It is of common
knowledge that one's social image is a complex of different details, with
"the first impression" 's rule being one of the most common factors.
But first impression relies on our look and that is what many take it
seriously, by paying attention their aesthetics from head to toes. Having said
that, some broken or peeled nails, with sick or neglected look, can be a huge
failure for one's appearance.
But what causes the
nails to break and how can one deal with it? the answer lies in small and substantial
changes that one can make to reach the desired result easily and quickly!
What
are the reasons behind some broken nails?
- Poor nutrition: it shouldn't be a surprise, but one's bad
eating habits can be reflected in the nails! So, when one lacks the necessary
vitamins and trace elements from the body, the lack appears throughout some
brittle nails. Iron, potassium, vitamins A, B, C, and calcium are essential to
avoid breaking and peeling nails.
- Insufficient
hydration: daily use of hand
cream is not enough to keep nails hydrated. Consuming lots of fruit and fluids
maintains the necessary moisture and helps in healthy nail growth and
strengthening. Complementary, it is auxiliary and the application of a
vitamin-based nail oil.
- Non-use of gloves: gloves are an essential shield for the nails
when one doing chores, especially when the hands encounter detergents and
cleaning chemicals: their ingredients dehydrate and dry the nails.
- Hand washing: because of the pandemic, constant hand washing
became second nature for everyone. Yet, this new habit, especially when
accompanied by hot water, dehydrates the nails, and since one cannot avoid
washing, it is advisable to prefer milder water temperature that does not lead
to brittle nails.
- Dysregulated
thyroid: thyroid dysregulation
is the cause of various problems in one’s body, one of which is the weaked and
brittled nails. That's why if -without any other apparent cause - one's nails
start to peel off, it would be a good idea to visit an endocrinologist.
- Keyboards: obviously nails and keyboards are a bad
combination, since for many who's work requires endless hours of use of
keyboards, hitting continuously the keys, inevitably harm the nails. In that case
it is good to keep the nails short so that they do not suffer.
- Manicure and nail
polish remover: continuous
dyeing or even the use of poor-quality varnishes progressively weaken the
nails. To protect them, nails should remain undyed for 1-2 days between each
manicure. The same applies to the constant application of artificial nails,
which lead to the peeling and weakening of one 's natural nails. Finally, pure
nail polish remover and products containing it, remove the natural oils of the
nail and dehydrate it.
How
to keep the nails strong and healthy
Use daily a hand cream
with alpha hydroxy acids that strengthens the nails and moisturize the cuticles
well, rubbing the specific points.
Use gloves – not only
for cleanliness but also for cold!
Avoid opening things
with the fingertips – nails are not multi-tools for opening packages!
Properly sharpen the
nails with a soft paper nail file and movements in one direction - to avoid
breaking – and give the shape that suits you. If you find it difficult you can
always go to a specialist.
Apply a nourishing
base that protects the nails, before applying the colour and invest in quality
products, especially nail polishes that prevent peeling and keep the nails
strong and hard.
Regularly apply some
nail oil - such as castor, almond, olive oil – that strengthens and hardens
weak nails.
If the nails are
peeling, avoid pulling the peels because this can damage the healthy parts of
the nail. Sand lightly to smooth the surface and strengthen with a nail hardener.
Boost your diet with a
biotin supplement, which, according to research enhances the thickness of the
nail, prevents peeling, and strengthens the nails. Also, prefer foods rich in
vitamin B (cauliflower, nuts, lentils) and saturated fatty acids (avocado,
walnut oil, etc.)
Treat the nails with
natural remedies and products of nature that exist in all homes, making masks
especially for damaged nails.
Some simple ways are: Soak your fingers daily for
10 minutes in cold olive oil, which is excellent at repairing and strengthening
your nails.
- Make compresses with
lukewarm olive oil and a few drops of lemon, dipping a cotton swab in the
mixture and wrapping it with a film around the fingers for ten minutes. Lemon
will remove stains and "whiten" nails.
- Soak your nails in a
saline solution (four tablespoons of salt in a glass of lukewarm water) for ten
minutes and feel the well-being that a body feels after a shower gel with
salts.
- Use the classic
Vaseline to enhance the hydration of the skin and nails, using it just before
bedtime.
