How to strengthen your nails?

A beautiful and complete look is impossible without a manicure. But even the most expensive coating is not able to hide flaws or compensate for weak nails, since no manicure can decorate broken, weak and peeling nails. And if they have become dull, fragile and brittle, then it is time to think about how to return them to a healthy appearance.

Nails, like our entire body, need vitamins. Especially the lack of useful elements can be observed during the change of season and in the cold season. During this period, the nails can begin to exfoliate and become more brittle and weak. Only a full-fledged course of recovery and strengthening will help to cope with the problem. And for this it is not necessary to contact expensive specialists or buy up stocks of care cosmetics. You can carry out all procedures for resuscitation and improvement of nails at home.

When meeting and communicating, we always pay attention to the hands of the interlocutor. They are able to tell a lot about the person opposite. And therefore, recently, beauty salons offer various procedures for both women and men. But in order to give your pens a well-groomed appearance, it is not at all necessary to spend time and money on expensive spa offers. All procedures can be performed independently, without leaving home, while using only natural products.

First you need to decide what nails are. In fact, these are claws that have changed in the process of evolution. Their main function is the mechanical rigidity of the fingertips, which is especially necessary when you need to reach, pry on or perform any other manipulation, for example, to eliminate itching.The nail plate itself is made of hardened protein and contains sulfur, calcium, zinc, selenium, copper and phosphorus.

But this does not mean that if the nails become weakened and begin to break, then the problem lies only in genetics. First of all, you should pay attention to nutrition, since nails, skin and hair are a kind of reflection of the whole body. Perhaps your body is trying to warn you that some kind of malfunction has occurred and you need to pay attention to your health. Nails can be damaged not only after extensions or gel coatings. Often, fragility appears after exhausting diets, illness and lack of vitamins.

Take a close look at the nail plate and pay attention to the following phenomena:

• If you notice small light spots on your nail, then you are lacking magnesium. Include bran, pumpkin seeds, nuts, legumes, almonds, pine nuts, pistachios, peanuts, and hazelnuts in your daily diet.
• If your nails are growing very slowly, eat more cottage cheese, cheese, natural yogurt, fish, legumes, and nuts.
• If the nails become brittle, then the body does not have enough sodium. Large amounts of this mineral are found in marine fish, legumes, chicken eggs and dairy products.
• If your nails are flaking, add more protein to your daily diet. This can be meat, fish, dairy products, legumes, grains, and protein shakes.
• Lack of fat can also exfoliate nails. Therefore, the diet must necessarily contain foods rich in fatty acids. And this does not mean at all that you can eat chips, mayonnaise, bacon or fatty meat every day. In the menu of every person, there must be products with a high content of the necessary macronutrients. Therefore, eat more nuts, seeds, flaxseed oil, avocados, dairy products, olives, yolks, fish, and dark chocolate.

Also, the structure of the nail plate is influenced by external factors, which include household detergents, cold, mechanical damage, etc. Therefore, when doing housework, wear rubber gloves to minimize skin contact with harsh chemicals and to protect your hands during freezing temperatures.

It is not that difficult to restore nail plate and give your nails a beautiful appearance. All procedures can be performed without leaving home. But besides the fact that it is necessary to take care of the nail, special attention should be paid to all fingers. So, for example, when caring for nails, special attention should be paid to the cuticle. It is dense skin located at the base of the nail plate. It performs an important function - it protects them from the penetration of infections. The cuticle can be cut with special forceps, apparatus, or pushed back with additional means.

Cut the cuticles once or twice a month., because during this procedure, the skin will grow faster and become rougher each time. And if you move it away from the nail plate with special means, then it will return after a few days to its original place. Therefore, you can always judge the quality of the completed manicure by the cuticle.

Consider a few simple and at the same time effective ways to strengthen nails at home.

The best way to strengthen the nail plate is a bath. For their preparation, a minimum of components are needed, and it will take several minutes to prepare a small bath. The base can be sea salt, medicinal herbs, essential oils and other available components.

If the nails lack vitamins, they immediately become weak and brittle. The most effective way to strengthen them is sea water. And you can arrange a SPA procedure for your hands without even going to the sea. It is enough to buy coarse sea salt at the store and dissolve it in a bowl of warm water. You can carry out this procedure every day if you have 20-30 minutes free. And after two weeks, you will already notice that the nails began to grow faster, and their surface has become more shiny and smoother.

The milk bath allows you to quickly restore nails at home. As you know, milk is an excellent source of calcium, which is so necessary for weakened nails. And to carry out such a procedure is quite simple. It is enough to buy whole cow's milk at the nearest grocery store. The main thing is that the percentage of fat is at least 2.5%. Pour milk into a deep bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Dip your fingers in milk for half an hour. Then wash your hands with soap and a moisturizer. Don't forget to clean your cuticles as well. It is recommended to take a milk bath 2-3 times a week. And then in a month you will notice the changes.

