Tricks of the fingertips
14 Jan 2011 17:00 PM |
Posted by Editor
You asked us how you can strengthen your nails and, well…we couldn’t possibly leave your burning beauty questions unanswered, so here goes – a few tips and tricks to help you sport the strongest, healthiest looking nails this side of the tool section in Bunnings!
Top tip #1: Don’t bite your nails!
Not only do your teeth tear your nails unevenly (hello unkempt and scraggly-looking fingertips!), but your saliva will also weaken them, making them more prone to breaking and splitting. If you need a bit of extra help, try Manicare Stop That – the bitter taste you’ll get every time you put your nails in your mouth is bound to turn you off biting!
Top tip #2: Treat the problem
If your nails are discoloured or continually splitting, it could be the result of a fungal infection. These are often picked up at quick-fix nail salons that are a bit lax on the hygiene levels, so before you get your nails done anywhere, be sure to ask if their tools and equipment are properly sterilized. If you are suffering from a nail infection, try Bio Sculpture Anti-Fungal Treatment, or if it persists, see your doctor for a medicated treatment.
Top tip #3: Rectify those ridges
Sick of sporting uneven polish because of the grooves in your nails? Then it’s time to get those ridges filled – stat! Try Essie Ridge Filling Base Coat under your polish, for a smoother, more even-looking nail bed. It’s also great to use in conjunction with a nail strengthener, which will ensure that your nails don’t split or crack down the ridges. Try Revitanail Sensitive Nail Strengthener.
What’s your biggest nail woe?
Member Comments
(38)
Posted by:
bebeautiful34
(Australia)
I always pick at the sides of my nails and bite at the skin, so while my nails look good, the skin around them look ragged and dry :(
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 5:13pm)
Posted by:
beautyqueen95♥
(Australia)
Same as bebeautiful. And I have the habit of picking up normal scissors to trim :( Can't help it, need a manicurist on hand 24/7 to treat whatever I have done!
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 5:44pm)
Posted by:
Elunia
(Australia)
I've never biten my nails or had a fungal infection. Even though my nails look great they are thin and weak and therefore I cannot grow them without the help of nail polish or else they easily bend which really get on my nerves. I used to get dry skin around the sides of my nails but since I used cuticle oil all around my nails that problem has gone away.
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 6:12pm)
Posted by:
Sumaya
(Australia)
My nails are very weak and i can never grow them long because they are always breaking. I always wished i had gorgeous, strong, natural nails that i could grow long without having to get nail extensions.
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 6:25pm)
Posted by:
Cansah77
()
Great tips! Thank you
guiltlessbeauty.blogspot.com
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 6:26pm)
Posted by:
melmeko
(Member since 2007, Australia)
Peeling nails, still to this day, many many products later I still have not found the magic solution :(
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 6:42pm)
Posted by:
softness
(Member since 2007, Australia)
I've found that because I do soooooooo much washing and my hands often get in contact with the washing powder and water also from doing housework (exciting I know!) I find my nails flake on the ends unless I have a nurturing base coat on/nurturing nail product on. (Well, I think it's the wash powder/housework situo but it could possibly be my age as I've only noticed they've been doing this for around the last year or so).
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 8:28pm)
Posted by:
Jannz
(Australia)
I was a serious nail biter from childhood to around age 15 (even my toe nails - I know it's so gross). I eventually stopped because I really wanted a french manicure and couldn't have one with awful bitten nails. My nails are still pretty weak and sometimes peel, so I occasionally tear or bite them off. Sometimes I rip parts of my cuticles off and I get rough bits of skin and cuts around the nails.
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 9:23pm)
Posted by:
Amydeville
(Australia)
mine like to go a little flaky! it's so annoying but I want to give bio sculpture a go and hopefully get them nice healthy and strong!
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 10:27pm)
Posted by:
Cassxoxo
(Australia)
My nails are so weak. If they get too long, they BEND. And by long, I mean, longer than my finger. It's so sad.
