So you looked down at your nails while sending that email and…wow okay you need to do something about that. But you aren’t in the market for any crazy, luxury kinds of treatments. Not to worry- there are easy things you can do for your hand and nail health without stepping foot into a nail salon. Add these products and tricks to your to-do list and your nails will be well on their way to looking and staying healthy.
Check Your Diet
We can often look to the health of our hair, skin and nails to see what changes we may need to make. Head to your grocery store and stock up on ingredients and food that promote healthy nail growth. A few tasty favorites include whey protein, blueberries, and almonds…sounds like a great start to a smoothie don’t you think?
Try a Biotin Supplement
Biotin is a b-complex vitamin. This kind of vitamin helps build protein, which is great for strengthening hair, skin and nails. Biotin will help to both thicken nails and decrease their brittleness. It’s also very easy to find-visit your local grocery or pharmacy.
Use Polish with Added Benefits
Fortify your nails by using nail polish with a little extra oompf! Added extracts, oils and vitamins in polish help condition your nails against the other chemicals often present. Good ones to look for have tea tree oil and proteins. Londontown Lakur nail polish has evening primrose oil and anti-bacterial chamomile which is great for your nail health!
Trim Regularly
Keeping your nails short makes them less likely to break or become infected if you are prone to ingrown nails and hangnails. Cut the nails straight across and use a fine file to round out and smooth any rough edges. Remember to keep your clippers of any wet surfaces like your bathroom counter to prevent rusting!
Prevent Hangnails
If you’ve ever had a hangnail (ouch!) you know just how annoying and painful they can be. To prevent hangnails, keep the skin and cuticles nearby moisturized with some hand cream. Massage it into the skin right after washing your hands. For a luxurious treatment at home, soak the fingers in coconut oil and then wrap a hot towel around them to seal the moisture. Do this once a week.
Use a Nail Brush
Using a nail brush in combination with regular trims promotes nail health by preventing the accumulation of bacteria underneath! Nail brushes are also much gentler than sharp, pointy tools used at salons (you can hurt yourself or open yourself up to infection if you aren’t properly trained how to use them). Scrub gently at the end of each day with a nail brush for healthy nails.