It happens that your nails start to become damaged, through work, through lack of maintenance, through applying varnish... So to regenerate them and find them strong and shiny, here are my natural tips.
Prefer healthy products
This is my very first piece of advice: choose natural products. Their composition must be both respectful of the environment and your health.
Natural varnishes have a more recommended composition than conventional ones. And the great advantage is that in addition, in general, they contain beneficial ingredients for the nails.
Rich in vitamins, fibers, proteins and lipids, some stimulate the production of keratin and zinc and cell renewal. Others fill in the ridges, harden the nail and beautify it. An acetone-free nail polish remover does not attack the lipid film of the nail, that is to say the first layer which protects it from external attacks.
As a nail expert, I am demanding in the selection of the products I use.
Apply a base coat
The base coat is a key step in nail care and health to protect your nails from yellowing or varnish pigments. In addition, it nourishes, whitens and hardens your nails.
Whiten nails
To do this, you can prepare a small bath by cutting half a lemon, the juice of which is poured into a small glass of hot water. And all you have to do is dip your fingers in the solution for a few minutes.
You can also use baking soda instead of lemon, which we will brush on the nails with an old toothbrush. This treatment is particularly suitable if you wear a lot of varnish, because this bath helps eliminate stubborn residue.
Moisturize your nails
It is recommended to use an oil or cream daily to moisturize and strengthen your nails and hands. Types of products that I recommend
sweet almond oil which deeply nourishes and prevents splitting of nails ;
castor oil which stimulates nail growth and also deeply hydrates ;
or even buriti oil which has restorative properties.
Push back cuticles
The cuticle is a fairly hard and thick skin that covers the nail and the lunula (the white spot located at the base of the nail). It is rather an aesthetic step which consists of freeing the nail from this small membrane.
Gently file your nails
Know that nails are like hair, when they are damaged, the damaged part must be removed to prevent them from becoming even more damaged. It is also more recommended to file than to cut with a nail clipper, because it tends to split them. The filing stage is quite crucial in how you take care of your nails. Always file gently and constantly in the same direction (from left to right or vice versa, but never back and forth). It is then up to you to see what shape you want to give to your nails.
Polish your nails
Equipped with a polisher, it’s time to polish your nails. Do this once a month, no more, as this could damage it. This step will allow them to be slightly whitened. You can then smooth the nail plate, which allows, as you will have understood, to smooth your nail and thus allow the varnish to adhere better. This is a step to take before doing your manicure, because it prepares the nail to be varnished.
Take a break between each varnish application
We know that for some people, applying a new color as soon as the previous one is removed is really tempting. But your nails also need to get some fresh air! So take a break for a few days so that the nail can breathe and take the opportunity to pamper them with oil.
Opt for foods that promote growth
If your nails are really damaged and weakened, you can also turn to certain foods.
We think in particular:
food supplements rich in vitamin B.
zinc (lentils, rye bread) and iron (parsley and nuts).
sulfur, especially for soft nails, which you find in turnips, cabbage or even onions.
Protect your nails from household products
Final advice: avoid any contact with household products as much as possible, especially when they are not natural. Indeed, some are composed of ingredients that we would not suspect to be very aggressive. However, we must continue to clean! We therefore advise you to wear gloves every time you do the cleaning or the dishes. This will also protect your hands at the same time.