Growing and Maintaining Healthy Nails

One of the things I love about awards season is seeing what’s trending. From movies, shows, music, fashion and now that E! has their mani cam, nails are getting some red carpet coverage as well! Lupita Nyong’o pulled off the gold nail beautifully at the SAG awards and we loved Katy Perry’s delicate pink look at the Grammys, as well as the trend to bare all (thanks Kathy Griffin and Anna Faris).

Going bare feels like a bold move and can be intimidating, after all without gel, acrylic or color to cover you up you’re left exposing all the nooks and crannies. But, if you’re ready to bare all, then it’s time to pay attention to the anatomy and treatment of your nails.

Let’s start with a quick run-down of the anatomy of your nail.

1-The Body: Also known as the nail plate, is made of Keratin protein, a key component of skin, hair and nails. This is the part of the nail that most people think of when they refer to “nails”, but like you, your nail is more than just its body!

2-The free edge: Also known as the free margin or distal edge. Think: the part that gets filed when you get a manicure or pedicure. This is also made of keratin and is considered and extension of the epidermis.

3-Laternal Nail Fold: Also known as the nail wall, this layer protects each side of the nail plate.

4-Lunula: Also known as the “small moon”. It has a whitish crescent shape and is found at the base of the nail. It can be most easily seen on the thumb and is hardest to see on the pinky.

5-Eponychium (cuticle): If you can imagine the laternal nail fold is the nail’s walls, then think of this as the nail floor. It is a colorless layer of skin that rides out onto the nail plate. This the usually removed during the manicuring process.

Now that you have a more inclusive understanding of your nails makeup, how can you grow and maintain a healthy nail?

Like we mentioned above, your nails are made up of Keratin, the same key protein that your hair and skin are made of. Do you use conditioner for your hair? Moisturizer for your skin? What about for your nails? Like your hair and skin your nails need moisture as well. Make sure to always moisturize your hands after they are exposed to water (ie: after a shower, bath or swim). Keeping yourself hydrated also helps your nails to maintain a healthy level or moister.

Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning, whether you’re washing dishes or wiping down windows, water and household cleaners are solvents that can wear down your nails resulting in dry, split, peeling or brittle nails.

Be conscious of how you use your hands, they are great tools no doubt, but they are not “tools” Don’t use your nails to open letters, boxes, peel tape, or scratch off that little stuck on piece of dirt on your counter, it’s worth the extra minute it takes to find an envelope opener for your mail or a sponge for your counter (I’ll admit to being all to guilty of this one myself)!

A weekly manicure (even without color) is important to maintain the care of your nail’s free edges and cuticles. When you do get color, be sure to take off the nail polish properly. Peeling it off will aggravate the nail bed and lead to damage.

Luckily this is one part of the body that rejuvenates itself regularly, an average adults nails grow 1/10th of an inch each month, so if you forget to (or don’t have time to) follow the steps above you’ll have an entirely new nail to work with in just six months!