Useful Tips for Fabulous Looking Nails

Although your nails might seem like a small detail when it comes to beauty and style, nicely done nails or a botched manicure always attract attention.

Because fabulous looking nails can complete one's look, women don't go shy on spending tens of dollars on manicures that will leave their nails looking enviable. To ensure you always look impeccable, check out the following useful tips for fabulous looking nails and try to incorporate them into your regular beauty routine.

You don't have to be an expert to give your nails that eye catching definition that makes a difference, all you need is a little bit of skill, time and practice, and soon you'll definitely be able to achieve a salon-style mani that will receive admiration from all of your friends.

# Long nails exude femininity and the majority of women like to have longer cut nails, so if you wish to accelerate nail growth, make sure you get all the vitamins your body needs as well as massage your nails and cuticles with nourishing oils, as this way you'll stimulate and speed-up nail growth.

# The shape you file your nails in can definitely have an impact over the beauty of your hands, so make sure you opt for a flattering shape. Stiletto shaped nails are taking over as they have become a hot new trend, but that doesn't mean that oval and square shaped nails are less popular or less fabulous. Go for the shape that suits your hand and style as this way you'll surely not go wrong. Keep in mind to file the nail in one direction to avoid nail breakage.

# If you've got nail varnish on your nails and want to reshape your nails, don't remove the polish before filing as the nail polish remover will weaken the nail thus leaving it more prone to breakage during filing.

# Nail polish has become a must have of the season, but if your nail polish gets chipped, your manicure will look disastrous. Carry your nail polish with you and repair any nail polish chips in time so that you always have lovely and flawless looking nails.

# If you have just finished applying your favorite nail varnish and have to be on your way but don't have enough time to wait for the coats to dry, this trick can definitely save your mani. Hold your nails under a jet of cold running water for about 10 minutes as it will speed-up the drying process.

# If you have the bad habit of biting your nails and just can't help it but do so, the trendy solution for you is gel/acrylic nails. These thick nails will be difficult to bite and thus you'll be able to kick the habit goodbye while making sure your nails look fab at all times.

# Make sure you don't end-up with yellowish nails by applying a base coat prior to applying your favorite colored nail polish to prevent the lacquer pigment from transferring to your nail.

# Make sure your nails maintain their strength and healthy coloration by going nail varnish free for a few days every month. Your nails need to breath too, so go bare for a few days and let your nails regain their healthy shine..

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Nail health tips and treatments

Most of us are very perceptive when it comes to analyzing our faces, necks and hair. Those are the features that are most obvious as we primp and prod ourselves each morning before work, and as we cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize each night before bed. We know that if our skin is dry it means that we should look into eliminating products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate from our routine. We know that if our hair is brittle and thinning we may want to investigate a serum with lots of anecdotal evidence to back it, like Junko’s DIY hair oil. But do we really ever take a look at something as inconspicuous and disregarded as our nails? Sure, we might take the time to polish them, but the health of our nails remains elusive. And even if we do notice a ridge here or some yellowing there, we often don’t know what caused it or how to fix it.

Yellowing:
Yellow nails can be caused by something as simple as wearing dark nail polish too often. The polish may actually stain the nail because of a reaction between the colorant and the nail itself. Sometimes, formaldehyde in nail polish may be the cause of yellow nails. Obvious solutions would include giving your nails a break from polish and sticking with formaldehyde-free brands. While there are nail whiteners on the market, a DIY concoction may also do the trick; try mixing hydrogen peroxide with baking soda, then allowing it to sit on nails for 4 minutes. Interestingly, psoriasis can cause yellow nails, so if you know that you have the condition skip the DIY stuff and head over to a dermatologist for treatment. Same goes for thickened yellow nails, which could indicate a fungus.

White spots:
Formally known as leukonychia, those little white discolorations that you see from time to time on your nails are usually caused by trauma to the nail (like slamming your finger in a door, for example). But if you’re positive that you haven’t injured your nails and you see the spots reoccurring often enough, then a zinc deficiency may be to blame. Supplements will more than likely solve the problem. Another cause of the white markings could be eczema. If they bother you, definitely make an appointment with your dermatologist to discuss possible treatments.

Brittleness and peeling:
Nails are composed of layers of keratin. If you’re hands are always in hot water thanks to a plethora of dirty dishes or if you live in a very cold, dry climate, your nails may begin to peel. Something as simple as keeping your nails polished, even with just a clear coat, can keep them protected. To prevent peeling in the first place, wear gloves when possible and try applying a moisturizing hand serum each day (maybe something like Pharmacopia Hand Cream). Another cause of peeling can be a lack of linoleic acid, which can be found in plant and fish oils (consumed internally) or in a topical cream like Reviva. A simple trick for reviving brittle nails is taking a biotin supplement, which has been shown to strengthen nails and increase their plate thickness.

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