Benefits & Tips for Nail Treatments
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Hangnails
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Nail Polish
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Toenail Fungus & Bacteria
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Toe Nails
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Growth
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Balance
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Visiting a nail technician
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What about home care
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Your technician
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Trimming or Cutting
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Ingrown Toenail Prevention
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Removal of Acrylic Nails
Facts
Nail polish CAN discolor your nails. Technically covering your nails in polish is fine; the nail is "dead" skin cells so it doesn't need to breath. However, the nail absorbs moisture & so it can pick up some of the chemicals in the nail polish. This might dry out the nail & cause it to become stained (yellow or blue) if the polish is left on to long. To prevent this discoloration is to use a base coat on the nails to seal them before applying color.
Interesting Facts: Nail Polish
They are essentially bits of the nail cuticle that become dry & brittle & separate from the skin. Hangnails are caused by a number of things: exposure to harsh chemicals (cleaning agents), nutritional deficiencies & bad manicures & pedicures. Moisturizing the hangnail itself with petroleum jelly or even lip balm may help. Cutting away at its attachment point is the quickest and easiest solution. Epson salt soaks in warm water daily or a home paraffin bath may also be a great helpful tool to keep these at bay and add much needed moisture to your hand
Interesting Facts: Hangnails
Interesting Facts: Toenail Fungus & Bacteria
Nails grow faster is the summer & warmer climates.Toenails are made up of keratin - the same protein as hair. Fingernails grow 4 times faster than toenails. On average fingernails grow 3.5mm per month, while toenails grow about 1.6mm per month.
Interesting Facts: Toenails growth
Fungi & bacteria lurk between our toenails & skin beneath them. Other crap like dead skin cells, dirt, debris & any lotion you use end up there too. You might think your toenails look super clean but think again they are not (sorry!). They are microscopically filthy almost all the time. It's recommended to wash your feet at least once a day in lukewarm water with mild soap & drying thoroughly. Tiny Tidbit: To dry your feet properly. Pull your towel away from you as you are drying. Don't pat or pull towards you as this leaves all the debris on you or clogging your nails. Also air drying leaves all debris on you to collect and possibly grow into something.
Interesting Facts: Toenail Fungus & Bacteria
Home Care
The best way to cut toenails at home
Cutting your toenails properly is an important step in preventing painful ingrown toenails — a condition when nails curve and grow into the skin, which often leads to pain and sometimes to infection. There are six main components or steps to cutting your toenails properly. 1. Nail clippers: The first step is to use the proper nail-cutting tool. Nail clippers or manicure scissors are appropriate. Avoid tools such as regular scissors or knives that aren’t specifically designed for cutting nails. You should have two nail clippers — one for your fingers and one for your toes. Since your toenails are broader and thicker, they require a larger clipper. Also, by having separate clippers, you reduce the chance of transferring bacteria or fungus between your feet and hands. Make sure to clean your clippers thoroughly between each use. 2. Cut frequency: The second step is the frequency of cutting. Most people’s toenails grow about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) a month, so it’s appropriate to cut them every four to six weeks. That being said, if you are a very active person or an athlete — especially a runner — you will probably be more comfortable if you trim them more often. 3. Cutting wet or dry nails: The third step is answering a common question: “Should I cut my nails before or after I shower?” In most cases, the answer is “before.” Dry toenails are less likely to bend or tear when you cut them, so you will get a cleaner cut. For people with very thick toenails, cutting will be easier after a shower. 4. Time between cuts: The fourth step is determining how long to leave your toenails following the cut. This is important, because cutting your toenails too short could heighten your risk for ingrown toenails. If you leave your toenails too long, they are more likely to get caught on something and tear. It’s recommended that you maintain your toenails at a length of about 1 to 2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.08 inches). 5. Cutting the nail: The fifth step is the actual cut. To avoid painful ingrown toenails, cut your toenails straight across. For many people, this is easiest to do in two cuts — the first one with the clippers slightly off the side of the nail to create a straight edge; the second to remove the rest of the nail following the line of the straight cut. 6. Filing the nail: The sixth and final step is to file your nails with an emery board to smooth any jagged edges that could snag and potentially tear the nail as it grows. How to cut thick toenails (seek professional help; a nail technician or podiatrist): Your toenails might be thick for any of a number of reasons, including: fungal infection, such as onychomycosis psoriasis, a skin condition that causes rapid cell build up on the skin’s surface injury tight-fitting shoes To properly cut your thick toenails, follow these steps: Soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes to soften your nails, and then use a towel to thoroughly dry your feet and toenails. Using a nail clipper, make small cuts to avoid splintering the nail and cut straight across. To lessen the chance of the nail becoming ingrown, don’t round off the corners. Use an emery board to smooth edges and corners that could snag. If your thickened toenails are painful or you don’t think that you can safely cut your toenails without help, ask your technician for advice.
Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. The result is pain, inflamed skin, swelling and, sometimes, an infection. Ingrown toenails usually affect the big toe. Often you can take care of ingrown toenails on your own. If the pain is severe or spreading, your health care provider can take steps to relieve your discomfort and help you avoid complications of ingrown toenails. If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet, you're at greater risk of complications of ingrown toenails. Symptoms: Ingrown toenail symptoms include: Pain and tenderness Inflamed skin Swelling Infection When to see a doctor: See your health care provider if you: Experience severe discomfort in a toe, pus or inflamed skin that seems to be spreading Have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow to the feet and you have a foot sore or infection Causes: Causes of ingrown toenails include: Wearing shoes that crowd the toenails Cutting toenails too short or not straight across Injuring a toenail Having very curved toenails Nail infections Certain medical conditions Risk factors: Factors that increase your risk of ingrown toenails include: Being an adolescent, when feet tend to perspire more, which softens the nail and skin Having nail care habits that encourage the nail to grow into the skin, such as cutting the nails too short or rounding the corners Having a reduced ability to care for your nails Wearing shoes that constrict the toes Participating in activities, such as running and kicking, that put your toes at risk of injury Having a condition, such as diabetes, that causes poor blood flow Complications: Complications can be especially severe if you have diabetes, which can cause poor blood flow and damaged nerves in the feet. So a minor foot injury — a cut, scrape, corn, callus or ingrown toenail — may not heal properly and become infected.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown Toenails Facts: Prevention
These HURT & here's why:
When a toenail is cut too short or trimmed down to much at the corners, the sharp edge of the nail digs into the skin. As the nail continues to grow out it moves in deeper, curving downward & creating a painful recession in the side of the toes. If left untreated the deformed skin attempts to protect itself by becoming inflamed. Inflammation may escalate into an infection, which can lead to pretty intense pain. OUCH!
To help prevent an ingrown toenail. Trim your toenails straight across. Don't curve your nails to match the shape of the front of your toe. If you get a pedicure, ask the person doing it to trim your nails straight across. If you have a condition that causes poor blood flow to the feet and you can't trim your nails, see a podiatrist regularly to have your nails trimmed.
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Keep toenails at a moderate length: Trim toenails so they're even with the tips of your toes. If you trim your toenails too short, the pressure from your shoes on your toes may direct a nail to grow into the tissue.
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Wear shoes that fit properly. Shoes that place too much pressure on your toes or pinch them may cause a nail to grow into surrounding tissue. If you have nerve damage to the feet, you may not be able to sense if your shoes fit too tightly.
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Wear protective footwear. If your activities put you at risk of injuring your toes, wear protective footwear, such as steel-toed shoes.
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Check your feet. If you have diabetes, check your feet daily for signs of ingrown toenails or other foot problems.
Toenails assist in proprioception, which is a complicated name for the sensory mechanism that helps us interrupt our surroundings & maintain our balance.
Did you know?
Toenails help you balance.
Information
Removal of acrylic nails can be harmful to your natural nails and cause permanent damage if not done properly. If you are unable to have them removed properly by a professional follow these 9 simple steps to remove them safely.
(downloadable directions in mobile format)
The easiest way to remove acrylic nails fast is to...
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Cover them with a cotton ball soaked in pure acetone
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Wrap your fingers in tin foil, and let them sit for 30 minutes.
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The acetone will help break down the acrylics,
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So you can scrape off the rest with an orange stick or cuticle pusher.
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Then repeat steps if needed.
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Complete the process with a gentle file of the nails to shape them
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Buff the nails to get off any last bits and smooth the nail.
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Wash hands with warm water & soap to remove all debris and chemicals
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Apply cuticle oil and hand lotion.
Your fingers might be a little tender and your nails soft till they get use to no protection. It can take 3-6 months for your body to heal and your nails recover once you body kicks in and makes more keratin.
Afterwards your nails will be soft and sensitive. Nourish and care for you skin and nails with a good cuticle oil and hand cream. It can take 3-6 months for your nails to get back to their natural strength. It takes about that long for the nail to grow completely out from the cuticle to the free edge, depending on the season. Tiny Tidbit: Nails grow slower in the colder weather and faster in the heat. You can always help improve your natural nail strength with with help of vitamins or supplements. (ask your doctor before starting) I recommend Biotin or GrandeGUMMIES.
Removal of Acrylic Nails
It is always a good idea to schedule a consultation appointment prior to your first appointment, especially if you are new to nail services. This gives you and your technician a chance to discuss your goals and expectations for the first visit, and long term goals for the future. During a consultation, your technician will go over an extensive list of products, styles and types of nails available. Also a complete health analysis that might pertain to either nail or pedicure services. This will give your technician the information she needs to create an individualized treatment plan, both for a series of professional treatments and recommendations for products you can use at home.
Visiting an nail technician
Much of the success of maintaining a visible improvement after treatment depends on consistent, correct home care. Your technician is trained to select the products that will most benefit your skin and nails, and to advise you on how to maintain your professional results between visits. Like medical or dental care, following the right daily regimen at home is essential if you are to get the most out of your visits to a professional.
What about home care
Your nail care treatments should be provided by a properly trained professional. Don’t hesitate to ask your nail care technician about her background, training, and experience—especially as it relates to the treatment you are considering. Your technician is a professional member of Associated Nail Professionals. Our members have been validated as meeting their state’s licensing credentials and/or core training requirements, and agree to follow a code of ethics which ensures you’ll be treated responsibly and with the utmost respect. ANP also provides its members with comprehensive resources that allow them to keep up with changing trends, making certain you’ll receive the most up-to-date treatments available.