Articles


Common Nail Care Misconceptions

by Jen Hopkins

Different people have different beliefs when it comes to taking care of their nails. This is especially true for women who are obsessed with making their nails look beautiful. They have a lot of different myths and misconceptions about nail care that sometimes, it often results in them damaging their nails instead of taking care of them.

One of the most common myths that people have when it comes to the use of nail polish is that polish that comes with hardeners are better since they make your nails stronger and more resistant to damage. On the contrary, using this kind of nail polish only makes your nails more stiff thus making them easier to break when they are exposed to mechanical damage.

Another way to make your nails more resistant to damage is by making sure that they are always hydrated. Dry nails are much easier to break, especially after they have been exposed to drying agents such as soap and bleach. Be sure to hydrate your nails using hand lotion every time you expose your nails to such substances.

Cuticles are also one part of the nails which are often removed or pushed back. A lot of people believe that this will help their nails grow better. Contrary to this, cuticles help protect your nail bed, thus removing this will expose you to risks such as infection. In addition to this, instead of helping your nails grow better, it will actually do the opposite.

For people who have ugly and broken nails, they may think that the use of artificial nails is a good idea while they are waiting for their nails to grow back. But the use of artificial nails can contribute to making nails look worse especially for those who have an infection. Bacteria and fungi can get trapped underneath the artificial nails, making them harder to get rid of. The chemicals used in attaching these nails also contribute to the weakening of your nails.

In line with this, you should remember that nails grow very slowly so it is not very easy to just wait for your nails to grow. Infected and damaged nails will take weeks to months for them to regenerate as they grow as slow as 0.1mm a day. Preventing problems from occurring is always better than waiting for your nails to grow back.

A nail salon is a good way of having beautiful nails without exerting any effort at all. One precaution that you should take when going to such establishments is their cleanliness. The use of tools for several customers exposes you to risks, especially of the customer before you had a bacterial or fungal infection. Be sure to inspect a salon's cleanliness policy before allowing them to use their instruments on you. Better yet, choose a salon that makes use of liquids and gels so that indirect contact with infected individuals is avoided.

Nail care is not that simple once you consider all of these common misconceptions that people do. Before you do anything with your nails, be sure to know what you are doing and verify if it can really help in making your nails look and grow better. You may ask your dermatologist for help if you are not sure with your current nail care practices.

Learn more about foot and nail care. Visit Jen Hopkins's site, www.NailCareSecrets.com, where you can find out all about beauty nail care and what it can do for you.

Published August 12th, 2010

Filed in Health