Nails looking a little ragged? Manicure budget now going towards the rent? You’re not alone babycakes! When the going gets tough, the tough start doing their own nails! It’s practically a fact!
But while it may be easy to swish on some polish and go, when it comes to summer nail care -including those sandal -baring tootsie nails – if you’re like most of us, you’re at a loss about what to do!(That’s what you get for reading the National Enquirer instead of paying attention to what you nail tech was doing! )
But not to worry, we’ve got you covered! We’ve consulted with Dr. Dana Stern – a popular New York City dermatologists – who has a slew of summer nail care tips for keeping your fingers and toes looking great even on a tiny budget!
Nail Care Tip 1:
Use nail hardeners sparingly – or not at all. ” The take home message here is that products used in salons are not miracle cures – and a lot of them do more damage than good, and this is particularly true of nail hardeners,” says Stern. She reminds us that healthy nails are flexible nails, so to keep yours from breaking try massaging them with a natural oil ( like vitamin E) and skip the nail hardeners.
Nail Care Tip 2:
Ditch the acetone-based polish removers – The one product that all dermatologists agree you should avoid if you have brittle nails are the acetone nail polish removers – it has been documented time and again that it strips the nails, causing them to become brittle. In fact, that’s the finding of a new nail study jconducted at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City where Stern says she and her colleagues also found that women who have professional manicures have more nail breakage than those who do their own nails at home – mostly due to the harsh chemicals used by many salons.
Nail Care Tip 3:
Avoid orange emery boards – They cause small cracks and fissures in nails that lead to breakage and tears. Instead, opt for a smooth diamond file – and never “saw” those nails back and forth. File in one direction only and do it slow and easy to reduce the risk of breakage.
Nail Care Tip # 4:
Switch Shampoos! Yes you read right shampoo! What most women never realize, says Stern, is that shampoo can be the culprit behind nails that are dry, brittle and prone to breakage. This she says is true even if your hair looks great! The reason? Many shampoos contain detergents – particularly those for oily hair or the ones that add volume,. Both can strip oils in order to give hair more fullness – but in the process, also strip nails of vital oils necessary to stay strong! The solution? If you just love your shampoo, make certain to condition nails with a cuticle oil after ea ch and every hair washing. It will put back what you took out during the shampoo!
Nail Care Tip # 5:
Take biotin supplements – In several studies researchers found that biotin supplements (a member of the B vitamin family) increased nail thickness and prevented splitting and breaking. In one German study of 71 people with severe nail problems, 2.5 mg of Biotin daily for several months benefited everyone in the study – with 91% citing significant improvement. Results are apparent in about two to three weeks.
Nail Care Tip # 6:
To Avoid Chips, Wrap Nail in Color – Swoosh some polish under the nail tip allowing it to “wrap” your entire nail. .This will protect the ends from cracks and splits and help the color stay on longer.
Nail Care Tip # 7:
Never Polish Nails Before Bedtime – While this applies more to toes than fingers, the issue here is cotton sheets, which can leave marks and dents in a nail finish. The key is to put at least two hours between the time your nails are dry and the time you slip between the sheets. You’ll be amazed at how much longer your manicure will last if you do!
