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 Tips on How to Grow Long, Healthy Nails
Author: Donna Kelly
Let's be honest, a beautiful
set of, long, natural healthy nails looks classy and sexy. Immaculately
manicured long nails say a lot about your personal style and
confidence. We know growing long, healthy nails can be a challenge.
Our simple tips show how you too can have a beautiful set of
long natural nails.
First a quick biology lesson:
Your nails grow from the area
under your cuticle called the matrix. The matrix is the living
part of the nail. Your cuticle is the layer of skin that protects
the matrix so the cuticle is very important for nail health and
growth. As new nail cells grow in the matrix, older nail cells
are pushed out toward your fingertips and become hard and compacted.
Heredity and health determine how fast nails grow but nails typically
grow about 0.1 millimeter a day, which means that it takes a
fingernail about four to six months to fully regenerate. Healthy
nails are smooth, without ridges or grooves. They're uniform
in colour and consistency and free of spots or discoloration.
Did you know: Nails grow
faster in the summer than in the winter, nails on your dominant
hand grow faster, and men's nails grow more quickly than women's,
except when a woman is pregnant when nail growth speeds up.
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How long
should my nails be ?
This
is obviously very much a matter of personal choice but a couple
of things to bear in mind:
The
optimum practical length for your nails depends on your activities
and your lifestyle. In general the nail tip should extend no
further than one third of the body of the nail.
Nails break less often when they are all of equal
length and shaped square, oval, or round.
Tips on growing, long and healthy natural nails:
Long nails tip 1: Don't use your
nails as tools.
Rather than using your nails
use other parts of your hand, or a pen, to perform tasks like
dialing the phone. Don't pick, poke or scrape with your nails
and especially avoid opening soft drink cans with your nails.
Long nails tip 2: Wear gloves.
Detergents are particularly harsh on your nails
and can cause splitting and peeling. Wear gloves when washing
dishes or cleaning. You should also wear gloves when gardening
to protect your nails from infection and prevent dryness, damage,
and loss of natural oils.
Long
nails tip 3: Don't bit your nails or pick at your cuticles.
Aside from the obvious reason of biting shortening
your nails these habits can damage the nail bed. Even a minor
cut alongside your nail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter
the nail bed and cause an infection. Remember your nails grow
slowly so an injured nail retains signs of damage for several
months.
Long nails tip 4:
Look after your cuticles.
The cuticle is a barrier
that keeps bacteria from the nail matrix, where new cells are
generated, so it should not be cut or trimmed. On the other hand
you do want to keep cuticles from becoming overgrown, which suffocates
nail growth. If your cuticle has grown out on to the nail plate,
after sufficiently softening your cuticles in warm water, very
gently use a cuticle pusher to push your cuticles back. As well
as pushing your cuticles back this will help to remove dead skin
and debris that may have accumulated. Hold the cuticle pusher
at an angle, and use tiny circular movements, so that you are
as gentle and careful as possible and do not damage the cuticle.
When you have finished doesn't forget to moisturize your hands.
Long nails tip 5: Look after
your nails.
Trim fingernails and clean under
the nails regularly. Use manicure scissors or clippers and a
nail file to smooth nail edges. Never pull off hangnails - doing
so almost always results in ripping living tissue. Clip hangnails
off, leaving a slight angle outward.
Long nails tip 6: Caring for brittle nails.
Trim brittle nails after a bath, or a 15 minute hand
soak in bath oil, and then apply a moisturiser. Don't use nail
polish remover more than twice a month. Instead, touch up the
nail polish. When you do need to use a nail polish remover avoid
those that use acetone, which dries out nails. Also consider
using a nail strengthener and growth formula.
Long nails tip 7: The role of diet.
Unless
your diet is deficient in protein and vitamins dietary changes
that supposedly strengthen nails won't work. Your nails can however
offer telltale signs of dietary problems such as:
Lack
of vitamin A and calcium causing dryness and brittleness.
