The 4 Steps to Beautiful Nails
**The 4 Steps to Beautiful Nails** is a blog about the most common nail problems, how to prevent them and treatments. You may have noticed that your nails are not in good condition: they often break, split, peel or chip and sometimes get infected by fungus. This blog will show you that there is hope for those who suffer from weak nails.
Everyone can learn how to take care of their nails using simple techniques and products. In this blog I will explain the *4 steps* you need to take in order to transform your ugly nails into healthy, beautiful ones.
Nail care is like skin care: it takes time and patience and it’s not a miracle cure, but rather a process that needs to be followed religiously every day until your nails are in tip-top shape again. After that you don’t need to pay as much attention to your nail care routine anymore, but if you want to keep your nails healthy and shiny, you must not neglect them either!
The 4 Steps to Beautiful Nails
Step 1. Cleaning
I start by removing old nail polish with a nail polish remover. I then soak my nails in warm water to soften them and make it easier to push back the cuticles. I use an orange stick to push back the cuticles, trying not to remove too much skin. Then scrub the nails with a nail brush and soap. Dry your nails with a towel or hair dryer (low heat).
Step 2. Polishing
I apply base coat first. This is important because without it your nails will chip in only a day or two. Then I apply two layers of color and finish with a top coat that dries very quickly and gives you long lasting results.
Step 3. Finishing
Apply cuticle oil on your cuticles and massage it in gently with your fingers for about 2 minutes – this helps soothe dry skin and promotes nail growth.
Lastly, apply hand cream all over your hands, massaging it in gently until fully absorbed.
Healthy nails are characterized by a pinkish color, smooth and shiny surface, with no cracks or spots. However, they very often show signs of damage. The most common ones are white and black spots (caused by trauma), yellowing (caused by different factors), brittleness, and fungal infections.
The following tips can help you take care of your nails:
1. Remove any polish with a nail polish remover and file the nails. If you’d like to you can soak your hands in warm water with a little bit of olive oil. This will help soften the cuticles and make it easier to push them back later on.
2. Push back the cuticles with a wooden stick or orange stick (you can buy one at any drugstore). You should do this carefully as you could hurt yourself if you push too hard. You can also use a cuticle softener (again, sold in drugstores) but be careful not to apply it directly on the skin as it could burn it.
3. Now that your nails are clean, file them into shape using fine-grit sand paper or a nail file. Hold the file flat against the edge of your nail and move it from one side to another, in one direction only, until you have the desired shape.
4. Massage some moisturizer onto your hands, for example hand cream or olive oil, and onto your nails too. Do not place any moisturizer between your fingers as this could cause fungi development.
There are many things that can cause brittle nails. Nails become weak when they are exposed to harsh chemicals, detergents, soaps and water on a regular basis. There are some medications that can also affect the health of your nails. These include retinoids, birth control pills and antidepressants.
Vitamin deficiency can also affect the health of your nails. If you have brittle nails, it could be because you lack enough vitamin A in your diet. If your nails are ridged, it could be because you lack enough protein or iron in your diet.
If your hands come in contact with water frequently throughout the day, the moisture content of your nails increases, which causes them to expand. This expansion weakens the nail plates and makes them prone to splitting and breaking. To protect your nails from this kind of damage, always wear gloves when handling cleaning products or doing the dishes.
Avoid using nail polish removers as much as possible if you have brittle nails as they contain chemicals that can further dry out your nails and make them more prone to breakage. If you do need to use a polish remover, choose an acetone-free nail polish remover as these contain less harsh chemicals than those with acetone.
PEDICURE NAILS
Nail Care Procedures
The Importance of Nail Care
Like it or not, your nails are an important aspect of your personal presentation. The state of your hands and feet is a reflection of how much you care about yourself. Having nice hands and feet makes you feel good about yourself, as well as having a positive effect on the way others see you.
Although some people may think nail care is a luxury, it really is not. With just a little time and effort, you can have nails that are healthy and attractive. If you take good care of your hands and feet, they will look great with or without polish. Even if you do nothing else but trim them regularly, your nails will be healthier than if you left them to grow unchecked.