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The condition of your nails can serve as an early-warning system signaling changes in health. Protein, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can make nails brittle and breakable.
To keep your nails in tip-top shape, try following these nail care basics from fashion model Dawn Gallagher, author of Naturally Beautiful: Earth's Secrets and Recipes for Skin, Body and Spirit:
- To treat and prevent peeling, avoid harsh nail polish removers, detergents, chemicals and dark nail polishes. To speed up recovery, cut your nails short, buff them, then apply vitamin E oil or lotion twice a day. Try not to polish for three to four weeks.
- For brittle nails, massage with castor oil daily for one month.
- For discolored nails, rub fresh lemon juice around the nail base.
- Give nails a break from polish. Allow them to breathe for at least one day a week and for one week every month or so.
- Before polishing, apply some vinegar. It cleans the nails, providing a more even surface for the polish, so it will last longer.
- To strengthen weak nails, soak daily for five minutes in warm olive oil or apple cider vinegar.
- For nails that are stained or dirty, use a Q-tip or orangewood stick with a cotton tip soaked in water mixed with a little bleach, then rub directly on the stain. You can also use an old toothbrush or nail brush with a soap or bleach solution to scrub nails and remove stains.
- To stimulate circulation to your nails, press down for about 10 seconds on the moon (the round part at the bottom) of each nail. Repeat two to three times.
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