Nail Anatomy

 Nail care  No Responses »
Dec 252012
 
Nail Anatomy

Healthy nails are smooth, shiny, and translucent pink colored. They also have a normal growth pattern. Unhealthy nails can have disorders and result in Nail Anatomyabnormal growth.
The technical term for nail is “onyx”. Nails are considered part of the skin; they are made up of keratin, like the skin and hair. But nails are a harder form of keratin than skin and hair. They help to protect and grasp.
The average rate of growth for adult nails is 1/8” per month. Toenails grow even slower. Nails can replace themselves within 3-4 months. They do grow quicker in the summer than the winter. The nail on the middle finger grows the fastest, and the nail on the thumb the slowest.

Parts of the Fingernail:

  1. Nail Plate: Main part of the nail that is attached to the skin at the top layer of the finger. Although it looks like one piece, it is actually formed in layers.
  2. Nail Root: This is where the nail growth begins. It is embedded under the skin at the base of the nail. Continue reading »

Basic Nail Care Tips

 Nail care  No Responses »
Jul 262012
 
Cuticle Care

Beautiful hands and nails are one of the noticeable features in the beauty of overall personality. Though, amid busy routines, sometimes we forget to take proper nail care, but well-kept hands with neat clean and healthy nails are always a pleasure to behold and a sign of beauty. In order to keep your nails beautiful, basic nail care tips are important for your nails.

To get rid of brittle nails, soak it in a bowl of warm water with few drops of lemon juice added to it. Do it for 15 minutes twice a week to have healthy long nails.Drink lots of water and include lot of fresh vegetables and salad in the diet to have shiny and healthy nails.

Chose the right kind of filer to shape your nails. Avoid using metal nail filers as it can rip nails. Lay your hands on wood nail filer or emery boards that are inexpensive and would need frequent replacing. You can also use crystal glass filers that can shape both natural and artificial nails. Moreover it can be easily be sterilized with hot water.

Continue reading »

What exactly is MMA?

 Acrylic Nail Products  No Responses »
Jun 082012
 
mma02

How do I know if I am wearing MMA Acrylic Nails?
How can I avoid MMA?
Are there alternatives to wearing Acrylics?

Definition of MMA

MMA stands for Methyl Methacrylate; a colorless liquid with a sharp, fruity odor. It is typically used to make resins, plastics, and specifically plastic dentures. In the nail industry this dangerous chemical can be found in acrylic liquids/monomers. When MMA acrylic liquid is used the nails are typically referred to as “dental acrylics” or “porcelain nails”. The FDA has prohibited this checmical from being used on fingernails, however some states still have not “banned” this chemical from use in nail salons. Continue reading »

Nail Anatomy

 Featured  No Responses »
Jun 072012
 

Intro

Healthy nails are smooth, shiny, and translucent pink colored. They also have a normal growth pattern. Unhealthy nails can have disorders and result in abnormal growth.
The technical term for nail is “onyx”. Nails are considered part of the skin; they are made up of keratin, like the skin and hair. But nails are a harder form of keratin than skin and hair. They help to protect and grasp.
The average rate of growth for adult nails is 1/8” per month. Toenails grow even slower. Nails can replace themselves within 3-4 months. They do grow quicker in the summer than the winter. The nail on the middle finger grows the fastest, and the nail on the thumb the slowest. Continue reading »

Knock-Out Nails

 Nail care  No Responses »
Jun 052012
 

Your Nail Plate is actually the flat, curved, translucent, hard substance that we know of as the nail. It’s bottom and side edges are surrounded by the Nail Fold, a wedge-shaped fold of skin. The portion of the nail fold that covers the bottom portion of the nail plate is the Cuticle.

The nail plate originates from the Matrix, also known as the mother of the nail. The matrix can be damaged by pushing back the cuticle too aggressively. The area beneath the nail plate is the Nail Bed.   The nail plate adheres to the nail bed through a series of grooves. A damaged nail bed can hinder nail growth.

The half-moon-shaped, light coloring on the bottom of the nail plate is the Lunula. It is caused by the reflection of light where the matrix and the nail bed’s connective tissue meet. Continue reading »

Gel nail polish on natural nails

 Nail Designs, Nail Polish Rack  No Responses »
May 272012
 

Nail gel is a relatively new method of nail care and beautification that has its set of advantages and disadvantages, yet it clearly is the future of nail care. Nail gel provides very thin and clear coat for your nails. It can also provide nutrition and protection to your natural nails. When it comes to nail care, gel nail polish on natural nails has become the best method of nail healing.However, gel nail polish on natural nails still has a few shortcomings. It has to be applied by a nail professional, as it is more difficult to apply. It is also more expensive than the “usual” nail Continue reading »

What’s In a Nail and How Fast Do They Grow?

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May 242012
 

Like your hair, nails are comprised of dead cells that make up a protein called keratin. The hardness of the nail comes from the presence of sulfur in the amino acids binding the keratin of the nails together. Between the layers of keratin are fat and water molecules that make nails shiny and pliable.

Glossary of Nail Terms
The nail bed is the pink part of your nail containing the capillaries that bring nourishment to the matrix, which is the area just beneath the cuticle. The matrix is where new cells are generated, making nails grow. The actual nail is called the nail plate, and the crescent moon at its base is called the lunula. The cuticle is the ribbon of skin at the base of the nail covering the matrix. This flexible strip seals off the finger to the nail, keeping out substances, like bacteria, that can damage the matrix. Continue reading »

Healthy Nails Now

 Nail care  No Responses »
May 192012
 

The best way to make sure your nails are healthy is to moisturize them daily, and care for your cuticles. The cuticle is the nail’s protection between the exposed dead part of the nail and the matrix, where new cells are generated. Removing the cuticle destroys the nail matrix, which is essential to healthy nail growth. On the other hand, you do want to keep cuticles from becoming overgrown, which suffocates nail growth. The solution: Liberally apply a cuticle remover (not cuticle oil or cuticle cream), which will make the cuticle more pliable. Then, take an orangewood stick and anywhere the cuticle skin touches the nail plate, push it back using tiny circular movements. Hold the stick at an angle so that you do this gradually and gently, without going inside the cuticle. Use a moisturizer daily to prevent dryness. Continue reading »

Grooming Cuticles

 Nail care  No Responses »
May 192012
 

Your cuticle is there for a reason; it’s the skin barrier that prevents bacteria from entering your body. Cuticles should not be cut off! On the other hand, you can’t let them grow haywire either, because overgrown cuticles can suffocate nail growth. The solution: Apply a cuticle remover (not a cuticle cream or oil) to the nail. Then, using tiny circular movements, take an orangewood stick and gently push back anywhere the cuticle skin touches the nail plate. Hold the stick at an angle to ensure that you do this gradually and gently, without going above the cuticle. The white stuff left over by the cuticle, the ghost of the cuticle, is called pterygium, and this should be cleaned from the nail as well. Continue reading »

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