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 10:39pm)
Posted by:
Serena86
(Australia)
My cuticles get horrible at times and I buy all these cuticle creams and swear to myself I'll use them but that only lasts about a week. A couple of my nails also don't grow straight. If they get any length to them they start to curl in on one corner. I've never been a biter though
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 10:57pm)
Posted by:
Pippirose
(Australia)
My nails are pretty strong, strogest when they are untouched and unshaped, when my nails are squared they tend to chip, rip, flake within a couple of days, and I have weird looking nails too; thumbs round, pointers round, middle fingers fan out , ring fingers square and pinkies square but I would rather them strong instead of week :)
Posted on:
January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 11:12pm)
Posted by:
dancr
(Member since 2008, Australia)
I need to 'Stop That'
Posted on:
January 15, 2011 (Jan 15, 2011 8:38am)
Posted by:
keppers
(Member since 2007, Australia)
I bite my nails but they generally stay pretty strong. I only put nail polish on occasionally but once it starts to chip I can;t stop myself from pulling the rest off.
Posted on:
January 15, 2011 (Jan 15, 2011 10:55am)
Posted by:
jatz
(Member since 2008, Australia)
As long as I wear hardener, my nails do get strong. Just general cleaning though, I can't have very long nails because they then break. I have noticed though, I must always wear a hardener otherwise my nails seem to go soft and then bend.
My cuticles are okay except for middle finger on right hand. Am thinking maybe I should use a cuticle oil on it, because it's always hard and then I have to cut and trim some off. (i know thats wrong).
Posted on:
January 15, 2011 (Jan 15, 2011 2:31pm)
Posted by:
bluerose
(Member since 2007, Australia)
My nails are extremely bendy, they are not brittle, but they do bend very easily. When I was a child I used to bite my nails all the time, my mother would put the yucky-tasting polish-stuff on them. What really stopped me biting my nails however was when I got braces and my teeth were too sore to bite my nails!!
Posted on:
January 15, 2011 (Jan 15, 2011 3:32pm)
Posted by:
GoddessMagick
(Member since 2007, Australia)
I have permanent soft tissue damage to my big toe after an incident 2yrs back so my nail is always causing me problems :( The worst is the pain it gets and the fact that the whole nail had to grow back twice after coming away leaves it still in healing mode. Eeek! My other nails are in pretty good shape. Some clever quick tips here and solutions, very handy.
Posted on:
January 15, 2011 (Jan 15, 2011 3:35pm)
Posted by:
Vanessa Kiddo
(Australia)
i use Avons Long and Strong but im not too sure if they make it anymore
Posted on:
January 15, 2011 (Jan 15, 2011 4:00pm)
Posted by:
msrayray
(Australia)
My nails are strong and hard plus they grow quite quickly. I must have got it from my mum. :) I do get the occasional peelings when I filed too much on the sides making them weaker. I don't have the common habit of biting them at all. However my biggest and worst nail woe is when I sometimes clean too deep underneath the free edge making a few of the side walls to sink in more than normal. Not sure if I'm making sense.
Posted on:
January 15, 2011 (Jan 15, 2011 5:22pm)
Posted by:
Hippy
(Australia)
I still bite them now and then .. i don't even realise I'm doing it.
Posted on:
January 15, 2011 (Jan 15, 2011 7:45pm)
Posted by:
Ruby77
(Australia)
I've been a nail biter since very young, trying to break the habit but My nails are really weak once they get to a certain length anyway!
Posted on:
January 15, 2011 (Jan 15, 2011 8:29pm)
Posted by:
emilyhollywood
(Australia)
I'm starting to get weird ridges running across my nails which is... erm weird.
Posted on:
January 16, 2011 (Jan 16, 2011 12:10pm)
Posted by:
pepsilid
(Member since 2007, Australia)
I have been taking care of my nail- the only downfall is they are a little week. They seem to break just as I get them at a nice length.
Posted on:
January 16, 2011 (Jan 16, 2011 2:11pm)
Posted by:
VivaliciousChic
(Australia)
i used to have really really fragile nails and they break too easily. Ever since i lose few kilos and introduce much healthier diet and less on my sugar, my nails are stronger than ever!! they dont break anymore (or even as often but so far this is the first time my nails have realy grow fairly long in a long time!!)
Posted on:
January 16, 2011 (Jan 16, 2011 3:53pm)
Posted by:
rang
(Australia)
i had having ridges on my nails so i buff then away
Posted on:
January 16, 2011 (Jan 16, 2011 4:55pm)
Comment on this article
Posted by: bebeautiful34 (Australia)
I always pick at the sides of my nails and bite at the skin, so while my nails look good, the skin around them look ragged and dry :(
Posted on: January 14, 2011 (Jan 14, 2011 5:13pm)