How To Strengthen Brittle Nails?
Don’t forget that your nails are not tools for opening containers or scratching labels. All these actions end up weakening them and causing them to break down to the minimum of effort.
Brittle nails are a common problem that can usually be solved with some very simple measures. Some of them are: applying a moisturizing cream or lotion to your hands (with emphasis on the nails), stop using your nails as an instrument to open things and, believe it or not, improve your diet.
Do you feel that your nails are weak and that they open in layers all the time? Do they break easily? If this is your case, you should bear in mind that the above measures are not the only ones that you can put into practice.
Tips to avoid brittle nails
Cleaning the home without gloves, lack of moisture daily, fungus or cold are just some of the reasons why nails break or break easily, especially on the edge of the finger (where it is most often disturb).
To avoid having brittle nails, it is advisable to apply the following tips that we are going to comment on below.
1. Always wash dishes with gloves
This also applies to scrubbing floors, washing windows, etc. Cleaning supplies contain chemicals that damage the skin and nails. Also, being in continuous contact with hot or cold water is not good for your hands.
2. Eat more protein and fatty acids
Nails are often weak because the body lacks nutrients. You may have to review your diet. Start including white meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables, and soy to add more protein. In the case of fatty acids, they are found in nuts, dairy products, and oils and seeds.
3. Don’t use your nails as tools
The nails are not scissors, they do not open caps, they do not remove labels, they do not clean surfaces. For all this use the right utensils. The daily tasks solved using the nails, instead of doing them any good, they weaken them.
4. Do not bite or put them in your mouth
Beyond the fact that bitten nails are not pretty or that you will be carrying all the germs from your fingers to your mouth, these bad habits cause the nails to weaken and soften.
5. Keep your nails short
In addition to being trending these days, it will prevent them from breaking or breaking so easily. It would also be good if you did not scratch the enamel when it starts to peel off because that weakens the surface.
6. Beware of nail products
The nail polish remover is very aggressive for the nails. You should limit its use to once a week or look for more natural alternatives, such as pads with natural oils.
It is also recommended to avoid using artificial nails or hardeners, because they refine the original nail. In addition, removing them will tear off part of the surface, which can lead to brittle nails. It is also recommended not to always have them painted. Let them rest at least one day a week (for example, Sunday).
7. Get a manicure once a week
You can go to the beauty salon or do it yourself at home. You should not forget about a good exfoliation, filing and even massages with essential oils (or olive).
8. Repair nails instantly
If a nail breaks, it is convenient that you repair it as soon as possible so that it does not pass to adults. To do this, you can cut or file it, but it will be different from the rest. Another option is to apply a drop of glue and place a piece of tea bag paper on top. When it has completely dried, you use the file a little and paint the entire nail with a little clear varnish.
Natural remedies for brittle nails
According to popular wisdom, the following remedies may help treat brittle nails. They should be applied regularly, within a healthy lifestyle. Never in isolation, as they would not give any results.
Onion
It is considered that preparing a paste with fresh onion provides a natural remedy for brittle nails. The reason for its effectiveness would be in the vitamins that this food contains.
According to the Spanish Nutrition Foundation, onions contain proteins, potassium, vitamin C, flavonoids and different sulfur compounds.
Garlic
As in the case of onions, it is believed that by applying the garlic paste on the nails and leaving it to act for several minutes, the nails would be strengthened.
Horse tail
On the other hand, it is also believed that by immersing your hands in the infusion of horsetail, you could improve the health of the cuticles and thus avoid brittle nails.
Olive oil
Applying olive, almond or castor oil can be beneficial for the nails, since it would help to moisturize them and keep them healthy. And in case they are already weakened, it would help to strengthen them.
There are those who apply a few drops of oil to their hands and gently massage the nail with their fingertips, and there are those who soak their nails for a while in oil. Both options are valid and could even be interleaved often.
Adding a drizzle of coconut oil to hand cream and applying a little of it before bed can be an effective remedy for brittle and weak nails.
Nail care should be daily
Eating healthy, hydrating your hands (and by extension, your nails), wearing gloves to clean the house and washing dishes are some of the measures that it would be advisable to practice daily to avoid weakening your nails. Natural remedies can be a complement, but we should not rely only on them.
