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How to Have Beautiful,
Strong,
Healthy Nails – And Do It Yourself at
Home!
So
many people write to me that they’re having a serious problem with
their nails . . . what to do?…what to do?, they ask. Some have
problems even when they keep their nails short.
You will learn here how to take care of the top surface of
the nails, as well as the nutrition it takes to develop strong
healthy nails from the inside. This part does not happen overnight –
but stick with it and it will work. You will also learn the best way
to give yourself a home manicure. But first:
When
I was a model in New York City, I was a regular at a nail salon
catering to models and stars. I could do my nails at home but this
was one treat I insisted on for myself. I had a standing appointment
there with the owner/manicurist.
Lucille
Ball had a standing appointment with this manicurist, too, on the
same day and immediately preceding mine, so I would see her there
often. Now, I make it a point never to approach a celebrity,
respecting their privacy, but after seeing Ms. Ball so often, I
couldn’t help myself. One day, I knelt next to her chair,
excused myself and said, “Lucille Ball, I must share with you how
much fun and laughter you have given me for so many years, and I
would like to thank you for that.”
What
a gracious lady. She said, “Thank you for sharing that with me, you
are very kind to tell me.”
No,
we never went for tea, but I will always remember her kind response
and generosity of spirit.
So
what has this to do with YOUR nails? Nothing! But it was
this great manicurist who gave me a very good education in how women
can have strong, healthy nails, yet can take care of them at home,
if they wished to do so.
During
that period, when I was modeling, I was also beauty editor of a
magazine, called “Model’s
Circle, For Women Who Want to be Beautiful.” It was partly
the information she gave me that I used to write an article for this
magazine about nails. This information is still very valid
today.
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The First Part Of
“Stronger, Healthier Nails” Is About How To Get The
Nail To GROW Strong and Healthy.
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Fingernails—and
toenails, too—are products of your epidermis and are composed of the
protein keratin. Each
nail grows outward from a nail root that extends back into a groove
of skin.
Fingernails
normally grow at the rate of 1/8th inch a month, approximately 2 or
3 times faster than toenails.
Growth slows in old age. Sudden or significant
changes in the appearance of the nails can be a first sign of
illness. Abnormal or unhealthy nails may be the result of a local
injury, a glandular deficiency such as hypothyroidism, or a
deficiency of certain nutrients.
Contrary
to common belief, the structure of the nails is not related to the
structure of bone, and taking extra calcium will not strengthen
brittle nails. Neither
will taking gelatin.
With
severe malnutrition, after an injury or during a course of some
kinds of chemotherapy, nail formation is impaired. During the several weeks of
such impaired formation an area of thinning of the nails can be
seen. The width of this
zone of thinning of nails corresponds to the duration of the injury
or the use of, for example, chemotherapy.
A protein
deficiency can cause opaque white bands to appear on the nails or
cause them to become dry, brittle and very thin. Insufficient amounts of
complete proteins and/or vitamin A slow down the rate of nail growth
(which is also affected by various drugs). A shortage of vitamin A in
the diet may also cause dryness and brittleness. A lack of the B vitamins
causes nails to become fragile, with horizontal or vertical ridges
appearing. The B
complex is also a factor in fungus infestation found underneath the
nails. Frequent
hangnails usually indicate an inadequate intake of vitamins C, folic
acid, and protein. An
iron deficiency can disturb the growth of the nails, causing
dryness, brittleness, thinning, flattening and eventually the
appearance of moon-shaped nails. White spots can be caused by
a zinc deficiency.
Any nail
abnormality indicates that the diet is not adequate; a well-balanced
diet supplying all essential nutrients is recommended.
Nutrients that may be beneficial
in treatment of nail problems: Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex,
Folic acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, and Protein. (See our
Super Age Enhancer Capsule under “Vitamins & Supplements”
in www.oleda.com. I also recommend VEGGIES & FRUIT Concentrate to alkalize your body.)
If you have a
nail problem that is the result of poor diet or illness, and you
plan to do something about it, think in terms of three months
because that’s how long it will take before you see the results of
improved nutrition through your diet and supplements.
Meanwhile,
here are some measures that will help strengthen your nails and keep
them that way:
1.
Wear rubber gloves whenever you use soap and water or do any kind of
manual activity; and have them larger than your usual glove
size.
2.
Use your fingers, not your nails, to pick things up. This, of
course, is easier said than done! If you have long nails, use
the sides of your fingers.
3. Carry a small Band-aid in your
handbag. If a nail cracks, put it on immediately, then mend
your nail as soon as you return home. You can buy a “mending kit” of
some kind in almost any drugstore.
4.
Always keep a coat of some type of polish, even clear polish, on
your nails for protection.
5. For extra strength and proper
conditioning apply Oleda® Nail Bed Healer
and use Oleda® Hard
Hard Nails. Please
read about how these products help to develop healthier, stronger
nails in www.oleda.com, under “Hand Care.”
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How
to Give Yourself a Professional Manicure At
Home |
Allow
yourself about an hour of time and assemble everything you need
before you begin:
For my Newsletter Subscribers I will include Nail Care
Essentials to get you started on beautiful nails when you purchase
Oleda® Nail Care Kit (CLICK HERE).
Step
1: Clean off
old polish with cotton pad soaked in polish remover. Take care
not to push the old polish into the cuticle by starting from the
base of the nail and working down to the tip.
Step
2: Be sure
your nails are dry before you file them. Begin at the side
with the emery board and sweep to the center. Never use a
“saw-like” motion, and don’t round off the nails too much for that
can cause them to break easily. The longer you want your
nails, the more “square” they should be. But always take the
“square” off the corners.
Step
3: Soak your fingers in warm
soapy water for 2 to 3 minutes to help clean the nails and soften
the cuticles. Clean
your nails with the orange stick dipped in hydrogen peroxide.
Step
4: Apply cuticle remover or oil
to your cuticles. Wrap
a tiny piece of cotton around the tip of the orange stick and gently
work it around each nail to loosen the cuticle. This is also the time to
clip away any loose cuticle.
Do this gently or you may hurt yourself or cause
hangnails.
Step
5: Apply
a base coat. (this could be the time to apply Oleda® Nail Bed Healer.) This
semi-transparent “polish” puts a smooth protective layer on the nail
and is especially helpful for brittle and weak nails. Use
strong brush strokes from the base of the nail to the tip.
Step
6: After
the base coat is dry, apply your polish. (Of course, it can be
clear). Thin it down if necessary with polish remover. This is
one of the secrets for professional-looking nails.
Wait until
each coat of polish dries before applying the next (if it’s thin
polish, it won’t take long). In applying polish, brush the
color across the base of your nail first, keeping clear of the
cuticle, then make two strokes along the edges of your nail from
base to tip. Finally, fill in the middle with one strong
stroke from the base to the tip. Never go back over wet polish
or you will get ridges. If you smudge a nail, apply a little
polish remover on the smudged part while the nail is still wet, then
smooth it over ever so lightly with the nail polish brush.
Step
7: Apply
top-coat sealer. (Or, if you are using Oleda® Hard
Hard Nails this is the
time to apply it.) Sealers prolong the wear of your polish, delay
chipping and make your nails thicker and stronger. Let nails dry for
twenty minutes.
Note: If you
only want clear nails you can use the two Oleda nail products for
health and strength if you wish. 
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