As requested, here is a post on general nail care! Lets start off with a base coat. The most essential in my opinion. I simply would not have nails without it!
BASE COATS
Currently I am using QTICA Natural Nail Growth Stimulator, but seeing as it peels off quite easily with me I use Zoya's Anchor Base Coat on top.
This helps it stay on for a long time. Also the QTICA is really thin and doesn't cover up all my lumps, bumps and peelies I have at the moment so the Zoya really helps even that out to a nice smooth and shiny surface. The two work so well together. Long, strong nails so quickly and easily.
I think the trick to finding out what base coat works for you is simply just to try a whole heap for about a month and see how it goes for you. If not, you can always gift the base coats to a friend or maybe use it in a franken.
MOISTURE
If you find you have peely nails or nails that just keep on breaking, make sure you are keeping your nails moisturised. Your nails produce their own oils but these can be removed with cleaning agents, washing your hands a lot and of course, using remover. So any chance that they are naked, just give them a good dousing of oil.
Any kind will do but a lovely home recipe that my mum makes up is 30mls of almond oil, 30mls of jojoba oil and 30mls of rice bran oil works a real treat. Removers are quite drying to your nails but your nails should reproduce the oils you took away in 24hours.
But if you do a lot of mani changes you may want to chuck a bit of oil on them to help them rehydrate quicker. Also having your tips polished most of the time will help protect them.
A COUPLE OF RULES
Buffing. I would do this once every few weeks at the most. But this is only because my nails with the state that they're in really need evening out. You don't want to buff too often though because this takes off layers of your nails.
Trust me, you just need to see my nails in person too see what the damage looks like.
Another important rule is to not use your nails as tools. I know it seems like the easiest way of opening up that can but you can use the side of your finger or a utensil like a knife or fork to aid you.
BREAKAGES
Has your tip started peeling off at the side? A quick fix is some nail glue and a small square of either a tea bag, toilet paper, tissue... almost anything that's thin really.
Make sure your nail is clean of oils and cut a bit of the material you have chosen to fit over the breakage and a little more for support. Add a little glue to the broken area, carefully place your material (not too close to the tip though! otherwise it will start to peel off), then put the glue on top of the material. The material should turn transparent to some degree.
Of course the best thing would be to buy a silk wraps kit for these kind of emergencies and it will work much better and last a lot longer!
I hope this helps you in some way :)
Now, you can have the most beautiful nails in the world, but you don't see them if your cuticles aren't in shape. From this article, I hope you find something that helps you to get them looking wonderful!You can use either a Hand & Nail Cream, Cuticle Oil, Cuticle Cream to get them looking healthy or your skin might just pump out a lot of oil and you don't need any of these :D Take my dad for example, never had any nail care for 50 years and his nails are in good shape. Not a single hangnail. Not a sight of Pterygium (cuticle overgrowth). Hand Cream- This will help moisterise your hands, nails and cuticles if they are dry. I hate using it as it makes my hands sweat a lot more, and they already sweat quite a bit. My hands aren't the silkiest, but I'm happy with them :)
- Can be quite cheap, found pretty much everywhere
Cuticle Cream- Cream specially designed for the cuticles. It will help keep them moisterised so the hangnails are no more. I hate hangnails!
- Can contain special ingredients to help with other things
- Don't get confused with Cuticle Remover
- Needs to be used daily for optimum results
Cuticle Oil- Really, any plan old oil will do. Rice Bran works wonders! :D
- My mum has a recipe for some, I think it contains; Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil and Rice Bran. This stuff is lovely. I think it's 33mls of each.
- I prefer the cream as the oil tends to linger longer and get on everything
Cuticle Remover- Should only be used once a week, if that. This stuff can really irritate your skin, so please be careful.
Hoof Stick- The stick that looks like a hoof and we use it to push them back. I prefer the rubber ended ones as it feels more gentle and doesn't hurt as much if you slip with say, a sharp wooden one. Totally up to you though!
- Cuticles should be pushed back daily. The cuticle is an elastic piece of skin, so if you don't keep on pushin' it, your cuticles are just going to move back down.
- Even just after a shower, give them a quick gentle push. Or do what I do and give them a push and massage after I have put on my cuticle cream. Feels lovely.
Cuticle Clippers- I don't really understand the big hoohah about these things. Unless you are actually cutting your cuticle... but then why would you? :S A hangnail is really annoying when it catches on everything, so easiest way is to cut it off. Don't pull it with the clippers, this hurts.
Cuticle Overgrowth Remover Tool- There are lots of different kinds, so I won't list them all. I myself use a cuticle spoon, but i'm not sure if it is available to the public.
- These are great to get rid of the overgrowth you have pushed back, just make sure you take a lot of care when using them and not too scratch up the nail plate.
Hmm I think this is everything n_n
I hope you lovely ladies (and men) learn a little something from this new Handy Hints series n_n Our first one is dedicated to Nail Polish Remover.Basically there are 3 types, Acetone Formula, Non-Acetone and Straight Acetone.Let's see what they do:Acetone Remover- Best for natural nails
- Safe to use
- A little drying, but your body will repair that in 24 hours
- Removes polish quite quickly
Non - Acetone Remover- Just because it's stated 'Non-Acetone' doesn't make it better!
- More drying than Acetone Remover
- Best suited for artificial nails
- Can be more harmful to you
- Takes a little longer to remove polish as it tends to push it around more rather than absorb
- If you prefer to use this one instead of the Acetone formulated one because it is more drying (for you), please keep in mind that you can always slather on some oil and all is good again, maybe even better! n_n
Straight Acetone- Ok, I wouldn't really recommend this as your everyday remover but sometimes Glitter polishes needs it to come off quickly and efficiently
- Is pretty safe to use, second safest substance a Nail Tech uses. First, is water.
The best remover I have ever come across was Zoya's Remove+. Best stuff ever. Didn't leave you feeling dry, smells nice, made your fingers feel moistened and nourished. It is quite expensive though, so once my sample ran out back to the drug store remover I went. I mean, it still does the job just remember to always slap on some oil or cuticle cream after using remover, and not to drink it. Handy Hints coming up; Files, Artificial Nails, Basic Nail Care, Top Coats & Base Coats, Cuticle Care... is there something you would like me to talk about?
