Beautiful and well-groomed nails are the key to confidence and attractiveness for every girl. The elongated nail bed looks aristocratic and attractive. You can get it both at home on your own, and resorting to procedures in the salon. The nail bed is the area from the base of the nail to the edge that does not come into contact with the finger, to the so-called "smile line". Hand care will not give an effect in 3-4 procedures, therefore, in order to lengthen the shape of the nails, you should be patient.
The structure of nails and their growth
Nails are keratinized plates, the function of which is to protect the delicate tissue underneath from mechanical, chemical, thermal and other influences.
The structure diagram is shown in the figure, where:
- A – nail plate.
- B - nail hole.
- C is root.
- D - sinus (sinus) of the nail.
- E is the matrix.
- F - nail bed.
- G – hyponychium.
- H - free edge.
The lateral edges of the nail are surrounded by skin ridges, and the root part is covered by a posterior skin ridge that passes into the cuticle.
The growth of the nail occurs due to the formation of keratin, which, as it grows and is pushed out, becomes denser, becomes even and flat. This process is influenced by nutrition, the state of the body and even the time of year. On average, there is an increase of 0.6-1.6 mm per week.
Reasons for shrinking nail bed
The nail eventually grows to the skin underneath. However, bad habits or other factors can interfere with this fusion and help reduce the distance of the nail bed. These include bad habits:
- Gnawing, biting and biting nails with teeth.
- Tear off, break off, twist nails with hands or other objects.
- Scrape, rub, scratch with nails.
- Clean the dirt under the nails with a wedge-shaped edge of a nail file, a pusher or any other tool. Any sharp objects “tear off” the skin from the nail, reducing the bed.
Clean your nails with a small brush, gently swiping under them.
Nail bed lengthening options
You can give a beautiful shape with the help of home care and cosmetic procedures, special manicure, surgical method. They turn to doctors in case of ingrown nails, finger injuries, since it is not possible to lengthen the nail bed on their own. If there are no such problems, then you can achieve a good result on your own.
Beauty salons also offer spatreatments to correct the shape and strengthen nails.
A special type of manicure that allows you to create the effect of a long bed is performed by applying an opaque varnish in a color close to natural. After that, a new “smile line” is drawn above the existing one in a different contrasting color at the top near the edge, thereby visually lengthening the nail. The advantage of such a manicure is naturalness and accuracy.
How else to lengthen the nail bed? A good option would be to use a bright varnish through which the outlines do not show through.
Care basics
If the question of how to lengthen your nails is relevant for you, pay special attention to your bad habits, which are mentioned above, and try to eradicate them. Remember that you are working on making your hands feminine when you feel like chewing on a fingernail.
How to lengthen the nail bed at home? Remember, if you do nails constantly, then in the end you can come to the desired result.
As for the nail care itself, an integrated approach is important:
- softening and getting rid of cuticles;
- correct shaping;
- nutrition, hydration and strengthening;
- care for the skin of the hands.
Additional activities may include:
- massage;
- creating a protective coating (varnish, gel polish);
- baths with sea s alt and a drop of shower gel;
- taking vitamins and minerals (calcium, retinol, or vitamin A, D, E).
Cuticle treatment
This is the first thing to start with. Even this operation alone will lead to the expansion of the nail bed. There are a large number of cosmetics for softening cuticles: oils, creams, gel removers. It is necessary to apply one of them on the cuticle, wait 1-2 minutes, then move the orange stick and remove unnecessary skin.
Orange sticks help avoid injury to the skin and nail plate.
It happens that at the initial stage the cuticle begins to grow and shaggy. This is a transition period that is worth enduring. Over time, it will become thinner and softer.
Before lengthening your nails at home, you can take a warm bath with sea s alt.
Shaping
Cutting nails with scissors is highly undesirable. To give an elongated shape to the nails should only be a nail file. This is the correct way. There is an opinion that metal files are harmful, therefore it is recommended to use glass and ceramic ones.
The shape itself can be any, but for short nails at the initial stage, oval is better - it is closer to natural and will contribute to greater fusion of the skin and nail, that is, the effect that needs to be achieved. Only dry nails should be filed. Therefore, do not start doing this immediately after water procedures.
Caring for the nail plate while lengthening the bed
Because it's about howlengthen the nail bed, then an important point is to protect it from drying out. In addition, nails need saturation with vitamins and strength. For this, firming oils and creams are suitable. A drop of the product is applied to the nails and rubbed into each with soft circular movements for 30-60 seconds. You can use both professional products and simple oils:
- apricot;
- olive;
- peach;
- wild rose;
- bergamot;
- cocoa.
Ampoules from a pharmacy with vitamin A and E, lemon juice are perfect for this. Constant use will result in a dense structure of the nail plate, accelerated growth and he althy appearance.
Hydrating hands
Without proper hydration and nutrition, the skin of the hands becomes dull and begins to peel off. About any stylish manicure then there can be no question. Make it a rule to use a caring cream every night before going to bed. You will notice the result soon - your hands will become velvety, tender, with even skin color. You can combine the use of cream and massage. It is necessary to massage each finger with twisting and pulling movements towards the nail.
Regularity of grooming procedures
It is worth removing the cuticle as it grows, as well as shaping the nails with a nail file. The use of creams, oils, s alt baths and other caring procedures should be performed daily, saturating, nourishing, moisturizing, making the nail plate elegant and elongated.
To watch how longnail bed, photograph progress and changes every one to two weeks. This will give you confidence in your actions, because it is difficult to notice daily changes of up to 1 millimeter per week, although this achievement is precisely the goal of care.
