MONDAY MANI

Do Vitamin Deficiencies Cause Fingernail Ridges?

Your fingernails can say a lot about you, including whether or not you’re consuming enough vitamins and minerals. Getting insufficient amounts of certain B-complex vitamins can cause ridges in your fingernails. However, lack of certain minerals and protein, as well as various health conditions, can cause these lines in fingernails too.

Deficiencies in zinc, folic acid, iron and protein may cause fingernail ridges. The appearance of your nails may also indicate that you’re experiencing other health issues, like psoriasis or kidney problems. ~LivingStrong

**Should you have any issues or concerns with skin, hair or nails, please consult your physician.

MONDAY MANI ~ Nail Anatomy

Jun24

*The cuticle and proximal nail fold is often called “the cuticle” and is often cut as part of the manicure service. The cuticle should be removed by soaking the fingers in warm soapy water, and a cuticle remover used to help lift the sticky cuticle from the nail plate by pushing and lightly scraping(…yes) but not cutting.

**Please see photo*

Fingernail: A fingernail is produced by living skin cells in the finger. A fingernail consists of several parts including the nail plate (the visible part of the nail), the nail bed (the skin beneath the nail plate), the cuticle (the tissue that overlaps the plate and rims the base of the nail), the nail grooves (the skin folds that frame and support the nail on three sides), the lunula (the whitish half-moon at the base of the nail) and the matrix (the hidden part of the nail unit under the cuticle).

THE NAIL=Onyx

An appendage of the skin, this horny,translucent plate protects the tips of fingers and toes. The nail is composed mainly of keratin. A healthy nail should be whitish and translucent in appearance, with the pinkish color of the nail bed below showing through.

Monday Mani

Jun10

Cuticles are to be cared for even in summer. Not only are the cuticles being over-exposed to more harsh chemicals but are going from wet to dry more often for most. We tend to wash and eat seasonal fruit and veggies more through out the summer months. Therefore, light oils, such as jojoba, sweet almond, coconut oil and even evoo may be applied often to dry and cracked cuticles. It is best to apply these oils right after water exposure to trap the moisture in the outer skin layer and these oils will also absorb into dry skin.