allow the nails breathe by not wearing nail polish for three to four days or if possible for one week every month. 
A nail beautified by French manicure is more adaptable to nail art. In French manicure nails are maintained long and square shaped. It is easy to paint any design on these nails. 
Nail technicians usually use brushes with sharp edges to make hand paints on nails. They even use sharp edged objects like toothpicks to make the lines and spots perfect.
Though not a must, it is better to apply digital nail art on the nails after undergoing a basic manicure routine to give your hands a fine look to compliment your beautiful nails. Even if you are not intending to under go a complete professional manicure, clean your nails by removing dirt from under the nails and also by clearing away the thickened cuticles. 
The fashion world is witnessing tremendous changes in nail beautification. Unlike the olden days where we paid no or not little attention to our nails, these days we try to attract the attention of the whole world to our nails decorated in catchy designs by using vibrant colours and other nail beautification materials. 
Many prefer artificial nails over natural nails to paint them. The main reason for this is that they are stronger comparing to natural nails and the possibility of breaking is comparatively nil. If you prefer artificial nails for you wedding, fix them at least two weeks prior to your wedding day so that you will get used to it. 
It is the introduction of nail art that made nail salons more popular. In the modern world people do not seem to be satisfied with the traditional beauty salons for their nail care. Many love to paint their nails with complicated designs for which the service of an expert nail technician is essential. 
A potential customer of a nail salon should be careful while choosing a nail salon. Ensure that the nail salon you choose strictly follows hygienic routines in their salon. Apart from the over all cleanliness of the salon, make sure that your technician observes proper sanitation practices. 
Methyl methacrylate is a cheaper and affordable component of acrylic nail. However it has serious side effects like nail deformities and serious infections that affect the natural growth of the skin. So always be careful while you go for an acrylic nail and choose only those which have safe chemicals as its ingredients. Other wise you will have to sacrifice you health for saving a little money while beautifying your nails. 
Things required for removing acrylic nails at home are acetone and Vaseline. Lavishly apply Vaseline on and around the nails. Take acetone in a bowl. You can make it more effective by warming it a little. Adopt double boiling method only to heat acetone. Remember using microwave to heat acetone may invite danger as this chemical is highly inflammable in nature.
Apart from this artificial nails seem to be a blessing for those who suffer from brittle nail and nail growing problems. A person who cannot grow their nails long cannot even think of nail art. Artificial nails are good substitutes for this problem. Another advantage of artificial nails is that the nail colours usually last long on artificial nails when compared to natural nails and the chance of breaking also is very remote. 
Even though artificial nails may make you glamorous, it is not advisable for long use as the chemicals used for bonding and making these nails are likely to cause serious infections and other adverse effects on the natural nails. Further, regular maintenance is required for a person who has opted for artificial nails. Their nail beds are more susceptible to fungal infections. Therefore while fixing artificial nails, always seek quality professional assistance and never attempt to do it by yourself unless you are an expert in this field.
Onychodystrophy – This is the most serious nail disorder. Deformation of nails is the main symptom of Onychodystrophy. It may some times be the result of cancer. So discoloration and deformation of any nail demands serious attention. Consult a medical practitioner to rule out the possibilities of cancer. 
Onychomycosis – Discoloration, thickening, chalkiness and crumbling of nails come under this category of disease. Application of tea tree oil is said to be very effective to Onychomycosis. 
Nail thickness – Diseases like fungal infection and psoriasis are the main cause behind nail thickness. Apart from this, ageing process and trauma can also be cited as reasons for nail thickness. 
Hang nail - This is usually a self inflicted problem. Biting and picking at the nails and aggressive self manicuring are usually the causes behind hang nail. 
Onchogryphosis or claw nail is a condition which results in severe deformity of nails due to reasons like trauma or permanent shoe pressure. Toe nails are commonly seen to be more affected by this nail disorder. The nails affected by the disease onchogryphosis usually appear to be thickened, curved and claw or hook like in shape. 
