Seriously, what girl doesn’t notice a fabulous set of fingernails? Your nails are the perfect accessory to any outfit and they’re so cheap and easy to maintain, so there’s really no excuse for neglecting them. If you want to make all the girls jealous of your to-die-for digits then it’s time to step your nail care up a notch. Here’s how…
Be fingernail-food conscious
What you eat affects your nails more than you may think. A diet high in saturated fats and refined sugars can lead to dry, brittle nails – so it’s important to stay healthy if you want to get your nails looking their best. In particular, you should try to eat foods that are rich in calcium, vitamin B and iron, which have nail-nourishing properties in them. Think: celery, soy, dairy products, seafood and red meat.
Trim-errific
Become a vigilant trimmer. Nails left to grow too long are more susceptible to chipping and tearing, so keep them neat and short (short nails are all the rage now anyway) with a good pair of nail clippers, then follow up with a file. The on-trend look for fingernail shapes is square with slightly rounded corners. Make sure you sterilise your nail clippers with some rubbing alcohol after every use, to keep them hygienic – and avoid sharing with friends.
Boost your H20
Drinking enough water each day is essential to overall health and wellbeing. Dehydrated nails are twice as likely to split and break so stay hydrated by consuming at least six to eight glasses of water a day.
Cuticle care
If you prefer, you can gently push your cuticles back before painting your nails by using a cuticle stick. Never attempt to push them back with anything else such as scissors of the ends of pens, which can damage cuticles – and never, ever cut your cuticles – this is a big nail no-no as it can lead to nail irritation and possible infection.
Moisturise and protect
Moisturise the skin around your nails daily by rubbing in a little Vaseline or sorbolene cream and coat your nails with a clear polish strengthening treatment to keep them shiny and robust.