It turns out that gelatin can be used for more than just snacks and desserts. It is great at helping to revitalize nails after build-up, and also nourish damaged nails and give them extra shine. Gelatin can be purchased at any grocery store, as long as the powder does not contain dyes or flavors. In a deep bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of gelatin and 200 ml of hot water. Stir the mixture thoroughly until all the gelatin is dissolved. When the temperature of the liquid becomes comfortable for the fingers, soak your nails in the bath for 10-20 minutes.

In emergencies, the oil can also be used as a bath. Olive, almond and castor oils are best suited for strengthening the nail plate. Olive oil can be purchased at any grocery store, while castor and almond oil are sold in small jars at drugstore chains. Mix the oils in equal proportions and immerse your nails in the bath for 15 minutes so that the plate is completely covered with liquid. After the procedure, blot your hands with a napkin to remove excess oil, and massage the rest of the product into the plate and cuticle, then let the rest of the oils absorb. Better to wear cotton gloves for a few hours, and if possible overnight. Such a bath will help to quickly restore the structure of nails damaged from build-up or gel polish.

To prepare a herbal decoction bath, you will need a mixture of various herbs., which can be purchased at the pharmacy or collected by yourself in the summer. Chamomile flowers, burdock, St. John's wort are suitable for strengthening. Add one teaspoon of dry herb to the container and pour boiling water over it, let it brew for 10-15 minutes. When the temperature of the broth becomes comfortable, dip your fingers into the container for half an hour. After bathing, pat your hands dry with a dry cloth or towel, and then use a moisturizing nourishing cream.

For a honey bath, in addition to liquid honey, you will need 2 tablespoons of olive oil. spoons and one raw chicken egg. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and heat the mixture in a water bath or microwave. Move carefully until uniform and lower your fingertips for half an hour. After the procedure, wash your hands under running water and soap and apply moisturizer to your nails and cuticles.

The masks are applied to the nail plate with gentle massage movements. The products are thoroughly rubbed directly into the nail and cuticle. After completing the procedure, you can put on cotton gloves and leave the mask on your hands for several hours.

Any currant is suitable for this procedure: red, black or white. Berries can also be fresh or frozen. Take a couple of berries and rub them into the nail plate. Leave the released juice for 10-15 minutes, then wash your hands well with soap so that no marks remain on the skin. During this procedure, you must be very careful so as not to stain clothes or furniture with splashed juice. This mask can be done a couple of times a month.

Iodine helps fight tarnished and weakened nails, gives the plate a bright color, therefore it is recommended to apply such a mask before bedtime. Using a cotton swab, apply a little iodine to each nail and cover the entire plate evenly. The product will be absorbed quickly, especially if the nails are very dry. This procedure is not suitable for daily use and is recommended as a prophylaxis or in addition to complex treatment once a season.

You can strengthen your nails with folk remedies, for example, using an oatmeal and chamomile mask. In the summer season, you can use fresh flowers, and in the winter you can replace the not dried ones. You can buy dried chamomile flowers in tea bags at the pharmacy, but to use as a mask, the petals must be released from the bag. Oatmeal contains many B and E vitamins and is also rich in amino acids. But for use for cosmetic purposes, unprocessed cereals are suitable. Purchase oatmeal without sugar or extra additives from the store. If you are preparing a mask for hand use only, you will need to mix the oatmeal and chamomile flowers one teaspoon at a time in a deep bowl. Pour boiling water over the mixture and cover. Let it brew for 5 minutes, then grind thoroughly to a gruel state. Apply the mask to your nails and leave on for 20-30 minutes.

If the nails grow very slowly, then you can use a curd mask in combination with a milk bath. The recipe for this mask is very simple: in a deep bowl, mix one teaspoon of cottage cheese and a few drops of olive or castor oil. Stir them thoroughly until a sour cream consistency is obtained. Apply the product to the nail plate and leave it on for 30 minutes. It is recommended to use a curd mask a couple of times a week for a month.

Honey is an excellent nutritional component in many beauty treatments. In addition to trays, liquid honey can be used as the main component in a mask. You can also add a few drops of cocoa or coconut butter to honey, and rub the resulting mixture into nails and cuticles. The mask can be held on hands for 10 to 30 minutes.In this case, it all depends on perseverance, since honey is a very sticky component, so it is not entirely comfortable to sit with it on your hands for a long time.

