MONDAY MANI

Nutrients and Nail Health

The fingernails and toenails are made up of keratin, just like your hair. Keratin is a protein, and healthy oils and fats are also needed to keep the skin, hair and nails moisturized and strong. A varied diet rich in vitamins, antioxidant fruits and veggies, protein and minerals is key for healthy skin, nails and hair. Minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, sodium and zinc are particularly important for your nails. However, it’s not just these minerals that make a difference — other nutrients like biotin, folic acid and protein are just as important to nail health.

If you’re deficient in certain nutrients or have ongoing health issues, you may see changes in your nails that include discoloration, ridges or lines in fingernails. Some lines in fingernails can signal serious health problems, while others are simply due to impact or injury. However, with the exception of zinc, folic acid, iron or protein deficiencies. nutrient deficiencies are unlikely to be the cause of your fingernail ridges.*

*See previous blog(s)

A FRIDAY FUNNY

Aug2

DOCTOR: Don’t worry, Dave, this is a simple operation

PATIENT: But Doc, my name’s not Dave!

DOCTOR: I know. It’s mine.

MONDAY MANI

Jul28

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

Jul8

We’ve all heard people say, ‘My nails just don’t grow’. Of course, there are many causes as to why nails appear not to grow or they break before any real length is noticeable. If there are any concerns about hair, skin or nails, please consult your family doctor or a dermatologist.

Healthy, happy nails

Nail Growth

Nails are constantly growing, but their growth rate slows down due to matrix damage(finger and/or cuticle area), poor circulation, disease and/or aging. Fingernails grow faster than toenails, at a rate of 3 millimeters per month. It takes six months for a fingernail to grow from the root(matrix) to the free edge, in a healthy adult. Toenails grow much more slowly, at just 1 millimeter per month. It takes a toenail 12 to 18 months to grow from root to tip.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

Jul3

Do you remember your “COLORS” and which colors are primary, warm or cool colors? Well, I didn’t. So here is little reminder. Do you remember the famous Color Wheel?

The wheel divides the different shades into four categories — primary colors, secondary colors, tertiary colors, and complementary colors.

Primary Colors (P)

The pure pigments that cannot be made by mixing any colors together. These colors actually make up all the colors in the spectrum. Various mixes make the different shades, along with elements of black and white. The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.

Secondary Colors (S)

Colors that are made by mixing equal parts of any two primary colors together. They are made up of orange (1:1 red and yellow), green (1:1 yellow and blue), and violet (1:1 blue and red).

Tertiary Colors (T)

Colors made from mixing equal parts of one primary color with one of its closest secondary colors. These are somewhat intermediate colors, and are made up of red-orange, orange-yellow, yellow-green, green-blue, blue-violet, and violet-red.

Complementary Colors

Colors located directly opposite each other on the color wheel. The wheel shows what the colors look like if the two are mixed. If they are mixed evenly, they appear closer to the center and are a brownish, more neutral color. If one is mixed in a higher ratio, than the more abundant color will be dominant. This is shown in the color wheel as the shades move toward the outer edge

Confused, yet? We haven’t discussed the warm and cool colors or colors best for which skin tones.

Will finish this next week!

~Nails Magazine 2009 September

MONDAY MANI

Jul1

FINGERNAILS

Why do we have fingernails? They are not just on the tips of your fingers to beautify your hands but to protect and aid in your daily activities.

Nails serve several important purposes.

They help humans function. Nails are basically flat versions of claws that help humans dig, climb, scratch, grab, and more.
They guard against injuries. They serve as protective plates that help prevent the fingers and toes from getting cut or scraped during daily activities.
They enhance the sensation. The fingers and toes contain nerve endings that allow the body to process the volumes of information that it receives every time something is touched—and the nail acts as a counter force, providing even more sensory input after a person touches something. ~verywell health

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

Jun26

Worry often gives a small thing a great shadow.

–Swedish proverb

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.