7 DO’S AND DON’TS FOR BEAUTIFUL NAILS

We all want beautiful and strong nails, right? But if you are anything like me, always in a hurry, you are constantly postponing the visit to the manicure. That doesn’t mean you have to be embarrassed to shake someone’s hands or show your new ring because of that peeled nail polish. Most of the time my nails are completely free of polish, but always looking shiny and healthy. That are simple steps to avoid that dreadful dry skin around the nails or the raggedy cuticles.

 

1) Keep a Good Diet

It’s no secret that what we eat reflects on our skin, hair, and nails. Are your nails cracking for no reason? That means your body is lacking calcium, zinc, and magnesium. Increasing the consumption of foods rich in Vitamin A, pantothenic acid or Vitamin B5, Iron, Calcium, and Protein, like milk, egg, dark leafy vegetables (like cabbage), wheat germ, spinach, avocado, sweet potato or liver, can help strengthen your nails, leaving them stronger and brittle.

 

2) Always Use Moisturizer
We never skip this step when it comes to our faces, so why should with our hands and nails be any different? It’s extremely important to keep the hands nourished all the time! So stock up tubes of hand cream and keep it in your office, your purse, your car... anywhere that will make it easy for you to remember applying it. When rubbing it into your hands, make sure to work it into the cuticles and nails, too.

3) Soften Your Cuticles

I know it’s tempting but avoid having your cuticles trimmed. Cuticles form a barrier against bacteria and protect the fingers, so cutting them can open you up to infection. The secret to avoiding dry and torn cuticles without having to cut them is softening regularly with a specific cream for the area. Arianna’s Refined Cuticle Treatment is enriched with natural oils that encourage strong and healthy nail growth. Apply to soften the cuticles and then gently push them with a spatula to remove only the skin excess.

4) Avoid High Temperatures When Washing Your Hands

Yes, I know, it’s cold… But the hot water dries out the skin. Try to switch to lukewarm – and this rule goes for when bathing and washing your hair, too!

5) Don't Use Your Nails as Tools

Ripping off labels, fixing the hook of a bracelet or opening a beverage can are just a few scenarios in which we use our nails as tools. By forcing the nails against a hard surface, we create small cracks that facilitate the break - when we don't already flake the nail at that instant. So resist temptation and resort to the right instrument!

6) Protect With Gloves

The constant contact with water and cleaning products can ruin your manicure and cause the peeling of your polish. Besides that, it is also one of the main causes of weak and brittle nails. Using rubber gloves whenever you perform household chores such as dishwashing or cleaning the house protects and take care of your hands and nails.

 

7) Avoid harsh polishes

Your nails need to breathe, so it’s best to leave them without coating or any product once or twice a week. In addition, nail polishes may have toxic chemicals harmful to your health, such as toluene, dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl, and formaldehyde. Some polishes do not contain these chemicals, so make sure you read the label carefully and always opt for the most natural options. For removing the polish, choose the products that do not have acetone and, even then, do not use it more than once a week. What I use to give my nails a glowing coat even without polish is the nail buffer, that creates a high-gloss shine and promotes a natural moisture. 

As you can see, having beautiful nails is much more than scheduling a manicure every week. These are just a few tips that I recommend adding to your beauty repertoire. What about you? How do you take care of your nails? Share it in the comments!