When we talk about nail beauty, I don’t think we ever discuss about nail health. It’s always about nail art, nail polishes, and what not! Your nails deserve as much attention as your skin and hair do.

Read on to learn all the ways in which you are mishandling your nails, and the ways to undo them.

1. Nail Biting:

You’ve always been told that you should stop biting your nails because it’s “bad for you”. But why is it bad?

Biting your finger nails not only looks gross, but also leaves uneven, ragged and infected nails. By doing so, our mouth is filled with tons of bacteria and yeast. Regular biting can also lead to bacterial infections in the nails, which affect the skin on the sides of the nails. The easiest fix to this is to stop biting! Well, it’s easier to say than to follow if you are habituated to nail biting, but hey, you need to stop it ASAP!

2. Keeping Your Nails Too Long:

Longer nails are more likely to tear, break, and are easily prone to infections. The more free the surface, the more the debris can get lodged under your nails. It’s always hygienic to have shorter nails. You can say your nails have a healthy length when you turn your hand over, and you can see nothing more than the tip of your nail.

3. Messing With Your Cuticles:

Do you ever pick at your cuticles? I am sure you do! When the cuticles break, it leaves them open for bacteria to attack, and they get some nasty infections throughout.

Always apply some cuticle cream before you go to bed to keep them soft. Vaseline can also be used as an alternative to cuticle cream.

4. Peeling Nail Polish Off:

Peeling off the nail polish damages your nails very badly. By doing so, you are actually removing the top layer by lifting those cells. White patches and bumps over your nails are the evidence of stripped-off cells.

5. Using Nail Polish Remover:

Taking off nail polish with any formula containing acetone can seriously dry them out. Although you can also go with an acetone-free formula, those products contain ethyl acetate, which is again a drying agent.

Looking for a solution? Try to polish your nails less frequently. By doing so, you reduce the usage of nail polish remover. If you’re someone who paints nails matching with your outfit, then it’s time to cease instantly. If you really feel that your nails need a break, then only consider applying nail polish. Nails have an amazing ability to repair themselves – and don’t ruin them by exposing them to too many chemicals! Taking a break for about two to three weeks can be really helpful!

6. Getting Gel Manicures:

There’s no doubt that gel manicures are long lasting and durable, but there is a bitter truth about them. Studies have proved that gel manicures lead to nail thinning. However, it’s unclear if nail thinning is caused due to the chemical issues related with gel, or because of the acetone soaking, or due to the procedure itself. These can dehydrate the nails severely.

Can you even imagine what will be the effect of gel nail polish on your nails after two weeks? This is what it does – it dries your nail beds; they become brittle and can even crack.

7. Cleaning Stuff Without Hand Gloves:

Exposing your nails to household cleansing products can over dry and strip them. These products contain bleach that can weaken the nails. Prolonged exposure of hands to water can also contribute to weakening the nails. Though you may feel weird and awkward, you just need to put on your gloves and take a step ahead towards healthy nails!

8. Not Maintaining A Proper Diet:

The food makes the person – hence we are the food that we eat!

An unhealthy and poor diet can undermine your nails. Food rich in iron and protein is the key to healthy hair and nails. That’s why people suffering from anaemia have weak nails. Vitamin B helps to strengthen brittle nails.

Are you a victim of any of the above habits? What did you do? Share your experiences with us by commenting in the box below.

The post These 8 Habits Are Destroying Your Nails, And You May Not Even Know About It! appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

by Jyotsana rao via STYLECRAZE