October 27, 2018

in Skin Care by tony

How to get Perfect Nails

If pampering your nails strikes you as just a bit too self-indulgent or too time-consuming to fit into a busy lifestyle, think again. Regular care keeps your hands and nails looking good and helps to prevent nail problems, and it takes very little time.

It's a treat having a manicure at a beauty salon - that's why nail bars are all the rage - but you can achieve fantastic-looking, professional results at home. To find out what equipment you need for the job, then follow these steps.

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Well cared for nails don't just look beautiful - they're a sign of good health.

Find out how to file, shape and buff perfect nails.

Keeping your nails looking groomed and beautiful takes just a few minutes a day

Spending just a few minutes on your hands on a regular basis will give you clean, healthy and shiny nails.

Try this easy-care programme.

Every day - use a brush to scrub nails and apply hand cream and nail oil.

Every two or three days - condition cuticles.

Every week - file and shape.

Every fortnight - full pamper session, then buff your nails for a gorgeous gleam.

Essential Tools

Nail Clippers are better than scissors - use them to cut round the nail then file it to a curve.

Nail Files - Smooth and shape your nails.

Cuticle Nippers - Nip off excess cuticle and hangnails (loose skin tags by your nails).

Cuticle Cream - Softens and conditions cuticles - or use Vitamin E or sweet almond oil.

Nail Brush - Use morning and night to keep hands, nails and cuticles clean and healthy.

Nail Buffer - Smooths and shines the nails.

Cuticle Remover - Helps to remove dead skin.

Orange Stick - This curved ends rub away dead skin and wrapped in cotton wool, eases back cuticles. use the pointy end to clean under the nail.

Pampering your nails

This mini-pamper session will take no more than ten minutes of your time.

Before you begin, remove any nail polish with non-acetone remover, which is less drying than other types.

CUTICLE CARE

Dot cuticle remover on to each cuticle.

Massage it in gently to soften and lubricate the area and leave to penetrate for a minute or so - no longer.

The cuticle remover also seals the cuticle and helps to prevent dehydration.

Dissolve a little liquid soap in a bowl of warm water and soak your nails for 3 to 5 minutes to soften dead skin.

Then scrub them clean with a nail brush.

Rinse and dry your hands carefully with a soft towel.

Remove dead skin from the nail plate by rubbing the rounded tip of an orange stick in tiny circles - but don't rub the half moon or you'll damage it.

Then wrap the rounded end in cotton wool to gently push back cuticles.

Dab vitamin E oil or cuticle cream on to your nails and hand lotion on to your hands.

Massage it all in together for 3 minutes to boost circulation and nail growth.

If your hands are still sticky, blot them with a tissue.

Nip off loose snags of cuticle but never cut the cuticle itself — its a barrier to stop bacteria entering the body

Cuticle Care

The cuticle is a waterproof seal, stopping bacteria and viruses attacking the nail and causing infection. Regular care keeps it soft and healthy; hardened cuticle looks ugly and can split and become infected.

Apply oil or cuticle cream every day if possible, or at least three times a week.

• If the cuticle becomes tough or overgrown, nip off any excess with cuticle nippers or a pair of curved nail scissors.

Don't over-trim or the cuticle will grow back thicker and stronger.

When pushing back cuticles, never force them - if you feel any resistance, stop.

Before applying nail varnish, use a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover to wipe away any oil or cream.

Filing and shaping the nail

Filing once a week keeps your nails looking shapely and helps stop breakage and fraying.

Make all your nails the same shape - check the shapes overleaf to choose the best one for you.

The best time to file is when the white part has grown 6mm beyond the tip of the finger.

Try not to file too deeply into the corners, as a bit of side growth makes nails look longer and guards against infection.

1. File the little finger first, then the ring finger, and continue working inwards towards the thumb.

2. Slant the nail file at an angle against the edge of the nail so that you're filing mostly the underside.

3. Swipe from the corner to the centre working in one direction only. Then file from the other corner to the centre, stroking in the opposite direction. It's important not to use a sawing motion or you'll damage the nail edge.

4. Watch out for 'drag' -meaning your nails look lopsided because you've filed more heavily on one side.

To check, look at your nails from another angle and from below.

Buffing

Buff your nails about once a fortnight to smooth them to a glass-like finish.

You'll achieve a natural shine that looks as good as a coat of clear nail varnish, but it doesn't chip. Buffing is also a great way to groom rough or ridged nails.

Starting at the cuticle, rub the buffer gently over the nail. If you've buffed recently don't do the tips - they'll still be smooth and shiny from last time.

Use even motions and work in one direction.

Don't over buff or you'll thin the nail

The best nail file

Crystal files (1) are the manicurist's favourite.

Made of glass, they're expensive but last forever and prevent splitting and peeling.

Diamond-coated files (2) and coarse-grained emery boards (4) work best to shorten nails.

Washable fine-grained files (3) are best for a smooth finish.

Metal files (5) can drag and split nails so they're best left to the professionals.

Getting rid of stains

l've been wearing nail varnish almost constantly for the last year and now I want a more natural look. The trouble is, my nails look yellow and stained - what can I do to clean them?

Ans. If you don't use a base coat, nail varnish can stain the surface of the nails and make them look yellow, but luckily there are several things you can do to whiten them.

If stains don't shift when you wipe them with a lemon wedge, try soaking your nails in denture sterilising tablets for five minutes. Or brush on smoker's toothpaste, leave for two minutes then rinse.

Buffing can remove yellowing too, but don't overbuff as this can thin the nail plate.

Prevention is always better than cure, so to stop your nails getting stained in the first place, get a base coat that's formaldehyde-free and always apply it before painting your nails.