By Rita Chioma

As ladies, there are certain things we  need to do to keep our finger nails healthy and strong. We should always look out for the health of our nails and watch them flourish.

Below are the 5 habits for strong and healthy nails.

1. Give Your Nails a Break

Once in a while,  give your nails time to rest and repair with a clear, glossy top coat. Also, make your nails so extra good by applying a nail treatment under the glossy top coat or get one that’s already infused with some beneficial treatments for your nails. Going from one strong polish colour to another without giving your nails a break, can dry them out, turn them yellow, and over time, even weaken the structure of the nail.

2. Always Moisturize

You wouldn’t go to sleep without moisturizing your face or go through the day without drinking water, so why should your nails be any different? Using a mix of oils (try Almond and Avocado Oil) at night, helps to keep your cuticles and nails hydrated while you get some sleep, but any nutrient-rich oil or moisturizer will do. A quick tip to do when you have no oil and your nails are noticeably dry, use a dab of lip balm.

3. Use Protection

Whenever you’re cleaning with harsh chemicals, gardening, or doing anything that involves soaking or dirtying your hands, wear rubber, vinyl, nitrile or plastic gloves, preferably with a cotton liner inside. Cleaning dishes in hot, soapy water without gloves can weaken the nails, while getting them caked with dirt from gardening will require a level of cleaning that you want to avoid completely.

4. Consider Your Diet

Your fingernails are made of a protein called Keratin, so just as with the clarity of your skin or the shine of your hair, you can improve your nails by tweaking your diet. Add vitamins and supplements like Biotin, Vitamin E, and Fish Oil to your daily regimen and/or increase your intake of protein-rich foods like beans, fish, and nuts. Once you hit on the combination that works for you, you’ll be rewarded with stronger, clearer nails.

5. Value Health Over Length

Long nails are beautiful, but if you’re someone who has struggled with snags or breakage, keep your nails short — at least to start out with. A shorter style with a rounded edge tends to be easier to manage and looks neater, so you can focus on building strength without worrying about anything else. As long as each nail is uniform in shape and matches its nine neighbours, you won’t miss the added length.

Photo credit: http://new-beautyblog.com/