The condition of our nails depends on many factors. If you notice that your nails have thinned, become brittle, or even changed color, this is a reason to take a closer look at their health! Today we will tell you how to strengthen your nails at home and do it as quickly and efficiently as possible. But first, let's figure out where the problem of brittle nails comes from.
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Improper care
Maintaining your nails in a neat, well-groomed condition is not that difficult, but many still make mistakes that lead to brittle nails and an unaesthetic appearance. The habit of biting your nails is not welcomed by default, but sometimes even such a harmless procedure as filing your nails can cause harm to them. For example, if after taking a bath you take a metal file and start diligently moving it back and forth, you will make three mistakes at once! Only dry nails can be filed using a ceramic or glass file. In this case, the filing movements must be made in one direction, from the edge to the center.
Daily and monthly care
If you want to help your nails, you need to know exactly what procedures can be performed and how often. Make it a rule to moisturize your hands and nails with a special cream several times a day, this is especially important in severe frosts or at high air temperatures , when your hands and nails are exposed to negative effects.
For daily care, baths for hands and nails with herbal decoctions and the addition of oils are recommended. It is useful to make nail compresses at night.
But it is recommended to level the surface of the nail plate using scrubs no more than 2 times a month, since this procedure slightly removes the top layer, which, if done too much, can cause harm, making the nails less strong.
You should not frequently make compresses and baths with red pepper and iodine, as they can burn the cuticle.
Don't forget to get a manicure 1-2 times a month, removing cuticles and trimming your nails. If you can’t do this yourself, contact a specialist.
If you get nail extensions or use shellac, remember that sometimes you need to give your nails a rest.
Vitamin deficiency
One of the most common reasons! You should consult your doctor to figure out what exactly is missing, because blindly taking a course of vitamins is completely wrong. Very often, banal anemia or vitamin deficiency resulting from a strict diet leads to fragility.
Cosmetic and strengthening varnishes: harm and benefit
A beautiful manicure is impossible without the use of varnishes. Nail designers can turn your nails into a real work of art. But not all varnishes are harmless .
Sometimes you notice that after you remove the polish, your nails have a yellowish or even brown tint and the surface is uneven. The reason is clear: you caused harm with a low-quality product!
When choosing a varnish, pay attention to the expiration date. Never dilute dried varnish with acetone. It is recommended not to store polishes for more than a year, as they become thick and difficult to apply to nails. If you prefer to match the tone of the polish to your outfit, then it is better to paint your nails at a salon. At home, it is better to have nail polishes in neutral colors that match your everyday wardrobe.
Avoid using dark shades of varnish. With prolonged use, the coloring pigments of the varnish can penetrate the structure of the nail plate and ruin its healthy color. And when using, be sure to use a base coat.
In pharmacies you can purchase medicinal varnishes that promote growth, strengthening, and getting rid of fragility and delamination. Before purchasing, be sure to read the instructions and recommendations for use, since even medicinal varnishes can be harmful if used incorrectly.
How to make your nails strong at home
We have collected for you the most effective recipes that will not require much time or significant investment! They can be safely combined, the main thing is that care should be regular and systematic. In addition, do not forget that there should be no varnish on your nails, even medicinal ones.
Acceleration of nail growth
It is impossible to grow long nails in a week. Everyone came to terms with this fact. Nail growth depends on several factors: genetic predisposition, the health of the body as a whole and proper care. It is believed that in a week the nail grows no more than 3 millimeters.
Nail growth will slow down if a balanced diet is disturbed and the body does not receive the substances necessary for growth (calcium, minerals), which are contained in dairy products, especially cottage cheese . Introduce these foods into your diet to support nail growth.
Gelatin bath for nails
Natural gelatin contains valuable amino acids, vitamins and microelements, so it perfectly strengthens and nourishes the weakened nail plate.
Soak pure gelatin without impurities and dyes (in powder or plates) in warm, but not hot water - 25 g of gelatin per 1 glass. When the gelatin swells, slightly heat the bath in a water bath. The main thing is to never bring it to a boil! Immerse your fingers in the bath for 15-20 minutes. Perform the procedure at least twice a week for a month.
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Nutrition for strengthening nails
Of course, advice won't help if you have the wrong diet. Nails and hair will be beautiful and strong only with proper nutrition, rich in protein foods, fruits and vegetables. To keep your nails strong and healthy longer, you need to consume enough vitamins A, E, C, group B, calcium and iron every day.
- Vitamin A is found in dairy products, eggs, carrots, tomatoes;
- Vitamin E - in vegetable oils of various nuts, you can buy it at the pharmacy and rub it into the nail;
- Vitamin C is rich in citrus fruits, rose hips, currants, sea buckthorn, and sauerkraut.
- There is a lot of iron in liver, eggs, poultry, sesame seeds, apples and nuts.
Make one healthy food addition at home. Egg shells contain calcium; they need to be crushed into powder and a small amount added to food regularly. This will help increase the amount of calcium without pharmaceutical supplements.
Paraffin therapy
Paraffin nail masks improve metabolic processes, promote the flow of nutrients to the nails and make the nail plates more elastic and strong.
Take 250-300 g of cosmetic paraffin (can be bought in pharmacies or specialty stores) and melt in a water bath. While the paraffin is melting, use a scrub to remove the keratinized layer of cells from the skin of your hands. Cool the paraffin to 50 degrees and dip your hands in it for a few seconds and take it out, then lower it again for 5-7 seconds and take it out again. Repeat 6-7 times and when a thick layer of paraffin forms on your hands, put on plastic gloves and wrap your hands with a towel or put on warm mittens. After half an hour, take off your gloves. You can remove any remaining paraffin with a towel soaked in warm water. After the procedure, it is recommended to apply a nourishing cream.