Sports persons, persons who wear tight shoes etc are also prone to Onchogryphosis. Constant pressure exerted by under sized shoes on toe nails may damage the nail matrix which in turn may precipitate Onchogryphosis. 
Discomfort to nails while wearing shoes is the most commonly seen symptom of Onchogryphosis. Gradually the person suffering from Onchogryphosis will start showing signs of intolerance towards even a minor shock on the nails. In fact it is not the nail but the nail bed that is injured and the causes the discomfort. In some other cases the nails grow like a hook may even cause damage to the adjoining nails and there by cause damage and infection to them also.
The basic treatment to Onchogryphosis involves cutting, filing and trimming of nails to bring it back to a manageable state. It is always advisable to seek the assistance of a qualified doctor or nurse to avoid complications. Some times this process requires special tools due to the extreme thickness of the nails affected by Onchogryphosis.
Trauma, even minor ones, caused by regular stroke on computer key boards with nails grown long can cause Onycholysis. Aggressive manicure and pedicure, digging the sides of the nails for removing dirt can also be cited as other common causes behind Onycholysis. Prolonged exposure to water and over use of cosmetics like nail polish for long are also considered to be the causes for the above disease. 
Appearance of a gap between the pink portion of the nail and the white outer edge will be the first sign of Onycholysis. Nails usually become transparent when infected by this disease and it may even cause discolouration to nails to green or yellow colours. 
Reattaching the loosened portion of the nail to nail bed is practically impossible. The infected portion will normally grow out with the growth of the nail and can be safely cut off then. This nail disorder has a tendency to leave a permanent mark on nail by changing its appearance. 
KOILONYCHIA 
Apart from anemia, koilonychia can also be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Further it can even be seen associated with the disorders like thyroid dysfunction, musculoskeletal problems, systemic lupus erythematosus, renal disease, nail patella syndrome etc. Excessive use of soap and detergents can also cause this disease. Direct trauma on nails may also be a factor that can ultimately lead to koilonychia.
The shape of the affected nail will look exactly like a spoon due to its upward growth. In some cases where the nails are not seriously affected by the disease, it may create only a soft wave on nails. Severely affected nails may tend to turn brittle and start to break inside the concavity. The skin surrounding the affected area will usually be dry and cracked. 
Often melanonychia is a symptom rather than a disease. It is a condition where brown lines appear on nails. The lines often appear on nails in a length wise direction. As the name denotes, melanonychia is a condition resultant of hyper pigmentation. 
Scientifically melanonychia can be stated to be caused by deposition of a pigment called melanin in the nail plate. In fact melanin is the pigment that determines the colour of your skin. Depending on the presence of melanin in your skin, the colour of your skin varies from black to white. Persons with more melanin pigment in their skin are black in colour. Now you may also know the reason as to why your hair is black in colour! 
Apart from various forms of allopathic treatment, infections caused by various microorganisms and various skin diseases can also precipitate melanonychia.
Melanonychia caused due to intake of antibiotic medicines or other allopathic treatments like chemotherapy can be cured completely. Drugs like doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and hydroxyurea are stated to be excellent in the treatment of melanonychia. In case of appearance of melanonychia, care should be taken to undergo proper medical check up by visiting your doctor to rule out the possibility of subungual melanoma. Malignancy if not treated timely can be life threatening. 
Yellow nail syndrome is a very rare disorder affecting nails. As the name itself indicates discoloration of nails to yellow is the primary indication of yellow nail syndrome. This discoloration will usually be followed by swelling in different parts of the body, a condition medically known as lymphoedema. This swelling may some times lead to the blockage of one’s lymphatic system. 
The nail plate of patients affected by yellow nail syndrome gets thickened and the colour of the nail may turn yellow varying from pale yellow to greenish yellow. The edges of the nail plate may even turn dark.
The exact cause for yellow nail syndrome is stil