Nail Care Regimes Should Include Manicure And...

Nail care involves keeping the nails clean, trimmed and shaped.

Regular care is essential, because uncared for nails are usually dirty and can harbour micro-organisms, which may give rise to infections.

Healthy nails are pale pink, smooth and with slightly rounded surfaces.

Nails should be kept clean at all times, this is because clean nails are an important aspect of personalhygiene.

Good nail care is also known to prevent or reduce the risks of nail problems like fungus nails and ingrowntoenails.

To leave your fingernail short and trim, file them short with emery board. if they are too long cut them once every week with nail scissors or nail clippers. This is best done after a shower or bath when the nails are soft. Nails can also be softened by soaking them in mild soap and warm water. Then use orange stick to clean out dirt from under the nails. Dry the nails thoroughly and cut.

Be careful not to use back and forth motion when filing your nails as this can cause split nails. Filing each side of the naill from side to top is recommended.

Hang nails should not be pulled at or ripped off with the fingernails but should be neatly cut with scissors or nail clippers, to avoid bleeding or infections.

Toenails should be cut once a month, cutting straight across to keep them clean, and also to prevent ingrown toenails.

Some Of The Factors Affecting Nail Growth .

• Nails usually grow faster in hot weathers.
• Men's nails generally grow faster than women's.
• Frequent traumas that happen to pianists and typists nails can also stimulate nail growth.
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy and also the changes just before menstrual periods are known to increase nail growth.
• Advancing age often slow down nail growth.
• Nail growth is also slow during some serious illnesses.

Manicure And Pedicure.

Manicure means care of the nails and hands. It usually involves the shaping, cleansing, nourishing and beautification of the nails in order to improve their appearance. It also includes cuticles care, hands and arms massage.

Proper Manicure...

• Prevents hangnails by freeing the cuticle and naill walls.
• Prevents infections.
• It prevents splits, tears and fragile free edges that can get caught on clothes and thus cause damage to the nails.

Natural Manicure.

Natural manicure uses natural products as the main ingredients in the manicure procedure.

Start by filing the nails, make sure they are dry before doing so. Place the emery board at an angle of about 45 degrees under the nail free edge. File in one direction from side to top into the shape of choice, that is--oval or square.

Wash and soak the nails in the mixture of organic acid cider and water or in fruit acid solution like buttermilk.

Apply natural cuticle softener such as sesame oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil or liquid wax. Apply any of this oils on the cuticles and massage them in properly to soften the cuticles.

Clean and shape the cuticles by using the blunt end of the orange stick to gently push back the cuticles. Cutting the cuticles is a bad practice and should be avoided. The pointed side of the orange stick should then be used to remove dirt from under the nails.

Sand and buff Nails. Rinse your hands and fingernails thoroughly with clean water, and dry withclean towel. If you happen to have ridges on your nails, use fine grit block to sand and polish the surfaceof the nails to remove the ridges, then smoothen the nail surface with a smoothing file.

Apply natural hand mask like fruit acid mask and allow to set for 15-20 minutes, before rinsing.

Apply any nail polish of choice, but apply a base coat first. Moisturise your hands and you are done.

French Manicure. French Manicure is used to describe a varnish effect, whereby the nail free edge is polished with white colour while the rest of the nail surface is painted with sheer pink or peach colour to create natural looking nails.

American Manicure.

American Manicure is a softer version of the traditional french manicure. It uses creamier colours at the tips.

A pedicure is a basic part of good foot care, which involves foot massage, trimming, shaping and polishing of toenails. It also helps to improve foot comfort.

Basic or plain pedicure.

Fill a foot bath with warm soapy water. Add some soothing herbs like mint, rosemary or lavender to the foot bath. Add sea salt or epsom salt to invigorate your feet and nails. Apply cuticle balm and submerge both feet in the water, allow to soak for about 20 minutes, to soften calluses, cuticles and dead skin. Then use a pedicure stone to remove dead skin from the sides and soles of feet, before rubbing the feet with exfoliating scrub. Scrub the toenails with nail brush and clean under the free edge of the toenails with orange stick. Rinse and dry feet properly.

After the soak, remove any old polish and trim the nails as neccesary, making to sure to cut straight across with nail clippers. Cut any loose skin or hangnails, and gently push back the cuticles.

You can also massage your foot with a massage oil, but remove all excess oil with tissues.

Apply nail polish as necessary.

French Pedicure.

French Pedicure signifies polish effects for natural looking nails.

Generally good nail care involves cleaning, trimming and shaping the nails. The care of the nails is not optional, since dirty nails can carry micro-organisms as well as beign an eye sore and a source of embarassment.

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