The nails are one of the most visible part of the human body, they indirectly tell more about a person’s style and personality without necessarily asking.
Healthy looking nails or otherwise, most often, tell if a person is healthy or not. A healthy nail is one that is smooth, without pits or grooves, uniform in colour and free of spot of discolouration.
Like every other part of the body, your nails need special treatment and attention.
While some people would complain that their nails are too soft, other would say theirs are too strong. Whether yours is naturally strong or soft, there are ways they can be maintained to keep them healthy and attractive.
The fact remains that whether you are the type that paints your nails or you constantly bite or pick your nails, there is need to pay attention to them.
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To know healthy nails, here are things you will notice: Nail plates are a pinkish -white colour, cuticles are existent, nails and white tips are even lengths, prominent half-moon shaped white section at nail base (it is calls lunula).
Similarly, there are signs of an unhealthy nails and they include: Reeling or splitting nails which could be as a result of dryness or vitamin deficiency, tiny white spots, which usually means you are biting your nails or painting them too often.
Also, horizontal grooves which could be from stress; high fevers or other causes, red swollen skin around could be from removing or biting cuticles, spoon shaped nails could be as a result of Iron deficiency or presence of anemia.
Hints on how to keep strong and healthy nails:
1. Be gentle on your nails, don’t scrub too much if you have to.
2. Keep your hands very clean. Before you do anything, make sure your nails and the skin surrounding them are totally dirt-free.
3. Trim your nails regularly. Exactly same way you trim your hair, do same to your nails.
4. If you cannot maintain neat long nails, keep them short. A neat short nail is more attractive than long and unkempt one.
5. Always keep a nail file on hand. You never can tell when it will be needed, so the closer the better.
6. Load up on protein rich food because they will help the nails grow stronger and look healthier.
7. Take care of your nail tools, disinfect them in-between use. More important is the fact that you should not share your nail tools for obvious reasons.
8. Leave your cuticles alone.
9. Protect your nails with a base coat.
10. Read the labels on your polish.
11. Give your nails a break. You don’t have to do the painting too often. Sometime you just let the nail breathe some fresh air.
12. Wear a glove when doing dishes. This prevents the nail from getting soaked in water and also being affected by some chemicals in the soap used in washing.
13. Wear top coat to prevent nail chips.
14. Indulge in acrylic or get treatments sparingly.
15. Use moisturisers.
However, it is recommended you see a doctor or a dermatologist when you notice a change in colour, shape, dark streak under the nail, swelling, pain or bleeding around the nail and inability of nails to grow.
Eating a balanced diet with the required quantity of fruits and vegetables also enrich the nails.
