Hands are probably the most useful appendages a person can have and they are always there for everybody to see. One look at a person’s hands will tell you whether they have been taken care of, and it’s not just the length of their nails, but the overall condition of the hands.
We use our hands all the time for working, caressing, taking care of children and many other countless tasks. For all these reasons it is important to take time out of a busy day and spend a few minutes taking care of our hands, and at least once a week sit down and give the hands a manicure.
<strong>Anatomy of the nail</strong>
A nail consists of keratinised protein and grows at the tips of the fingers and toes. The white area of the nail that grows to extend past the tips of the finer is called the free edge and this is the area that needs to be trimmed and filed for a well cared look.
The area where the nail is still attached to the finger is called the nail plate and at the base of the nail plate (where it grows from under the cuticle) is called the lunula. The reason for this name is that it resembles the crescent moon and this is part of the visible matrix bed, from which the nail is formed.
Beneath the cuticle and part of the matrix bed, there are tendons to anchor the nail in place as well as blood vessels that carry nutrients and moisture to the nails that will result in healthy growth.
<strong>Daily care</strong>
After using your hands, wash them and apply a moisturiser. It’s a good idea to keep some moisturiser in a convenient place near the washbasin so that it is easy to use a hand lotion to keep hands soft and smooth. If there are no washing facilities close by, a waterless hand sanitizing gel can be used instead. These products offer a pleasant fragrance that will remove residual odours and will reduce the risk of infections and germs.
<strong>Weekly care</strong>
Nail polish should be removed once a week, so start off by removing all traces of old nail polish.
- A cotton ball with some nail polish remover will take care of that. Choose a remover that has some moisturiser added to prevent nails from becoming dry and brittle.
- To shape the nails use an emery board, but always in one direction only, and the most popular shape is a rounded squarish nail or an oval. Make sure nails are smooth and approximately the same length.
- Wash hands to remove any residual polish and nail fragments, and if there is time, soak hands in warm water for a few minutes.
- This softens the cuticles, which can then be gently pushed back with a cuticle stick.
- The nails are now ready for some nail polish so start with a clear base coat. There are several products on the market, and there is a wide price range to choose from. As one tries different products, some favourites will emerge, but every now and again, try a new and different product as there are new innovations being launched all the time.
- Start in the middle of the nail at the cuticle and sweep towards the tip of the nail and then do one stroke on either side.
- Let it dry properly and do the same with a colour polish. Once again, the colour and variety of products are large and exciting.
- Let this coat dry and do a second coat to give it a smooth luxurious finish.
- Now the manicure can be finished off with a clear top coat. The top coat will help prevent nails from chipping and make the polish last longer. Yes, it does take some extra time, but it is definitely worth doing.
- There are polishes that will do duty for top and base coat, and there are separate base and top coats available. It’s a matter of personal choice as to what is preferred.
- If a person does not like coloured polish or there is just enough time to take care of the nails, one or two coats of clear nail polish will still protect the nails and give a well cared for appearance to the nails.
Always complaining about no time for a manicure? Instead of just sitting in front of the television doing nothing, a leisurely manicure can be done while watching. Besides, it’s one of the few times during the day that the hands are not in constant use and there is less chance of smudging nails that are not completely dry!
Some people prefer their nails to be short and others like their nails a bit longer. Whatever the choice, as long as the hands and nails are well cared for, it will give a good impression.
<strong>Professional Manicure</strong>
When choosing a manicurist, make sure the premises are clean and that the equipment used is sterilised and in good order as there is a possibility of infection as a result of contaminated equipment. It is always a case of you get what you pay for, so look carefully at the overall ambience of the salon that is chosen. Price might be a good motivator, but make sure there has been no skimping of hygiene just to keep the price down.
With the advent of acrylic nails, permanently long, strong nails, and nail salons it has become possible for women to have perfectly groomed nails without worrying about breaking or tearing. No more distress when a nail breaks, just a quick trip to the salon to fix it!
For women who just cannot get their nails to grow long, and then stay long without breaking, or for those who tend to bite their nails incessantly, acrylic nails are a really good option as they will be stronger and look good all the time. Remember that once this process has been started, the person needs to go back on a regular basis to fill in where the nails have grown and left a gap between the cuticle and the start of the false nail. Ask questions about how to best care for these nails and understand the process in order to get the best out of your nails.
Because it is a foreign substance that has been applied to the normal nails, it is extremely important to take good care of the hands and the nails to prevent the possibility of infections, such as fungal growth under the nails.
Then sit back, relax and enjoy.
<strong>Conclusion</strong>
Men and women should take care of their hands and nails. It does not have to take hours! Washing and moisturising will take care of the skin, but the nails will need a bit more time in terms of filing, cleaning and polishing. A good habit is to use some moisturising hand cream last thing before falling asleep as it will help the skin renew itself during the night when the body is busy repairing itself. It is never a bad idea to help Mother Nature a little bit…
Frieda Kilian Dip Mkt (IMM), BA Hons (Psych)
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