Beautiful and well-groomed nails are the pride of any woman. But what if they have lost their strength, become brittle and thin? The reasons usually lie in the lack of nutrients. Our article today will consist of the following points:
1. Essential nail care products.
2. Proper nutrition and he althy nails.
3. Nail masks.
4. Nail oils.
Grooming them will gradually become a habit if you do it systematically. After all, nails need our care no less than the skin of the face and hands. Every day they are exposed to wind, cold, high temperatures, chemicals that are part of detergents. Therefore, in your purse should always be a moisturizer for the skin of hands and nails. In cold weather, gloves must be worn for additional protection. And do not forget to make masks to strengthen nails and nourish them.
Home nail care: basic rules
So, you need to purchase 5 assistants that will help you take care of your nails at any time of the year:
1. Nail file. It is better to buy glass, ceramic or crystal. She will not spoil the nails and give them a beautiful, neat shape. It is not recommended to purchase iron files - they exfoliate the nail plate.
2. Hand cream. In the summer, they need a light product, preferably one with UV protection. In winter, on the contrary, the hands need intensive hydration and nutrition.
3. Cuticle oil. When exposed to adverse factors, the cuticle cracks, becomes dry, which is fraught with the formation of hangnails. The oil will help soften it, giving the handles a more well-groomed look. In addition, daily use of oil will improve the condition of the skin of the hands and the nails themselves.
4. Remover. This is a tool for removing keratinized areas of the cuticle. It must be applied to the cuticle, wait a bit, and then remove the softened skin with a toothpick. Remover contains cuticle-dissolving chemicals.
5. Lacquer for strengthening nails. It contains the nutrients necessary for nails to be strong and beautiful. It is applied as a base for manicure.
However, sometimes care is not enough. If the body lacks vitamins, micro- and macroelements, no external care will restore the nails to their former beauty. After all, they need to be treated from the inside.
Proper nutrition for he althy nails
Sometimes doctors determine diseases of various organs by the condition of nails. They can be considered an indicator of the state of the whole organism. Therefore, a balanced diet, which is the key to he alth, is simply necessary for them.
Nails need a whole group of vitamins and microelements to be strong. From a lack of calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins C, E and group B, the nail plate becomes thin and brittle.
Therefore, among the products necessary for her he alth, the following are distinguished:
1. Almonds, potatoes, cabbage contain magnesium, the lack of which makes marigolds porous.
2. Avocados, green leafy vegetables, oatmeal and sesame are sources of vitamin E, which renews cells throughout the body.
3. Milk and dairy products, as well as apples, are rich in calcium. And for better absorption, it is recommended to eat fish or drink fish oil containing vitamin D.
4. Iron is essential for the entire body. Its deficiency is fraught with anemia. His body receives from carrots, eggs, legumes, beef, rabbit meat, strawberries and cocoa.
5. Zinc is present in egg yolk, milk, pumpkin seeds, fish, seafood, meat.
Remember to eat plenty of fruit. These foods should be included in your diet regularly. They will improve not only the condition of the nails, but also the whole body, as well as give the skin elasticity and velvety.
Caring for nails at home
If your nails require maintenance, but you do not have enough time or money to visit a specialist, limit yourself to home care. The procedures will not only restore your nails, but also save your wallet.
It is recommended to take care of the nail plate daily, but it is better to do nail masks 2-3 times a week. Consider the simplest and most popular of them.
Lemon for nails
Lemon contains vitamins A, E, D, C, so it is often used in cosmetology. It is especially useful for the nail plate. Lemon perfectly whitens nails, prevents delamination. As a result, after the lemon mask, the nails acquire strength and a he althy shine. Lemon is the main ingredient in the nail mask, but its juice can be mixed with sea s alt.
Lubricate your fingers with lemon juice once a week. More often it is not recommended, because lemon can dry out the nail plate. It will also improve the condition of the cuticle.
Iodine for nail treatment
This tool will protect them from breakage and delamination. The fact is that iodine is extracted from seaweed, which has a cellular composition similar to that of humans. That is, it has a similar cellular activity. Therefore, its use has a positive effect on nails, hair and skin. Nail care at home with iodine is not only cheap, but also fast.
