Nails! Nails! Nails!
Taking care of my nails is such a chore for me because I'm very active. I'm not very gentle with my nails, to be honest with you. When I get them done, they would often chip or smudge which is a total waste of time may I say so. So I only do them when i have to go somewhere REALLY important. But let's face it your nails portrait who you are and how you take care of yourself, basically your hygiene. We don't want people to think we do not take care of ourselves, that we are not hygienic. So if you worry about that, and you're like me, then girl I got you covered. Don't worry! I got your back.
Here are some tips and tricks on how to take care and beautify your nails. But first, let's take a little trip down history- of nails.
What are nails?
Fingernail: A fingernail is produced by living skin cells in the finger. A fingernail consists of several parts including the nail plate (the visible part of the nail), the nail bed (the skin beneath the nail plate), the cuticle (the tissue that overlaps the plate and rims the base of the nail), the nail folds (the skin folds that frame and support the nail on three sides), the lunula (the whitish half-moon at the base of the nail) and the matrix (the hidden part of the nail unit under the cuticle).
Or in other words; the flattish horny part on the upper surface of the tip of each finger.
How important are nails?
Let's admit it, we pay more attention to our hair than our nails or any parts of our body on that matter. But, what you didn't know is your nails are as important as your hair and the rest of your body.
Did you know that your nails are made of dead cells, just like your hair? You might pay attention to how your hair looks, but you probably don't give your nails a whole lot of thought. But they're an important part of your body and come in handy. Just think how tough it would be to scratch an annoying itch if you didn't have nails. Or to pick up a penny from the ground. They not only help you do things, but your nails protect your fingers and toes. Also, the look of your nails sometimes can help doctors tell if you are healthy or sick.
Nail Biting.
Now, I won't even lie to you guys about this fact. I know it's really disgusting but I don't do it all the time. Yes, I do bite my nails. I do bite them when I'm nervous. Leave a comment if you do too, let's not be ashamed about this. We all know someone somewhere also does this. It's a habit guys, all kids do this. Let's be honest. But we need to stop this habit. I did some research and here are the reasons that I found why we nail biters should stop.
- It can make the skin around your nails bleed and your fingers feel sore.
- Your nails really look bad when you bite them. If you do it long enough, they could look bad forever.
- You could get an infection in your fingers. That's because when you bite your nails, you can create little open sores that let in germs. Nail biting can cause problems with your teeth, and even an infection in your gums. It's bad news.
The good news is fewer adults bite their nails than kids, which means as they get older, lots of people just stop doing it. In the meantime, try to pay more attention to when you bite your fingernails, and stop yourself when you are. If you have a hard time, you might want to ask your mom or dad to buy special stuff at the store to put on your nails. It makes them taste awful. It won't hurt you, but as soon as you start to bite, you'll get that awful taste, which will remind you to stop.
Nail Care Tips and Tricks.
Here are some do's and don'ts in nail care.
Do:
- Keep them short and clean. Use a good nail clipper or a small nail scissors to cut them every week or two. If you let your nails get too long, they're more likely to break and to get germs under them that can make you sick.
- Cut them in the shape of the tip of your finger, kind of straight across but a little round at the sides so they're strong.
- Cut your toenails straight across, using a clipper designated for toenails. This will help prevent an ingrown toenail.
- Some people use a nail file or emery board (it looks like a popsicle stick with rough surfaces) to smooth the ends of their nails. Make sure that the file is not old and dull. It will work better if it is new. Rub it back and forth very gently along the end of your nail to remove any rough edges.
- Ask your mom or dad for help if you don't know how to cut your nails.
- Dry your hands really well after washing them, or getting them wet.
- Rub lotion on your fingernails, especially when your hands feel dry.
- Eating a healthy balanced diet keeps your nails strong.
- Change your socks every day.
- Wear flip flops in public showers and at the pool to prevent infections caused by a fungus that can get in your toenails.
- Bite your nails or pick at the skin around your nails. It can cause an infection and it hurts, too!
- Pry or poke at things with your nails. This can damage them.
- Cut or push back the cuticles, the tiny sliver of skin where your nail grows out your finger. That can lead to infection.
- Use nail-polish remover more than twice a month. It's really hard on your nails.
- Use acrylic nails (artificial nails) as these can be very harmful to your nail and are not recommended.
- Wear shoes that are too tight, which can cramp your toes.
If you are having problems with your nails, ask your parents to take you to a skin doctor (dermatologist).
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Let's take a moment. How cute is this?
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