Nail care - Myths and Facts

Nail care - Myths and Facts

There exist a lot of myths regarding the functions and maintenance of nails. To maintain one’s nails in good condition one should have awareness about the true functions of nails. Blindly following the existing myths regarding care to nails invite unnecessary trouble and complications.

Here are some myths and realities in connection with the maintenance and functions of nails.

• Nail polish and nail enamel will protect and make nails strong.

This is not true. The fact is that nail polish and nail enamels can do nothing to enhance the quality of your nail. Instead continuous wearing of nail polish and nail enamel may destroy the natural texture of one’s nail. It is advisable to leave your nails without nail polish at least for a week every month to enable it to breath.

• Eating gelatin and drinking milk will help you to avoid splitting of top layer of nails

This is also a false belief. The nails are actually made of hard protein known as keratin. Drinking of milk may help you to strengthen your nail by providing calcium to your body. But splitting of top layers of nails has nothing to do with calcium deficiency.

• Hand cream is enough for nails

The fact is that nails absorb moisture faster than skin and also it dries up speedily. So nails require creams rich in moisturizers and frequent application is necessary when compared to skin.

• It is healthy to cut cuticles often

Contrary to this belief, cutting of cuticles will not do any good for the nails. In stead it will make the finger nails as well as toe nails more prone to infections. One can remove cuticles by using cuticle removers and not by actually cutting the cuticles.

• All beauty saloons are safe places to do nails treatments

This also seems to be a myth. Undergoing nail treatments like manicure and pedicure in a beauty parlor that do not follow strict hygiene standards will not be safe. Before you go to a beauty parlor ensure that they are sterilizing all the metal instruments used for treatment and that they are using quality products to treat your nails.

• Dark nail colours cause discoloration of nails

This belief also is not true. Dark nail colours never cause discoloration of nails.