Handy tips for nail care: dos and don’ts for healthy & beautiful nails

The type of nails you have is inherited from your parents. There is not much you can do about that, but the care you give your nails can go a long way in improving their appearance.

You may not see any dramatic result immediately after adopting a more nail-friendly routine, but if you persist, soon you will see your nails change from unsightly to well- groomed ones.

It is better to formulate a nail-care plan that is simple to follow so that it does not take too much time, and is thus easy to follow. Here are some dos and don’ts of nail care:

• What you eat is important to how your nails look. A protein-rich diet works wonders for your nails. Citrus fruits, honey and nuts are also great for your nails. Consult your doctor for advice if you intend taking vitamin A or B complex supplements.

• If your nails are soft and weak, you may consider drinking milk. Milk contains calcium, which is good for nails.

• Do not neglect your cuticles. To have soft and supple cuticles, use a cuticle cream on the cuticles and then push your cuticles backwards. If you don’t have a cuticle cream handy, use Vaseline.

• Avoid cutting cuticles by yourself, unless you are trained to do so. Otherwise you risk causing an infection. Instead, after washing and drying your hands, gently push the cuticles back with the help of a soft towel.

• Avoid cutting your nails with scissors, unless you have softened your nails first by soaking them in warm water. Use a nail cutter for cutting and an emery-board for filing your nails.

• While removing nail-polish, it is advisable to use a proper nail polish remover and not simple acetone without oil, because such products are harsh on your nails and tend to make your nails dry and brittle.

• Nail polish removers tend to dehydrate nails. If possible, try not to change your nail polish more than once a week.

• It is a good idea to give your nails time to rest from nail polish from time to time. If you keep your nails painted all the time, they tend to become yellow. Avoid nail polish for a while and see your nails come back to their normal color.

• If you want to grow your nails, try to boost the blood circulation to the nails. To do this, gently massage your nails from time to time.

• It is best to file nails in one direction only. Be gentle and tender. Going backward and forward, makes your nails fragile, causing them to get shattered or split.