Often times, people think that getting regular facials, and an extensive skincare routine is sufficient to look beautiful at all times. However, this isn’t always the case, instead your hands should look as beautiful as your face for creating a lasting impression.
It is no secret that how your hands look totally depends on your nail care. This is because your nails are an indispensable part of a complete beauty regimen. This means that your groomed nails reflect a lot about your aesthetics, and how you value self-care.
Apart from this, your hands exhibit emotions and expressions, therefore you should make them look beautiful by paying extra attention towards nail care. This is the reason why the market share of nail services in the US is increasing day by day. According to Statista Research, the market share of nail care services is 15.9 percent in the US.
Wondering how to ensure beautiful nails? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here are the 8 tried and tested, expert tips for maintaining naturally beautiful nails.
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Tip #1 Keep Your Nails Clean
It is a known fact that our immune system is constantly busy fighting against germs that live under our finger nails. A study of 20 college students revealed that all 20 students had bacteria under their nails, such as Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas. Therefore, by keeping your nails dry and clean at all times, you can avoid many diseases, such as influenza.
Apart from this, cleaning nails regularly helps prevent dirt and bacteria from accumulating underneath your nails. This does not only save you from different diseases but also makes your nails look fresh and beautiful.
Still not sure how to keep your nails clean? Below are a few tips that you should incorporate into your daily routine for keeping your nails clean:
- Keep your nails short or evenly trimmed.
- Wash your hands with a mild soap to avoid nail breakage.
- While washing hands, get soap under your nails.
- Avoid washing your hands with extreme hot or cold water. It is best to wash them with lukewarm water.
Tip #2 Moisturize Regularly
Washing your hands often with soap, or sanitizer usage might cause your hands and nails to dry, thus making them appear flaky. Therefore, it is best to moisturize your hands after every wash.
Some beauty experts identified coconut oil as one of the best moisturizers for your hands. Also, for best results, you should apply the moisturizer on your hands and nails in a circular motion to increase the blood flow.
Tip #3 Avoid Biting Nails
Past researches show that nail-biting is one of the signs of mental stress or emotional distress. And that’s why we have often seen many kids and adults bite their nails when they are nervous or anxious.
However, it is no surprise that biting does no good to your nails. Instead, this habit makes your nails look ugly, and there are chances that your saliva might make them dull and brittle. Besides this, biting nails often can damage your cuticles, too, thus making them appear darker. This impacts the overall look of your hands negatively.
Apart from this, repeated nail biting damages the tissues that contribute to your nail growth. Therefore, if you want beautiful nails, you should avoid nail-biting religiously.
Are you unable to quit this bad habit? Don’t worry, here are a few ways in which you can avoid biting nails:
- You can apply a bitter-tasting nail paint to stop yourself from biting.
- Try replacing nail-biting with some other habit, such as play with a stress ball.
- Identify situations that trigger nail-biting, and plan your actions in such situations beforehand.
- Wear gloves for keeping your nails covered.
Tip #4 Do Not Use Harsh Nail Paints
Research conducted at the Duke University and Environmental Working Group revealed that a chemical called triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), is used in different types of nail polish. This chemical gets absorbed in your body when you apply nail paint.
Apart from this, some nail polishes often contain toxic chemicals, such as dimethyl, toluene, and camphor, that can either weaken your nails or damage them completely.
So, if you want to ensure strong and healthy, beautiful looking nails, then you should strictly avoid using harsh nail polishes on your nails. It is best to choose a safer, non-toxic alternative for your nails.
Tip #5 Try a Nice French Manicure
If you are a fashion freak, you must have heard the buzz about french manicures. This is because french nails are one of the hottest trends of 2020 because they make your hands look elegant and attractive.
Not sure why you should get a nice french manicure done anytime soon? Here is what you need to know:
- Like any normal manicure, getting a french manicure is a great way to relax, and unwind.
- If you are used to biting your nails, then a french manicure can help hide that.
- A nicely done french manicure makes your nails appear longer, thus making your fingers look pretty.
Not sure which french nail art to go for? Here are some of the most simple yet amazing french nail art ideas that you should check out.
Tip #6 File Your Nails Properly
One of the best practices for ensuring good looking nails is to file them properly. Uneven or rough looking nails can be a big turn off, thus impacting your overall look. Wondering how to file your nails perfectly? Here are a handful of tips to help you ace your nail filing game:
- Pick a gentle filer to prevent breakage.
- Filing nails in the same direction helps in achieving a smooth tip.
- Avoid filing too far into the sides of your nails because that weakens them.
- Hold the file flat against the tip of the nail while filing.
Tip #7 Get Professional Help
All said and done, it is important to note that nail care requires a considerable amount of time and attention. Therefore, if you have a busy routine, you might find it difficult to spare some time for yourself.
The best way is to seek professional help. So, for example, if you live in Texas, then a nail salon is one of the best options to get high-quality manicure and pedicure services. Getting nail care from a renowned salon will help you relax and keep your hands naturally smooth and delicate at all times.
Tip #8 Improve Your Diet
Oftentimes, your nails look pale or dull because of your unhealthy diet or calcium deficiencies. So, if you want to make your nails look pretty without putting in a lot of effort, then you should simply start eating well.
Adding vitamin E and D, iron, protein, magnesium, and zinc can do wonders for your nail health. Apart from this, according to Dr. Ava Shamban, a known dermatologist, lean meats, including turkey, and chicken are great for your nails’ health.
The Bottom Line
The final takeaway is that nails play a vital role in enhancing the beauty of your hands, therefore you should pay extra emphasis to your nail care routine and apply the above-mentioned tips for best results. This is because dull looking nails can impact your overall look negatively.
