How to Maintain Healthy Nails

By LifeMojo Team

Most of us will do anything to maintain a soft, flawless face or a ravishing-looking figure, but tends to left out maintaining good conditions nail. Nails, which are also a reflection of our health, do not normally get its due.
Here are some tips to maintain a good healthy nails to reflect your good health. 

How to Maintain Good Nail Health

You can develop and maintain good-looking and healthy nails without much effort. Although hereditary factors do play a role in the way your nails look, following some simple guidelines can help you in your quest of keep your nails looking their best:

• Balanced Diet: The golden rule for good health is good diet. For great-looking nails, you should eat not only macronutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins, but also micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Generally, deficiency of vitamin D results in brittle and poor-looking nails.Biotin, silica, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin C are all very important for the structural development of good and healthy nails. Eat a lot of raw salads to obtain vitamin C. You can also steam or sauté the vegetables. Protein-rich foods like soy, paneer, and dals (pulses); primrose oil, nuts, and oil seeds like linseed, flaxseed, walnuts, and almonds are all good for nail health.
• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Regular exposure to chemicals such as detergents and soap can wear out your nails and skin of hands. Wear gloves when engaging in cleaning with soaps and detergents.
• Choose Cosmetics With Care: Another reason for deterioration of nails is application of low-quality nail polishes and nail removers. Nail removers may contain acetone, which can rob nails off their natural moisture and make them brittle. Therefore, it is wise to minimize the usage of such cosmetics, and when you experience some problems, to stop using them for a while.
• Moisturize Your Nails: In order to protect your nails from becoming brittle, regular moisturizing is a good idea. Leaving your nails with the nail polish on for many days is bad for your nails. Remove the nail polish before going to bed and rub in moisturizers into the nail and nail beds.
• Nail Oil: Rose hip seed oil, which helps reduce acne scars, also strengthens your nails and helps with nail growth. You can rub this oil in before going to bed.
• Cuticles: Avoid cutting your cuticles because it would make them hard and puffy. Instead, try pushing them backward when they are wet. This will make them less visible.
• Regular Trims: Trim your nails regularly straight across and file them. Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers and an emery board to smooth nail edges.
• Comfortable Footwear: Do not wear tight-fitting shoes, as this may result in ingrown toenails, which is quite a painful condition. Your toes should be able to comfortably sit inside your shoes. Take sufficient time while selecting shoes.

It is important to keep in mind that nails are not something to be abused (by biting) or neglected. Unhealthy and poorly maintained nails reflect badly on your personal hygiene. On the other hand, nails which are well-kept and cared for enhance the beauty of your hands.

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