You might not realise it, but you really can tell a lot about a person from their nails. Bitten or distended nails are often seen as a sign of nervousness or low confidence, whereas someone who always has perfectly manicured nails can seem a little conceited and vain. It’s not just on a superficial level either, the condition of a person’s nails can give an indication of their overall health and nail problems can be the first sign of more serious health issues. But it’s not just about what others think. We all get an extra boost of confidence from going out with a perfect set of nails. So here are a few quick tips to help keep your nails looking great.
Firstly and most importantly, don’t allow your nails to get too dry. Always use hand cream after you wash your hands and regularly throughout the day as required. This will help your nails and cuticles retain their moisture and stop them breaking or peeling. Moisturisers like those by Aesop are a good choice as they last all day and work well with your skin. Don’t cut your cuticles, but gently push them back when they are soft, for example after a bath. If you are still encourtering problems with dry skin I would recommend using Eve Lom as their creams are extremely good!
If your nails are dry or fragile or you get hangnails, it could be a dietary problem. Calcium deficiency can cause breaking or peeling, and white spots are often caused by a lack of iron. These things can all easily be remedied by making sure you eat a balanced diet. Manual work, housework and washing up can seriously damage nails so wear gloves especially where washing up liquid is involved, and always moisturise when you’re finished.
Nail polish looks great but can really damage the nails if used all the time. Only paint your nails when you want to go out and look your best, there’s no point going to all that effort if you’re only going to work where they will just get chipped anyway. When you do use nail colour, use a base coat to prevent the colour from staining. OPI is a good place to start for a great range of colours that are long lasting, and they do base coats and nail treatments too. When you remove your nail polish use as little remover as possible and, yes you guessed it, wash and moisturise your hands straight afterwards to prevent your nails from drying out.