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How Fast Do Nails Grow?
Nails grow an average of 1/8 inch per month.
Therefore, it takes anywhere from four to six months to grow an
entirely new nail. Also, nails grow faster during certain hormonal
fluctuating periods (ie: the beginning stages of pregnancy, or just
before menstruation). Ironically, biting your nails can also
increase nail growth since it creates an increase in blood
circulation. However, we wouldn't recommend biting your nails to
increase nail growth. Those who are right-handed may also notice
that nails grow faster on their right hand than on their left. Nail
growth may be slowed if your diet denies the nail matrix of its
essential nutrients. Illnesses can also slow nail growth, as can
some prescription medications. And lastly, after you turn 30, your
nail growth naturally slows down on its own.
Artificial Nail Splits and Cracks:
When an artificial
nail cracks or splits, nail glue or mending tape is your best
solution. Dot the nail glue onto a piece of a tea bag, or coffee
filter paper, and cover the nail where it is torn. File the nail
smooth, and cover it with polish if you like. This is a simple trick
that should last you until you can get to the salon for proper
mending. If a tip falls off, you can glue it back on yourself with
nail glue. However, be sure to see your nail technician so that it
can be filled in.
Manicure Maintenance:
Treat your nails with respect.
Treat them well and they will treat you wonderfully
with their beauty. Instead of using your nails for the wearisome
daily uses, like scraping, picking, pulling and opening, use the
pads of your fingertips. Along with preventing the splitting,
chipping and breaking, this will make your hands look more elegant.
If you are doing activities like cleaning the house and/or doing the
dishes, be sure to wear some protective gloves. Prolonged exposure
to water can also dry out and/or cause damage to your nails and
skin. To avoid nail polish chips, reapply the top coat regularly,
even daily.
Solving Your Nail Problems: Brittle Nails
Brittle nails can be caused by any number of things
including sun exposure, a poor diet, etc. Avoid the use of hardeners
containing formaldehyde, which has a drying effect on nails. Try
using formaldehyde free products. Also, try a waterproof coating
that seals moisture in the nail and repels water and dirt. Believe
it or not, a waxy lip balm can be quite effective at softening
nails.
Hangnails
Picking and biting your nails, exposure to detergents
and chemicals or just plain general nail neglect, are all causes of
those annoying hangnails. Use a sharp cuticle nipper to remove
existing hangnails. Avoid cheap, dull cuticle nippers as they will
not allow you to get at the hangnails in the way you want and may
end up creating more damage. To help prevent hangnails altogether,
use a cuticle minimizer cream at least once a day. If your cuticles
are a painful disaster, apply the minimizer twice daily.
Ridges
Ridges are unfortunately, mostly genetic. Though you
can't change mother nature, you can smooth over the ridged nail
surface with a buffer and buffing cream. However, if your ridges are
severe and have developed recently it could be a sign of anemia, and
you should consult your doctor. Too much pressure and pushing during
a manicure may also cause ridges. Always be gentle on your nails
during grooming so that they will grow back normally.
White Spots
White spots on the nail can be caused by a sharp blow
to the nail, applying too much pressure on the nail matrix during a
manicure or too much pressure and pushing on the nail. In order to
get rid of them, let the spots grow out, and make an effort to be
gentler when manicuring your nails in the future. Be especially
careful when prodding beneath the cuticles, because that is where
new growth is generated.
Yellow Nails
Yellowing of the nails could be caused by forgetting
to use a base coat underneath your polish. It could also be a more
serious nail fungus that needs to be treated. Lighten your
discolored nails with a whitening scrub containing a mild abrasive,
or with a remover containing a lemon juice-like ingredient that
bleaches out the yellow.
Nail Biting
Unfortunately, there is no surefire way to stop
biting your nails. It's a habit and like all habits, hard to break.
An idea on how to quit is to get a professional manicure each week.
When your nails are even, polished and looking great, you're less
likely to nibble on them. Also, you'll feel confident about your
hands and more likely to keep them exposed instead of covered up.
Filing and Shaping Your Nails:
It is best to file your nails only when the white
part of the nail-the tip-has grown ¼ inch from the nail's stress
point, which is where the free edge meets the pink part of the nail
plate. If you file your nails before this point, it can weaken them.
At the same time, if you let your free edge grow longer than the
nail plate, it is certain your nail will break. Do not file from
side to side, which can weaken the stress points of the nail's free
edge. Be sure to go from corner to center in one direction, using
the groove on the side of your nail as a guide.
Healthy Nails:
The best way to make sure your nails are healthy is
to moisturize them daily, and care for your cuticles. The cuticle is
the nail's protection between the exposed dead part of the nail and
the matrix, where new cells are generated. Removing the cuticle
destroys the nail matrix, which is essential to healthy nail growth.
On the other hand, you do want to keep cuticles from becoming
overgrown, which suffocates nail growth. The solution: Liberally
apply a cuticle remover (not cuticle oil or cuticle cream), which
will make the cuticle more pliable. Then, take an orangewood stick
and anywhere the cuticle skin touches the nail plate, push it back
using tiny circular movements. Hold the stick at an angle so that
you do this gradually and gently, without going inside the cuticle.
Use a moisturizer daily to prevent dryness.
Eat Right:
Though you can't feed the nail directly, a good diet
is essential to overall nail health. Biotin-rich foods like eggs,
soy, whole grains and liver are said to be extremely helpful to
nails, along with foods rich in sulfur minerals like apples,
cucumbers, grapes, garlic, asparagus and onions. Also, be sure your
diet includes essential fatty acids, or EFAs.
Like vitamins and minerals, foods rich in EFA's, such
as salmon, nuts, seeds and tuna, help keep nails shiny and pliable.
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