Iodine is 96% alcohol. On the one hand, alcohol disinfects the nail plate and ensures high-quality penetration of iodine molecules. On the other hand, it dries it out. Therefore, it is allowed to apply "iodine manicure" in a thin layer only 1 time per week. Otherwise, you can dry out your nails or even get burned on your skin. It is better to do the procedure in the evening. Don't be alarmed if you apply it in a thin layer, by morning it will be completely absorbed and leave no yellow marks.
When iodine begins to be poorly absorbed into the nails, you can stop using it - itenriched the nail plate with the substances it needs.
Iodine baths are incredibly popular. To prepare such a solution, you need warm water and a few drops of iodine. You can also add sea s alt and essential oils to enhance the effect.
Pepper Nail Mask
Red pepper effectively strengthens nails and enhances their growth. This is because thanks to the "burning" action of this spice, metabolism throughout the body improves, blood circulation increases. As a result, nails and hair receive more nutrients from the blood.
Preparing a homemade red pepper nail mask is very simple. It must be mixed with the same amount of hand cream and gently applied to the nails. Hold for a quarter of an hour and rinse. Do it once a week. Such a recipe for a mask for nails will improve their color, increase growth, and add brittleness.
Honey for nails
Honey is one of the he althiest foods. Masks based on it are very popular in cosmetology. It not only moisturizes and exfoliates keratinized skin, but also has a rich composition that transfers to the skin. In addition, honey has bactericidal, regenerating, antiseptic properties. Even the fungus of the nail plate under the influence of honey stops multiplying and dies very quickly.
To destroy the fungus, it is recommended to mix honey with eucalyptus essential oil and apple cider vinegar. For 10 g of honey, you need 30 ml of oil and a teaspoon of vinegar. Mix the ingredients until smooth and apply to the affected nail for half an hour twice a day.
To strengthen and enhance the growth of nails, it is recommended to mix cocoa butter and coconut oil with honey in a ratio of 1:1:1. Such a nourishing mask is suitable not only for the nail plate, but also for the skin of the hands. Wash off with warm water after 15-20 minutes.
Nourishing nail masks
Strawberries are good for hair and nails thanks to their biotin content. But not everyone knows that it can be used as an ingredient for making masks. It contains a number of vitamins that control the moisture content in cells, regenerates the skin, makes it smooth and silky, moisturizes. Therefore, strawberry-based masks for nails and skin of hands are deservedly popular among specialists. You can use the berry in its pure form or mix with sour cream, essential or vegetable oils.
Gelatin masks for nail growth are very popular. Due to its protein origin, it is very useful for them. It nourishes, strengthens, enhances growth. To prepare such a nourishing mask, mix a teaspoon of gelatin with 250 ml of boiling water, cool and dip your hands in this mixture for 20 minutes.
Beeswax is an amazing product with the richest composition of vitamins and microelements. It is used to treat many diseases of internal organs, as well as in cosmetology. Wax not only nourishes skin cells and the nail plate. It moisturizes, relieves inflammation, restores damaged areas, enhances strengthnails. It can be applied to the nails in its pure form, previously melted in a water bath, or mixed with oil. Beeswax will also help get rid of skin diseases, corns, calluses.
Apple mask for nail growth and nutrition is very easy to prepare. Grind an apple, add a little butter and beer in such a ratio that you get a porridge-like consistency.
Vegetable oils for nails
If you don't have time to make nail masks at home, pay attention to oils. Almost any vegetable oil can be used instead of a cream for the skin of the face and hands, as well as to maintain he althy nails. It provides excellent hydration and nutrition to the nail plate and cuticles. However, if you are using a facial oil, it is important to choose the one that best suits your skin type. But nails are not so picky - almost any natural oil can help them. Just rub the oils on your nails daily from the list below:
- castor;
- avocado;
- linen;
- olive;
- burdock;
- peach.
Already after the first application, you will notice the healing effect.