Natural Nail Care Routine: The cherry on the cake
We may all agree that clean, beautiful, and sophisticated nails, whether on toes or fingers, bring the final touch to an elegant look. Your hands are visible all year round but with the summer coming, it’s time to double up your natural nail care routine and invest more time on your toes, as it’s easy to become a bit lazier during the winter when we know they are going to be hidden under woolen socks and warm boots.
Natural nail care routine is not all about beauty; it’s also a way to make sure you keep your nails healthy and strong for better natural protection and avoid any possible problems and infections (especially toenails).
Here are some tips to help you adopt an easy natural nail care routine !
Natural nail care tip #1: Trim them regularly
Natural nails are doing better when trimmed regularly. There is no ideal length but consider that the free edge (the white part at the edge of your nail) should measure at least a few millimeters and the nail should not be much longer than your finger/toe.
Use small on-purpose scissors or a good nail-clipper.
If you want to file them, don’t use the classic emery board or metallic file: they are too aggressive for natural nail care, use rather a smoother nail filing block. Also, don’t file them forth and back as it can create breakage, file just in one direction.
Natural Nail Care Routine Tip #2: Moisturize them
Few people think that nails deserve proper moisturizing, but just like the hairs, they can get very dry quickly! Its not only due to their composition (Keratin) but also to the fact that they are constantly being under the attack of all sorts of chemicals: shampoos, soaps, gels, domestic products (dishwashing liquid, cleaning wipes, etc). The toenails (and feet in general) are particularly neglected.
You can hydrate with a traditional cream, balm, or moisturizer but if you want to enjoy real natural nail care you can try soaking your fingers in olive oil – n1 multipurpose oil forever- for about 15 minutes. You can start once a week to give a quick boost to your nails and then have maintenance about once/twice a month. For your toes, the nicest recipe we can recommend (tested and approved) is a mix of 1 spoon olive oil, 1 spoon of honey, and 1 spoon of lemon juice. Rub and gently massage your feet in this yummy homemade mix, then apply a bandage, cellophane, or simply clean socks and let it rest for about 1h. You can walk of course but we would advise you to simply take this time to enjoy your favorite show. After rinsing your feet, you’ll enjoy how smooth your feet feel and how to hydrate your nails are.
Natural Nail Care Routine Tip #3: Change socks every day
Changing your socks helps to maintain your nails healthy and bacteria-free. Imagine that your hands are usually free (sometimes under gloves) but your feet lie often under at least two layers most of the time: socks and shoes, you can picture the difference and how little the feet breathe. Damp or wet socks are the perfect environment for fungus, so make sure you change your socks daily and as much as you need if you tend to have sweaty feet.
Natural Nail Care Routine Tip # 4: Wash your feet daily and dry them properly
It can sound basic but, yet again, feet are not the most well-taken care of the area of our body. Its important to wash them meticulously, cleaning well between the toes. If you shower in the morning, take the habit to have a quick rinse at night-time: freshness guaranteed and you’ll also avoid bringing germs into your bed.
As for the drying part: have you ever smelled the odor of stagnant water in a puddle or canal? The drops between your toes just have the same fate, so pass your towel through your toes.
Natural Nail Care Routine Tip # 5: Have a good diet
A balanced, varied, and rich diet is very important for our general health, but also, some specific nutrients can help to boost the look and strength of your nails. Also, remember that you can kill two birds with one stone: nails and hairs are made of keratin, so what is good for your nails will benefit your hairs as well!
A small list of aliment that will help you achieve a natural nail care:
–B Vitamins: fish, meats, cereals, oats, nuts, grains
widely spread in many aliments
–Zinc: shells, crustaceans, fish
–Calcium: dairy products i.e. milk, cheese, butter
but also some mineral waters
–Iron: red meat, shells, legumes (lentils, beans, chickpeas)
This article is a small introduction to help you gain natural nail care habits. In the long run, you will be able to see how efficient and cost-effective it is: not many expenses for nice and sustainable results. Using traditional creams and having professional manicures/pedicures can be nice and enjoyable as well, but for affordable and easy-to-achieve results, there’s nothing better than starting with natural nail care.
