NAIL CARE
Like your hair, nails are comprised of keratin, a tough, fibrous protein substance.
The nail bed is the pink part of your nail containing the capillaries that bring nourishment to the matrix, which is the area just beneath the cuticle. The matrix is where new cells are generated, making nails grow. The whole nail (including the white tip and pink bed) is called the nail plate, and the crescent moon at its base is called the lunula. The cuticle is the thin strip of skin at the base of the nail covering the matrix. This flexible strip seals off the finger from the nail, keeping out substances like bacteria that can damage the matrix.
Can You Change the Look of Your Nails?
Not really. Like the rest of our body, the strength and look of our nails are genetically determined, so we have to work with what we've been given. But, by taking good care of your nails - grooming them weekly, moisturizing them daily, protecting them from the sun and caring properly for your cuticles - you can make the best of what you have.
Shape Your Nails
It's best to file your nails only when the tip, or the white part of the nail, has grown at least a quarter of an inch from the nail's stress point, or where the white nail edge meets the pink part of the nail plate. If you file your nails below this point, it can weaken them. At the same time, if you let the white part of your nail grow longer than the pinkish nail plate; your nail will almost certainly break. When filing nails, resist the urge to file from side to side, which can weaken the stress points of the nail. Be sure to file gently from corner to center in one direction and one motion, using the groove on each side of your nail as a guide.
Choosing a File
Stay away from metal nail files since they are very harsh and can split nails. One wrong swipe and you've ruined your nail shape. Most manicurists recommend a soft, straight file that won't cause any damage if you swipe it the wrong way.
Shaping the Nail
There are many ways to determine your nails' shape. Many people want to have their nails shaped squarely, which may come from the belief that square-cut nails are stronger. This is a myth - one nail shape is as strong as another. If your cuticle is oval shaped at the base, the square look may work for you, but if you have a pointier cuticle, you might want to consider a more oval-shaped nail. These days, the trend is towards a softer, more rounded shape.
The nail strengtheners that you believe are helping your nails could well be your hindrance. Nail hardeners and strengtheners are good for very weak and peeling nails when used for short periods of time, but if you use them for longer than about three weeks at a time, nails can become too hard, making them brittle and liable to break. A better treatment to ensure healthy and strong nails is to rub hand cream and nail oil into the cuticles and base of the nails after every time you wash your hands. This simple strategy keeps the nail matrix (the part that is still alive and therefore responsible for whether they look ravishing or ravaged by the time they reach the ends of your fingers!) conditioned, so that nails grow looking better.
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