Lack of protein, folic acid and vitamin C causing
hang nails
White bands across the nails caused
by protein deficiency.
A lack of sufficient
hydrochloric acid causing splitting nails.
Insufficient
intake of vitamin B12 leading to excessive dryness, very rounded
and curved ends and darkening of nails.
Insufficient
zinc causing development of white spots on the nails.
Red skin around your cuticles can be caused by poor
metabolism of essential fatty acids.
If you are concerned that your diet may not be balanced
and healthy you should consult a medical or nutritional professional.
Long nails tip 8: Moisturise
your nails.
Nails need moisture just like your
hands do. Rub lotion into your nails when moisturising your hands.
Be sure to apply moisturiser each time you wash your hands
Long nails tip 9: Use coloured
nail polish.
Use coloured nail polish while
you are growing your nails. If you prefer a softer look, try
a sheer shade. Coloured nail polish helps you become more aware
of your hands and how to use them in a way that keeps your nail
polish undamaged and hence your nails protected. It also makes
chips easier to spot so that you can make immediate repairs.
Long, beautiful natural nails
take commitment and special care to grow and maintain. Be patient,
the average nail takes 3 to 6 months to grow.
Frequently asked questions:
My nails are weak. What can I
do to strengthen them?
Unfortunately,
if you have naturally weak nails then it's probably hereditary
and you can't permanently change them. You can, however, do things
to make them stronger. Try a nail strengthener and growth formula.
Many women are confused about how to use these products, so here
are a few tips:
Make sure you apply a thin coat.
Because you'll be applying it daily you don't want it to build
up too much. If you're at the very beginning stages of growing
out your nails only use a strengthener and growth formula on
your nail plate and apply it every day. Once your nails start
to protrude, and you want to apply nail polish, use the strengthener
and growth formula as a base coat and as a top coat.
Why do I have ridges in my nails?
Ridges or corrugations (referred to as beau's lines)
in nails occur when nail growth is uneven, usually because of
illness or injury. Gentle buffing can minimize ridges. A Ridge
Filler will also help to level the nail surface, smoothing out
shallow ridges and other imperfections.
What causes my nails to turn yellow and how can
I get rid of the yellow stains?
Darker
coloured nail polish can cause a chemical reaction between the
nail polish's coloring agent and the nail plate. This can cause
nails to develop a yellowish color. While it is different for
every person this reaction can occur in a matter of days or within
weeks of wearing the nail colour. To prevent nails from yellowing
always use a base coat before applying nail polish. Not only
will this prevent staining but it can also extend the life of
the nail polish. For already yellow nails soak nails in a solution
of 1/2 cup of water and the juice of one lemon for up to 15 minutes,
once a week
Why are my nails
so flaky around the cuticle beds? What causes this?
Unless you have an allergy to something you are
handling it is likely to be dryness which is the cause. It is
important to correct this since, as mentioned, cuticles are very
important for nail health. You should regularly moisturize your
cuticles, and hands.
My nails
can grow, but after a while they begin to peel and stop growing.
What can I do to stop this?
Many
women want long, well-shaped nails, but the stresses of daily
life and work may make them a challenge to grow. Your nails could
potentially benefit from additional protection when they reach
more vulnerable lengths. A nail strengthener and growth formula
could assist.
What causes
thin nails and what can make them stronger?
When your general health is good and you are not
handling strong chemicals that might affect the nails, it is
likely to be heredity that produces thin nails. Your nails could
also potentially benefit from a nail strengthener and growth
formula.
Donna is a trained makeup artist
with her own beauty business. As both a business woman and a
mom with 2 children Donna understands the time pressures on women
today and through this, and other articles, has endeavored to
take the complexity out of looking great with some "busy
women friendly" beauty tips and advice. If you would like
to read more of Donna's articles check out her website: http://www.coloursandscents.co.nz
or join her free mailing list at: http://www.coloursandscents.co.nz/signup.php
http://www.coloursandscents.co.nz/category/beautymakeupskincareandnailcaretipsandadvice.php
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