You might not think it, but you can tell a lot about a person from their nails. Bitten or distended nails are often seen as a sign that someone is prone to nervousness or low confidence, whereas someone who always has perfectly manicured nails can seem a bit vain. It’s not just on a superficial level either, the condition of someone’s nails can give clues about their overall health and nail problems can be the first sign of more serious health problems. But of course it’s not just about what everyone else thinks. We all get an extra boost of confidence from stepping out with a perfect set of nails for a night out. So here are a few tips to help keep your nails looking their best.
Firstly and most importantly, never allow your nails to get too dry. Always moisturise your hands after you wash them and regularly throughout the day as required. This will help your nails and cuticles to retain their moisture and prevent them from becoming brittle and 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 you do have dry, brittle nails or get hangnails, it could be because of a dietary problem. Calcium deficiency can cause nails to peel or break, and white spots can often be caused by not getting enough iron. These things can all be easily fixed by eating a balanced diet. Any manual work, including housework and washing up, can seriously damage your 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 you use it all the time. Only paint your nails when you want to go out and look your best, there’s really no point going to all that effort if you’re only going to work where they will only chip anyway. When you do use nail polish, always 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 that’s right, wash and moisturise your hands straight afterwards to prevent your nails from drying out.