| Your hands say a lot about you. They can reveal your personality, your character and how well you take care of yourself. Think about it, you shake hands with people, use your hands to hold your silverware when you eat or hold your glass when you drink. Your hands are almost always highly visible. So, what do your nails reveal about you? These ten easy, handy nail care tips will help you keep your hands in tip top shape and look their very best. |
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File in one direction. Filing in a sawing motion can actually break down your nail's structure, making them weak and more prone to breakage. This is one little known nail care tip that can actually save your nails. |
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Square tips vs. round tips. Some people like square tip nails and other prefer round or oval tips. Actually, the square tips make the nail stronger and less likely to break while the round or oval tips do tend to break more easily. |
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Use moisturizer. Use a good moisturizer on your hands regularly to keep them moist and the skin supple. It also keeps your cuticles soft and prevents hangnails. Apply the moisturizer all over you hands and massage the lotion into your cuticle area. |
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Don't clip your cuticles. Clipping your cuticles can cause trauma and damage to them. Clip any loose hangnails and you can gently push them back after washing your hands, but do not cut them or traumatize them. You can end up with an infection or, at the very least, sore fingers. |
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Use a hot oil or hot lotion soak. Using a hot oil or hot lotion soak can give you hands an extra boost of moisture. It can help keep hangnails at bay and even strengthen your nails. If you have very dry cuticles, a hot oil or hot lotion soak one or two times a week can help keep them moist. |
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Buffing makes your nails stronger. By making nail buffing part of nail care routine you are making your nails stronger. You can use a buffing nail file and not only give your nails a strengthening boost, but a healthy, natural shine as well. |
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A good strengthener can boost your nail's strength. Using a good nail strengthener can help make your nails stronger and grow longer. Apply your nail strengthener to the surface of your nail and under the tip for a little added reinforcement. |
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Vitamins make your nails stronger. Taking a daily vitamin can help strengthen your nails. There are vitamin supplements on the market that are specifically formulated to strengthen the nails. As an added bonus, these vitamins also will usually help your skin and hair become healthier as well. |
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Always use a base coat when polishing your nails. A base coat can give your nail polish extra life by making it less resistant to chipping. Additionally, when you add a base coat to your nail care routine when you paint your nails, it will protect your nails from the yellowing that sometimes comes from polishing your nails. |
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Fake nails may not be your best option. Acrylic or glue on nails may look good while they are on, but the damage that they do to your natural nails can be irreparable. They can cause nail ridges and damage the nail bed. Try buffing your nails and using some of the nail care tips listed here to grow your own nails, healthy and strong. |
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