Important: do not reuse paraffin!
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Why do nails become brittle?
This condition belongs to the so-called onychodystrophies - diseases in which the nutrition of the nail and its components is disrupted.
The causes of brittle nails are extremely varied. These can be both external and internal factors that affect the entire body as a whole. Thin, brittle nails are a common problem among the fairer sex1. Young women often use nail polish, regularly do manicures and other cosmetic procedures on their hands, and in the postmenopausal period, disturbances in calcium-phosphorus metabolism come to the fore.
In addition, women's nails also break during breastfeeding, since important minerals (including calcium) are washed out of the mother's body along with milk.
Other external factors that adversely affect the condition of nails include the following:
- Frequent exposure of hands to hot water.
- The influence of household chemicals.
- Chemicals used in industry.
- Physical factors such as chronic hypothermia and frequent drying out.
- Mechanical impact in the form of frequent trauma (for example, among musicians playing string instruments)1.
Onychoschisis (splitting of the nail plate), often combined with brittleness, can occur in somatic or infectious diseases. Thus, in men, increased brittleness of nails develops due to fungal diseases affecting the fingers3. This condition can also occur with a lack of calcium in food or as a result of a violation of its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, with iron deficiency anemia, with a lack of vitamins A and C. Nails, especially on the toes, can peel off in diabetes mellitus due to the development of “ diabetic foot", increased fragility of the walls of the capillaries of the nail bed and prolonged compression of the toes by shoes.
Nail bath with sea salt and iodine
Everyone knows that nails become stronger at sea! A similar effect can be achieved at home.
Dissolve a tablespoon of sea salt in hot water and add 2-3 drops of iodine. If desired, you can add a little lemon juice. Immerse your fingers in the bath for 10-15 minutes.
How to quickly strengthen nail plates at home?
You don’t have to spend money on expensive products to care for peeling nails; it’s enough to put in a little effort and restore them yourself. The effect of home procedures based on folk remedies will increase several times if they are used in combination.
We will tell you about the most effective budget ways to strengthen your nails and make them healthy and strong.
Baths to accelerate growth
You can find all the ingredients at home, so you don't have to buy anything at the store. You can make the following baths based on natural ingredients :
- Based on lemon juice. Add 10 drops of lemon juice to ¼ cup of heated vegetable oil. Mix well. Keep for 15-20 minutes.
- Mix half a glass of warm milk with 2 tbsp. l. liquid honey (candied honey can be melted first), sea salt and 1 tsp. lemon juice. Time: 20-30 minutes.
- One of the most popular home baths is based on sea salt. Dilute 1 tbsp in 1 glass of warm water. l. salt, keep for 10 minutes. It is not necessary to wash your hands; just pat them dry with a clean towel or dry cloth.
- Dissolve gelatin in warm water and soak your hands in it for 30 minutes. Rinse off.
On a note! Don't forget to remove the old polish before this procedure. You can take baths no more than twice a week.
Simple recipes for nourishing masks
They will help to straighten and strengthen nails, as well as improve the condition and appearance of the skin of the hands.
The most effective ones:
- Mix egg, honey, olive oil, heat, spread on hands. Keep for about 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
- Heat a mixture of avocado, olive, argan, castor or almond oil in a water bath (2-3 of any of the listed ingredients will be enough). Dip your hands in it and hold for about 30 minutes. If desired, add a few drops of lemon juice.
- Red pepper stimulates growth. To prepare the mask, take rich hand cream and 1 tsp. red pepper, stir. Apply to your hands for 10 minutes, then rinse with water.
- Calcium should be used not only internally, but also externally. Crush a few tablets, mix with water and cover your nails with the mixture for 10 minutes, covering the cuticles.
- You can whiten your nail plate by making a mask based on toothpaste. For this, a mixture of 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice, 1 tbsp. l. baking soda and 2 tsp. Apply white toothpaste for 15 minutes. To avoid drying out the skin of your hands, do not go beyond the plate area.
Note! It is enough to make masks once a week. Each time you can resort to a new recipe.
How to rub in and why is it necessary?
Rubbing will help improve the condition of the nail plate, prevent its fragility and stimulate growth.
You can do them in several ways. The simplest one is to use daily hand cream. It is advisable that it be marked “for oily skin”. Before going to bed, gently rub a little cream into each nail for 5-10 seconds. There is no need to wash your hands after this.
Olive, almond, argan or coconut oil are also great options. They contain many nutritional elements in their composition.
Massage to improve blood circulation
You can improve blood circulation in the skin of your hands, and therefore the health of your nails, with a simple massage. It needs to be done several times a day - 7-10 minutes is enough.
Even at work, when you have a free minute, you can take care of your nails by giving yourself a hand massage.
Start with your fingertips, grabbing the plate and cuticle, gradually moving to your hands. Massage with light, slow movements. You can increase the effectiveness of this procedure by using cream, almond and coconut oil.
Nutrition Basics
As we have already found out, nutrition is one of the main conditions for their healthy appearance. Therefore, it makes sense to pay attention to your diet and even, to some extent, reconsider it.
Don't deny yourself the following products:
- Calcium deficiency can be compensated by consuming milk and dairy products.
- Vitamin A is found in large quantities in carrots and various types of oils.
- Vitamin E - in nuts, sesame and avocados.
- Vitamin D , necessary for normal calcium absorption, is found in fatty fish.
- Zinc will make your nails strong if you eat seafood and oatmeal.
The more useful elements in your diet, the higher the likelihood that you will never encounter the problem of separation and fragility.
