Strong, long nails, How?

Question

I want to grow my nails long but when they get to a nice length they always split at the sides, is there a treatment I can use?
I've tried all of the hardening nail polishes and they only do so much. Please help.

Answer 1

This is what I do for a living!

Lack of vitamin A and calcium causes dryness and brittleness.

Lack of protein, folic acid and vitamin C causes hang nails.

White bands across the nails are caused by protein deficiency.

A lack of sufficient hydrochloric acid can cause splitting nails.

Insufficient intake or vitamin B12 can lead to excessive dryness,
very rounded and curved ends and darkening of nails.

Insufficient zinc can cause development of white spots on the nails.

Cuts and cracks in the nails may indicate a need for more liquids.

Red skin around your cuticles can be caused by poor metabolism of essential fatty acids.

Here are the guidelines to follow for improving the health of your nails

Eat a diet composed of 50% fruit and raw vegetables in order to supply necessary vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Eat foods rich in sulfur and silicon, such as broccoli, fish and onions. Include foods rich in biotin such as soy, brewer’s yeast and whole grains.

Drink plenty of water and other liquids.

You may supplement your diet with royal jelly, spirulina or kelp, which are rich in silica, zinc and B vitamins and help to
strengthen your nails.

Drink fresh carrot juice daily, this is high in calcium and phosphorus and is excellent for strengthening nails.

Everyone wants nails to be proud of so here are a few quick tips to get them in great condition in no time.

Apply nail varnish remover before doing your nails even if don’t need to remove any old polish, it prepares the nails by removing any grease so that your polish will last longer.

If you’re having trouble achieving the perfect French Manicure try using a white nail pencil underneath the nail tip instead of white polish you’ll find it’s much easier

Give your nail varnish plenty of time for each layer to dry to ensure a lasting finish. If you’re likely to get impatient waiting around opt for a quick drying formula like Lancome Vernis Instant Magnetic or L’Oreal Jet Set

Always wipe the top of the nail varnish bottle with a cotton bud to get rid of any excess polish, this will prevent the bottle from becoming glued shut

Lots of beauty companies have nail polishes available with matching lip colour for whose seeking a totally co-ordinated look, ask at your local beauty counter

Remember it’s much better to apply lots of thin coats of colour rather that one thick one, it will dry quicker and last longer

Try not to remove and reapply polish more than once or twice a week, as it will dry out your nails. Choosing a remover with built in moisturisers will help limit the damage

A hand massage will boost your circulation and encourage nail growth and is the perfect way to pamper yourself.

Here are some tips on how to do your manicure and pedicure professionally. It will surely save you time and money.

1. Removing old lacquer
Using a nail-polish and paper towel or cotton pad both offer more friction than a tissue and won’t shred the way cotton balls can. Always try to use a non- acetone polish remover. It’s less drying to nails and cuticles than regular formulas.

2. File your nails while they’re dry
You’ll get a better shape if you file before soaking. Overly abrasive files, including anything metal, will promote peeling so choose a fine-grade emery board. The best technique, file in one direction using smooth strokes. Sawing back and forth can break the nail.

3. Soften nails and cuticles in a bowl of warm water
Mix the warm water with cuticle oil, olive oil or body lotion. After 10 minutes of soaking, dry off and apply cuticle cream or lotion. Gently ease cuticles back by making tiny circles against the cuticle with an orangewood stick- a thin wooden stick with a slant-edge tip at both ends that are sold n drugstores wrapped in cotton.

Next, rub cuticles with a warm, damp, washcloth in the same gentle way. The circular motion helps slough away that white membrane, which is dead cuticle skin. Many salons cut cuticles to get a clean-looking result in little time, but it’s not healthy practice: The cuticle forms a protective seal between the nail and the skin to prevent irritants from getting into the skin, and cutting it can result in infection. You need to coddle your cuticles. Avoid cutting them or pushing back aggressively. Doing either can damage the nail matrix, the area under the cuticles where growth takes place.

4. Wash away oil or lotion
Use soap and water and dry the nails thoroughly. Rubbing them with polish remover again as they do in salons shouldn’t be necessary and can actually over-dry nails.

5. Apply a basecoat
Basecoat is like a double-stick tape for your nails. It holds polish in place so it lasts longer. It also prevents dark lacquers from tinting your nails.

6. Sweep on polish
The way they do at salons, in three strokes, from base to tip. Go up per dunk before applying to nail. This helps you apply the thinnest coats possible.

7. Wait two minutes between each coat of color
Base and top coats are included to speed up overall drying time. Set an egg timer.

8. Finish with a topcoat
If you have the time, use a topcoat’s designed to be shinny and protective. It will offer a harder, longer-lasting protective shell with a higher shine that fast- drying topcoat can provide.

Wearing a topcoat also can keep your nails healthy. It helps prevent water loss, so nail breaks less. Still, if you’re in a rush, don’t risks ruining your nails by all means go with the speedy version. And use a quick-dry topcoat every other day to prolong the life of your polish.

9. Touch up any polish mistakes
After nails are dry working on wet nails guarantees smudging. Use a cotton swab and polish remover or try a pen made specific purposes. If you smudge, gently rub it out with a dab of polish remover. When dry, polish only affected area, then cover the entire nail topcoat.

Answer 2

There is one thing that you MUST NOT DO u must never get fake nail at the salon they only ruin your real nail they do not strengthen anything. You can cut them all the way down like mine file them every day and if you start to see them splitting then you can file them at the top of the nail so that it will be filed away. Also eat more calcium like milk, cheese, yogurt....
Well..
Good Luck

Answer 3

If you subject your nails to alot of stress, like picking up and moving of heavy objects, biting, picking at them, etc. that could cause them to break. Having long nails takes patience. I can never grow them long myself. File them a bit, once or twice a week, so they don't snag, and using a base coat will help. FIling might seem like you are shortening them, but it actually will keep them from splitting.

Answer 4

Buy a box of Knox Gelatin from the super market, drink a glass a day, it's flavored your nails will get strong and not break, it works, been doing it for years. good luck

Answer 5

I always get mine done at the salon and having false nails makes your natural nails much stronger.

Answer 6

Try and include a bit more calcium in your diet - Milk, Cheese, yogurt - They all help towardss strong bones and nails.

Answer 7

I've had great luck with OPI's Nail Envy.

Also, be careful of your nails and don't use them to pry things.

Answer 8

try calcium pills. My mom would suggest drinking jello water (follow directions on box, but don't chill to set). Her nails grew doing this.

Answer 9

vitamins, eat healthy, or try Sally Hansen nail hardener if you havent already. I tried it and its worked really well.

Answer 10

Long nails can be harbingers for bacteria, specifically if they are artificial, but they are good for scratching and beginning those little foil wrapped containers that are so hard to get in to.

Answer 11

I hear lots of girls wear false ones - nip to the hardware store and buy some six inch flat tops - they will look simply fabulous!