Nail
Tips and Care Questions
How
do I avoid getting polish on my cuticles?
Instead of painting right from the cuticle, place
the brush on the nail bed about 1/8" away from
the cuticle and push backwards toward it, stopping
just before the skin.
That's too much work...how
do remove polish from my cuticles?
Plan ahead. Paint your nails about an hour before
bedtime, leaving the messy polish on. When taking
a shower the next morning, the polish will soften
and peel off. Any stubborn polish still left on
the skin can easily be removed by rubbing it with
a soft towel. Polish not dry yet? In a rush? Use
a cotton swab and nail polish remover to do a quick
removal.
How do I keep my polish from peeling near the skin?
Lightly buff the top of your nail near your cuticle
with a fine-grained file. This will take away the
top oily enamel and allow better adhesion.
My polish doesn't peel near the skin, it peels at
the tips, what am I doing wrong?
It's usually one of these two things...
•You've used two or more coats of ridge-filler
and followed with a couple coats of polish. To avoid
peeling, stick to only one coat of ridge-filler,
and wait until it's completely dry to apply the
regular polish.
•You've painted a couple thick coats instead
of a few thin ones. Always use thin coats, it gives
better coverage, dries faster and lasts longer.
I can't apply thin coats,
my nail polish is just thick to begin with. What
should I do?
If you really want your nail polish to keep well
in the bottle, keep it in the refrigerator, this
will extend its shelf-life.
I keep getting those darn
bubbles!
Two things can cut down significantly on bubbles:
ROLL the bottle between your palms, instead of shaking
it. Shaking just whips bubbles into the polish.
Also, use only thin coats.
Why does my polish keep
cracking?
Try applying a thin clear coat of polish every other
night to avoid this.
My nails keep splitting in layers at the top, will
eating gelatin and drinking milk help strengthen
them?
No and no. These are just myths. Your fingernails
are made of keratin, the same protein as hair. Have
you ever seen conditioner brag that it has calcium
in it? Probably not. What WILL help strengthen your
nails is to avoid filing them as much as possible,
and when you have to, file in one direction only.
You know what happens if you keep bending a wire
back and forth? The same thing happens to nails,
just on a different level. Other tips... use gloves
when washing dishes and doing other household chores.
Keep exposure to harsh chemicals at a minimum, especially
bleach.
People say that you need different moisturizers
for your nails than for your hands...why?
Well, back to the protein thing again. Would you
use hand cream on your hair? Unlikely. The fact
is that your fingernails absorb water 100 times
faster than your skin does...and they lose the moisture
just as fast as they absorb it. So considering how
much hand cream you need in the wintertime, think
how thirsty your nails are, and recognize that they
need just as must tenderness (if not more) than
your hands do.
I work with food, so my
hands are constantly in water. What can I do to
keep my manicure nice?
I only see two choices really.
•Keep nails well-trimmed, and don't wear polish
to work (not even clear, it'll just crack and peel).
•Get thee to a nail salon! In my opinion,
acrylic is to fingernails what Godiva is to chocolate.
Only nail enhancements will stand up to the beating
your hands will take.
Why won't nails grow?
Unless you have some type of medical condition that
prevents it, your nails are growing. On average,
your nails grow about 1/8 of an inch per month.
The reason why most people's nails don't seem to
grow is because they break before they see results.
Many people bite their nails, rip them off, others
tend to shed or peel. They best way to see results
is to start a healthy nail program with your nail
technician.
Will artificial nails keep
my nails from growing crooked?
If your nails have always grown a certain way, they
will continue to grow that way until you die or
something changes your nail matrix (the "brain"
of the nail). Nail enhancements can only "cover"
your natural nail appearance, not change it.
What can you do about ridges in nails?
Actually, nothing. If you've always had them, you
always will. If you never had them before and just
started to notice them, one reason could be stress
or simply the fact that you're getting older. As
we get older the nails on our hands & toes become
ridged. In order to get a
smooth polish application just GENTLY buff the nail
surface with a white block buffer, remove the dust,
apply a ridgefiller base coat, two coats of polish,
and finally a topcoat.
How can I help my dry skin and cuticles?
Moisturize, Rehydrate, Oil, Lotion... any chance
you get! Keep a good quality hand cream with you
always. Whenever you wash your hands, apply it.
Also, use a good quality cuticle oil and gently
rub into your cuticles twice a day. For really chapped
hands & feet I recommend a nice dip in paraffin
wax.
Should cuticles and calluses be cut?
NO!! Never cut your cuticles or cut your calluses.
These are your bodies armor. The cuticle protects
the nails from infection, and the calluses give
you shock absorbers . When you cut them, they will
grow back thicker and harder, and possibly create
an infection. The best way to care for your cuticles
is to apply a good quality cuticle oil and gently
push them back with a orangewood stick. You may
carefully trim any hangnails or for best results,
schedule a manicure with your nail technician.
What causes finger nail damage?
The nail can be damaged by nail-biting, scratching
the nail folds, bad manicuring , or trauma such
as slamming a finger in a car door. Damaged nails
may appear ridged or cracked and broken. If they
do not appear "normal" after about one
year, then most likely the nail matrix has been
damaged and the nail will never be normal again.
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a hereditary disorder which most commonly
affects the skin on the elbows, knees, face, and
even the scalp with a rash like appearance. In the
finger nails, psoriasis may appear as pits in the
nail plate, or as the nail plate separating from
the nail bed (onycholysis). Other symptoms include
the nail loosing its normal luster, appearing discolored,
or grossly thickening.
What is Paronychia?
Paronychia is an inflammation of the nail folds
commonly caused by constant exposure to moisture.
Exposure to bacteria or fungus can often cause a
secondary infection accompanied by painful swelling
of the nail fold. If the infection goes untreated
for an extended period of time, the nail plate can
become deformed. Paronychia can be treated by draining
the infected nail fold, taking oral antibiotics,
or using a topical antifungal or antiseptic lotion.
If you have paronychia it's best to avoid prolonged
exposure to water (eg. washing dishes), or try wearing
gloves.
What do Nails reveal about your health?
Take a look at your fingernails. Are they strong
and healthy-looking? Or do you see ridges, or areas
of unusual color or shape? The condition of your
nails may offer clues to your general health. Illness
can cause changes in your nails that your doctor
can use to develop a diagnose.
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