Have you ever worn artificial fingernails and ended up with your nails a mess? I have. I wore them for years because they were easy to care for and I could have them done only twice a month. When I stopped wearing the acrylic nails, my own nails were extremely soft and fragile. I thought they would never again be alright. I did some research on nails, to see if I could repair my nails. I found out that I could with some diligence.
What are nails?
Nails are a smooth, semi-durable plate consisting primarily of the protein Keratin, which is rich in sulphur and sulphurated amino-acids (cystine and methionine). Nails also contain mineral ions (calcium, iron) and, of course, water. Their surface is protected by a lipid film, which gives them their polished appearance.
Nails grow continuously along the surface of the finger (the nail bed) at an approximate rate of 0.1mm a day on fingers and half that for the toes. The horny limbus (the visible part of the nail) is replaced every 6 months on the hands and every 12 months on the feet.
Nails are produced constantly by the matrix, which is particularly visible on the thumb, as a whitish half-moon called the lunula. The hidden part of the matrix is beneath a fold of skin, at the base of the nail. The cuticle is the small piece of skin that frames the nail and protects the matrix.
Nail Grow More Quickly: in daytime than night
in summer than winter
in adults than children
in women (particularly during pregnancy) than men
on the hand that is used most often
Several times a day your nails are subjected to a variety of traumas which make them fragile, soft, ridged, split, cracked, dry and brittle.
How do you care for your nails?
DO:
stimulate the nail by massaging: massaging the tips of your fingers stimulates the blood and lymph circulations; tapping your fingers is also stimulating
give your nails a rest: if you must use nail polish, give your nails a holiday one week in every month. Nail polish gives the nail a hermetic coating which stops it taking in oxygen
eat a balanced and varied diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals
relax: a little relaxation makes up for long hours of stress and is also good for healthy nails
DON'T:
do house-work without gloves: gloves provide protection from harsh cleaning substances and damage to the nails and matrix
over expose hands to water: just like the skin on your hands, nails become fragile; the protective lipid film is destroyed and then nails become soft
over use nail polish: some nail polishes use pigments that migrate towards the nail plate and deeply impregnate them with this discoloration; even after polish has been removed, the nail retains this unsightly color
use a formaldehyde-based hardener: even if the effect is striking from the very first application, the nail very quickly becomes crumbly, brittle and yellow (formaldehyde destroys the structure of the keratin and diminishes the resiliency)
use artificial nails: the nails cannot "breathe" and may be severely damaged by certain resin-based glues and harsh chemicals. In some cases they become subjected to fungal infections
use metal nail-files: as they are hard, they cause repeated trauma (striations). Use a pliable emery file instead
There are products that are specially formulated to protect your nails and to correct any damage that you might have caused to them. For brittle nails, use a strengthening cream to moisturize, followed by a nail strengthener. Always use a cuticle softening gel to protect your cuticles. Do not cut them. Follow this with a healthy base coat. For soft nails, use a nail strengthener to enforce the nail and a top coat to protect them.
Did you know there are beauty masks for the nails also, that promote growth and strength? And there are bitter nail coat to stop the nail biting habit and protect the nails. Nails have to be both supple and resistant. Ecrinal has selected ingredients which combine maximum efficacy and the ability to restore damaged nails. Ecrinal products are guaranteed free of acetone, formaldehyde and toluene. Ecrinal nail products contain A.N.P. (horse mane extract), and cysteine-keratin compound which is referred to as "liquid fingernail"
· Aid in the acceleration of nail growth
· Promote thicker, stronger, healthier nails with whiter tips and brighter nail beds
· Get rid of ridges
· Eliminate damage caused by artificial nails
I found these products to be extremely helpful in getting my nails back into shape. You can read more on the products by going to Beauty-from Head to Toe. There are more explanations on which products will be best for your situation. Like me, you too can have your nails healthy and naturally beautiful, without artificial products. Give it a try.
For years I worked with younger women, so I spent a lot of time keeping myself in good shape and keeping myself young looking. I never gave it much thought as to how much I knew about the subject until I retired. Then I found that all of my efforts paid off. I am able to continue to care for myself and keep my youthful appearance because of my diligence earlier in life. Since retiring, I decided that I wanted to create a business for myself and others to get the best of anti-aging products.
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