Tips For Healthy and Strong Fingernails

When I was in high school, a friend of mine used to see a doctor because of indentations on her fingernails. I figured that she was simply very fussy. When I finally asked her, I found out that having those dents in your nails can be a sign of illness. So apart from having strong nails in preparation for a nice pedicure and manicure, it won't do any harm to take good care of nails. If you want to make certain that you keep your nails in good condition, continue to read.

1. Regularly trim your nails. This guarantees you not only lovely nails, but removes any dirt hidden beneath your nail bed, which is unhygienic and unattractive. It is important that you replace your nail clippers from time to time, as old ones can become rusty and contain bacteria, resulting in an infection or tetanus. Use sharp clippers when cutting your nails and then file with an emery board.

2. Along with clipping your nails, don't bite them! This makes your nails look really unattractive. It is unhealthy too, since it damages the nail bed and allows infection from fungi or bacteria to enter. Be careful if you or those around you bite nails - nail biting may be an indicator of psychological problems.

3. Put on gloves when you are hand washing clothes. If you have to hand wash for long periods, use rubber gloves to protect your hands and nails. Do the same with other housework, when using abrasive chemicals.

4. Many of us are unaware that nails also need to be moisturized. Cover your nails with hand lotion to give them a dose of moisturizer. The more your hands are in water, the more you should replace the moisture, especially for your hands and nails. Nail polish remover can really dry the nails, so moisturize after removing polish too. If your nails are weak, moisturize them at night before you sleep. A pair of gloves made of cotton worn throughout the night will retain moisture in both the hands and fingernails.

5. If you have weak, breakable nails, there are nail hardening products you can use. Just avoid using preparations that have toluene sulfonamide or formaldehyde because they can cause stains on your nails and also skin irritation.

If you have a hangnail be sure to clip it instead of pulling it off. Lastly, don't use your fingernails to open a soda can. This could result in your nails breaking. Hope these tips have been helpful!