The mask will help speed up the growth of your nails. And even after a week of use, you will already see the first tangible results. But this recipe is not recommended for owners of thin and damaged nails, since the main component of the mask is hot red pepper. Try adding less pepper to the mix to start with and adjust the proportions based on how you feel. Mix equal proportions of ground red pepper and your favorite hand moisturizer. Stir the products thoroughly until smooth. Apply the mask to your nails, but be careful if there are skin lesions or wounds around the nail plate. The most convenient way to apply the mask is with a special brush or cotton swab. Leave on for 15 minutes. If you feel a burning sensation, wash off the mask earlier. Apply cream or cosmetic oil after the procedure.

As you know, paraffin and wax have an excellent effect on the nail plate, therefore they are often used in skin care cosmetics. But often, all the in-store products and spa treatments in the salons are expensive. Any masks can be taken at home and will cost several times less. Cosmetic wax can be purchased at a beauty care store. Paraffin is sold, as a rule, in small jars, but it lasts on average for six months.

Following the manufacturer's recommendations, melt the paraffin wax in a water bath to a liquid state. Add a few drops of olive oil to the mixture, and then apply the resulting product to your nails. You can also wear gloves on your hands. The duration of the procedure is 1.5-2 hours. Of course, it may seem that such a mask is too time-consuming, since during the entire time the movement of the hands will be limited. But this is just great, since this time can be set aside for watching your favorite movie and relaxing with relaxing music. It is recommended to carry out this procedure 1-2 times a month. Paraffin will accelerate the growth of nails and help smooth their structure.

You can also make a nourishing cream yourself at home. To strengthen nails, you will need 30% cream, aloe juice, calendula oil, sea buckthorn and burdock oil. All ingredients must be mixed in equal proportions to a liquid sour cream. Rub the product daily 1-2 times a day into the nail plate and the surrounding skin. Store the finished cream in the refrigerator.

After completing any procedure, it is not recommended to immediately do a manicure and apply varnish. In combination with masks and trays, you can use healing and strengthening varnishes. These coatings are recommended for particularly thin nails that can break at the slightest bend. The strengthening coating will make the nail plate denser and thicker.

The manufacturer indicates all recommendations for use on the packaging. Especially popular are the protective coatings of the Eveline 8 in 1. Judging by the reviews, the varnish not only helps to strengthen weakened and brittle nails, but also gives a beautiful look. It is necessary to apply the product to the nails carefully so that the varnish does not get on the skin. For four days, it is necessary to cover the nails with one layer of varnish every day, and on the fifth day, remove the varnish with ordinary liquid and repeat the procedure again. Thus, it is necessary to use the product for 2-3 weeks. During this time, the nails will become smoother and stronger, the tool will help eliminate brittleness and get rid of dullness.

Fingernails do not grow so quickly, in 1 month the plate grows on average by 1 mm, that is, it will take about six months to grow a long, healthy, smooth nail.

We offer some more effective and at the same time simple secrets for nail care:

• Do not use a metal coarse file. It is better to replace it with a modern glass or plastic model.
• It will take several weeks to restore the healthy appearance of nails after extension. The easiest way is to use a daily jojoba oil mask, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. Every evening before going to bed, rub the heated oil into the plate and cuticle. After the procedure, it is recommended to let the oil completely absorb and not to wash your hands with soap. During the entire period, it is not recommended to cover the nails with varnish, so as not to slow down the treatment process.
• You can also use grape seed, tea tree, lavender, sandalwood, bergamot, apricot and peach oil for nails. All oils can be mixed and rubbed into the nail plate and cuticle, or add a few drops to masks, baths or nourishing creams.

• Often, nails can flake and break due to a lack of vitamins. But to resolve the situation is also quite simple with pharmacies. Buy ampoules of vitamins A and E. Some pharmaceutical companies offer Aevit complex vitamins. These vitamins must be taken internally, but they are also great for use on nails. To do this, pierce a capsule with liquid vitamins with a small needle and distribute the product over all nails. One capsule is sufficient for all 10 fingers. Rub vitamins into the nail plate and cuticle. After 1-2 weeks of daily use, you will see how much stronger your nails are. This procedure is recommended once a season to nourish and maintain the health of the nail plate.
• A slice of lemon will help get rid of the yellowness of the nails and strengthen the plate. Often, nails become weakened and brittle due to a lack of vitamin C. Then any fruit with a high content of vitamins comes to the rescue, for example, lemon. For the procedure, you will need a small lemon wedge and some free time. Apply a lemon wedge to each nail for 30 seconds. This procedure is good because it does not require a lot of free time or long preparation from you. You can nourish the nail plate before bedtime or even during your lunch break. And instead of lemon, you can use grapefruit or orange.

For more information on ways to strengthen nails, see the next video.