Creative Gift Ideas

You might not think it, but you really can tell a lot about someone from their fingernails. Bitten or distended nails are often seen as a sign that someone is prone to nervousness or low confidence, whereas someone who always has perfectly manicured nails can seem a little conceited and vain. And it’s not all on a superficial level, the condition of someone’s nails can give an indication of their overall health and nail problems can be the first sign of more serious health problems. But it’s not just about what others think. Everyone gets an extra boost of confidence from going out with a perfect set of nails. So here are a few quick tips to keep your nails looking their best.

Firstly and most importantly, never allow your nails to get too dry. Always moisturise your hands after you wash them and regularly throughout the day as required. This will help your nails and cuticles retain their moisture and prevent them from becoming brittle and breaking or peeling. Moisturisers like those by Aesop are a good choice as they last all day and work well with your skin. Don’t cut your cuticles, instead gently push them back when they are soft, for example after a bath or shower. If you are still encourtering problems with dry skin I would recommend using Eve Lom as their creams are extremely good!

If you do have dry, fragile nails or get hangnails, it could be a dietary problem. Calcium deficiency can cause nails to peel or break, and white spots are often caused by a lack of iron. These things can all be easily remedied by making sure you eat a balanced diet. Any manual work, including housework and washing up, can seriously damage nails so wear gloves especially where washing up liquid is involved, and always moisturise afterwards.

Nail polish looks good but can really damage the nails if used too much. Only paint your nails when you want to go out and look your best, there’s really no point going to all that effort if you’re only going to work where they will only chip anyway. When you do use nail colour, always use a base coat to prevent the colour from staining. OPI is a good place to start for a great range of colours that are long lasting, and they do base coats and nail treatments too. When you take off your nail polish use as little remover as possible and, yes you guessed it, wash and moisturise your hands straight afterwards to prevent your nails from drying out.