Do You Want Better Looking Hands: Protect Your Nails

Your hands are the best tools you have, bet you never thought of your hands that way. They are on the go all the time, never stopping until you sleep. They cook, clean, type, plant, sew, and many other things that expose them to the elements and harsh chemicals. Did you know that healthy fingernails make for better-looking hands!

So as you spruce up your home and garden this spring, take special care that you don't ruin your nails. Here are some practical suggestions for keeping you nails healthy.

Cleaning up
Keep your nails tidy while doing household chores. Did you know that nails swell when they get wet and then shrink as they dry? Swelling and shrinking too frequently exhausts their strength.

To prevent this, wear cotton- lined rubber gloves while washing dishes or when using liquid cleaning products. They also protect nails from scraping and bending when you use abrasive scrubbing pads and cleaning brushes.

Working in the garden
Gardening can do a number on your nails, but as with cleaning, wearing the right gloves is the key. A water-resistant pair made of rubber is good while dealing with damp soil or liquid fertilizers and chemicals.

Thicker pairs made of cowhide create a barrier from the impact of heavier projects such as digging or weeding. The tougher the job, the thicker the gloves need to be. Some gardeners don't like to wear gloves when working with small plants or doing small jobs, but you can wear a thick layer of hand cream as a line of defense. You can even rub the cream into your cuticles and under your nails.

If you are an avid gardener, you should trim your nails regularly, as shorter nails are less likely to split and crack.

On the mend
Repair cracks with nail glue or formaldehyde-free polish. Prevent future cracks by rubbing moisturizer that contains alpha-hydroxy acids or lanolin into nail tips, or massage vitamin E oil into cuticles as another moisturizing agent.

Using non-acetone polish remover to prevent over drying. And always file and buff nails in one direction, because sawing back and forth can cause splitting.

Telltale nails
Insight into your health is right at your fingertips. Most experts agree that healthy nails are smooth with no discoloration. But some signs may indicate problems. For instance, "Beau's lines," or white ridges, may surface after you've experienced a traumatic or stressful event. Ask your physician about anything that appears unusual.

Here are some tips for your tips

1. Before you put on your gloves, slather on a heavy-duty hand cream
2. Hygiene tools can transmit infections, so consider purchasing a personal manicure and pedicure set to take to the salons.
3.For your cuticles, use moisturizing salve or hand cream that contains oil such as canola, nut, flower, jojoba, shea butter, or eucalyptus.
4. To treat a nail fungus, add a few drops of grapefruit seed extract to drinking water, or rub tea oil on your tips to keep it from spreading. Find these products at your local health food store or online.
5. Eat foods that contain folic acids, such as berries, kale, whole grains, and citrus fruits, promote nail strength and flexibility.
6. To increase firmness and density in nails, eat foods such as peanuts, eggs, fish, and soybeans.
7. Fatty acids found in salmon and flaxseed oil create glossy nails.
8. Sulfur in garlic, onion, and dairy products increases nail flexibility.
9. Drink plenty of water and fruit juices.
10. For dry and brittle nails eat food that is rich in vitamin A and calcium.
11. Make time for regular manicures.