There are no beautiful hands without well-kept aesthetic nails. And it’s not even about what color the manicure is, whether it’s bright or, on the contrary, light and universal, long or short. The decorative component is just a detail, which is certainly important but not at all decisive. The appearance and condition of the nail plates, as well as the skin around them, are of great importance. It is from this that it is necessary to push back and place the main emphasis on care.
Nails with a natural, healthy shade and natural shine, a neatly designed free edge, skin without burrs and cracks, and a properly processed cuticle—this always looks beautiful and gives the impression of full care. It is quite easy to get such a result if you take care of your nails promptly and regularly. You can do it both independently and in the salon. The procedure can be purely hygienic or include a decorative component. It all depends on tastes and preferences.
NAIL CARE AT HOME
Self-care of nails at home is a choice made by many women and girls who lead an active lifestyle, have little free time, or simply want to save time and money on visits to the salon.
As a rule, the hygienic manicure procedure at home does not involve the use of cutting tools and looks like this:
- Soften the cuticle with a special remover and treat it with a non-traumatic orange stick.
- Clean the area under the nail with the sharp end of the same orange stick.
- Nail plates should be carefully shaped and filed with a fine-grained saw.
- Moisten the skin around the nails and saturate with oil for care.
If you regularly resort to such simple manipulations and use moisturizing creams and nourishing masks, your hands, fingers, and nails will always look well-groomed in any situation.
NAIL CARE IN THE SALON
Professional manicure procedures are performed by a specialist in salon conditions. What does the master usually offer? A hygienic manicure is the main point of any price. It can be:
- trimmed, when all the main manipulations are carried out with the help of cutting tools (skinners, nippers, etc.);
- hardware, in which a milling cutter and nozzles are used;
- combined, which involves the use of both cutting tools and milling at different stages.
In addition to traditional hygienic care, the master can offer procedures to strengthen weak, damaged, thin nails. A vivid example is the Japanese manicure. In it, the main emphasis is placed on healing natural remedies and components, as well as special practices, the action of which is aimed at improving the condition of the skin and nail plates. The complex includes hand massage, wrapping, nail treatment with beeswax, mineral paste, etc. Essential oils and seaweeds are also used.
Another option for salon care is paraffin therapy. With its help, you can improve the condition of the skin and treat nails that lack regular hygiene. The procedure is thermal and consists of applying heated cosmetic paraffin enriched with useful substances to the hands. The main goal of paraffin therapy is to moisturize the skin and nails, saturate them with vitamins, and eliminate dryness. It is enough to carry out the procedure once a week. It is especially effective in the winter.
There is also so-called nail sealing. The master rubs into the nail surface natural products based on beeswax, essential oils, and plant extracts. This method of care is indicated for fragility and delamination of the nail plates, as well as as restorative therapy after building up and removing gel polish.
COSMETICS FOR THE CARE OF NATURAL NAILS AND SKIN
The modern nail industry offers a variety of nail products. Some of them are designed to strengthen, fight delamination, and contain calcium, minerals, and vitamins. Such products are used in courses, applied to clean nails, and sometimes act as bases for decorative varnishes. Reviews about their effectiveness are very different; some note an improvement in the condition of the nail plates, while others do not. Everything is very individual and often depends on expectations.
Another group of care products are all kinds of oils for nails and cuticles. They are designed for moisturizing, intensive nutrition, and increased elasticity. The natural basis is their main advantage. Peach oil, tea tree, almond and jojoba oil, mineral salts, proteins, vitamins—all these components in the complex work eliminate dryness, minimize brittleness, prevent the appearance of burrs, and significantly improve the appearance of nail plates and skin.
Masks and creams are another type of cosmetic for the skin care of hands and nails. They are used in regular evening rituals and allow you to maintain youth, beauty, and health. In winter, you should choose thicker creams with an emphasis on intensive nutrition; in the warm season, you should choose creams with a lighter texture and an emphasis on moisturizing.
NAIL CARE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISEASE PREVENTION
There are cases when the nail plates require special treatment, for example, when affected by a fungus (onychomycosis) or when onycholysis occurs. By the way, these diseases very often occur if regular care and basic hygiene rules are neglected. It is not possible to wear extended nails and gel varnish coatings because, over time, the adhesion of the artificial material to the nail is broken and an optimal environment for the development of bacteria and fungi is created. And if the problem has already arisen, then the usual hygiene procedures will not help here. As a rule, a fairly long, complex therapy prescribed by a doctor is required.
With onychomycosis, special ointments and medical varnishes are used until a healthy nail grows back and for a certain period after that, so that the problem does not return.
Onycholysis is a phenomenon in which voids are formed in the structure of the nail plate, and in advanced situations, the plate itself separates from the pulp and falls off completely. The treatment is also long.
Can such problems be avoided? There are special means for prevention that have a special composition with antiseptic and strengthening components. They must be used in home care on the recommendation of a nail master.
NAIL CARE: GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Nail plates, especially after building up and removing the gel varnish coating, become more vulnerable, lose elasticity, and are prone to brittleness. They must be protected from accidental injury, shocks, mechanical impacts, etc.
With constant interaction of nails with artificial materials (gel, poly gel, gel polish), the natural balance of moisture is disturbed, and dryness occurs. Therefore, care with creams, masks, and oils is critically important. It should be regular and daily.
The skin of the hands and nails must be protected from contact with chemicals. That’s why you should wear gloves when washing dishes, cleaning, and performing other household processes.
Hygienic nail care at home is good. However, from time to time, it is recommended to resort to the help of a professional to avoid problems and respond to any changes promptly.
It’s no secret that the condition of the nails directly depends on how the body functions. Therefore, a proper diet, vitamin intake, adherence to a drinking regimen, and normal sleep are very important.