Tips & Tricks

Have you ever sat down to paint your nails and find that your favorite nail polish has thickened and gotten all... goopy in the bottle? Ugh! I hate that! In my experience, most nail polishes just thicken over time, and it's likely, unless you have a certain color that you use all the time, that you have a few bottles that you've given up on. Well, have no fear, your favorite bottle of enamel can be salvaged (if it hasn't completely hardened to the point of no return)!

1. Use a nail polish thinner. There are a few thinners on the market, but the one that I've heard the most about is Seche Restore. It costs less than $5 per bottle and from what I hear, it's great! Product Review to come. . .

2. Use a few drops of acetone nail polish remover. This is my TRIED AND TRUE (and economical) solution to thinning out thickened nail polish. Be warned, using too much acetone can ruin your nail polish all together, so I'd say use a little dropper and adding one small drop of acetone at a time to your nail polish, shaking your enamel vigorously after each addition. After 2 to 3 drops, depending on the state of the nail polish, you'll be good to go!

Let me know how it goes :)

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Here's an interesting Nail Fact:
Did you know that activities such as playing the piano, typing and tapping your nails on a hard surface can help them to grow faster? Doing any of these will stimulate blood flow to the nail bed, which helps nails to grow! So the next time your co-worker start annoyingly tapping their fingernails on their desk, join in! :-)

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Strong Foundation

Hello Darlings! As I sit typing my first blog on 'Hard As Nailz!', I find myself looking at my nails as I tap away at the keyboard, which is something I rarely do. I remember a time that it was necessary for me to look at my fingers whenever I typed. Not because I didn't know where the keys were, but because I had long acrylic nails attached to my fingers that hindered my normally 75 wpm typing skills. I was a total slave to acrylic nails.

Every two weeks, without fail, I went to my neighborhood nail salon for a "fill" on my acrylic nails. Truth is, I wore them because my nails underneath were short, stubby and brittle. Being a nail-biter didn't help one bit, either. When I did get my natural nails to grow out a bit, they would be soft and break very easily. Acrylic nails offered a quick cure for my unsightly fingertips, but the harsh acrylic on my already brittle nails, made them weaker and weaker. I had absolutely no idea how to achieve the beautiful, strong nails that I longed for. After some time and a lot of changes, I am now pleased with my hard, strong, and might I add, healthy nails.

So before we can get into the fun stuff (nail polishes, nail art, etc), we have to be sure to start out with a strong foundation. Here are some things you can try at home to get your natural nails into tip top shape! (FYI: These work for your toenails as well).

1. Keep your nails hydrated!
Hydrated nails are healthy nails. Instead of going out to purchase cuticle oil, rub a tiny amount of petroleum jelly   into your cuticles before bed. Olive oil is also a great option for hydrating your nails, as well as Castor Oil, which contains Vitamin E.

2. Take your vitamins.
We all know that Vitamin E and Calcium are excellent nutrients for the health of our skin and nails. Did you know that Biotin (or Vitamin H) also works wonders? It's a natural substance in foods and is also available as a supplement in vitamin aisle of your local drug store. It helps the body metabolize fat and proteins for healthy skin and hair.  Biotin is a natural component in many of the foods that you eat, such as carrots, eggs, tomatoes, cow's milk, strawberries and walnuts, among others. If you choose to take the supplement, the recommended dosage is 30 to 100mcg daily. I've tried it and I think it works wonders.

3. Keep your nails natural.

Just like myself, I'm sure a lot of you have opted for artificial nail enhancements, but if you're looking to improve the healthy and appearance of your own natural nails, then stay away from them! Acrylics and gels deprive your nails of natural light and air and the chemicals increase your risk for a fungal infection. Not to mention the damage done to your nail plate when removing the acrylic... sheesh!

4. Keep your nails dry.
Wear gloves when doing household chores, such as washing dishes. Nails are weaker when wet and not drying them properly can lead to bacteria growth beneath your nails, increasing the risk of fungal infection. Also, use cotton socks to absorb sweat when wearing tennis shoes. Remember to dry nails and toenails properly after swimming or bathing. Wet nails are weak and weak nails break!

5. Learn how to file your nails properly.
Avoid filing your nails back and forth. This sawing action can cause chipping. File your name in a unidirectional manner. Even if your trying to grow your nails out, it's best to file them about once per week  to keep the edges smooth and chip free. 

6. Wear nail polish.
Even if it's just a clear coat. It protects your nails and keeps them hard. Nail polish should last about a week but after removing, give your nails some time to breathe before reapplying.

7. Buff away!
Buffing encourages blood flow to the nail bed and the smooth, shiny surface is a plus! Use a fine buffer for better results and remember to buff in a unidirectional manner.

8. Above all, EAT RIGHT! 
A healthy diet is irreplaceable when it comes to healthy hair, skin and nails.

There are tons of tips and tricks that are useful in attaining and maintaining beautiful healthy nails. We'll explore them all through the various posts so stay tuned!

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