17. Anatomy of Healthy Nails Nails grow from the area at the base of the nail under your cuticle. Healthy nails are smooth and free of spots or discoloration.
19. i. Nutritional Steps to Healthy Nails Eat a diet composed of 50% fruit and raw vegetables in order to supply necessary vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
20. i. Nutritional Steps to Healthy Nails Protein Eggs Chicken Wings Soybean Products
21. i. Nutritional Steps to Healthy Nails Vitamins Strawberries / Kiwi Fruit / Oranges Grapefruit
22. i. Nutritional Steps to Healthy Nails Minerals Liver and Tuna Seaweed Seafood (Sardines and Oysters)
26. Solvents Solvents will have a drying effect, although the effects are only temporary. Repeated and prolonged contact with these solvents can have a lasting effect on the nail plate, or result in irritant or allergic contact dermatitis from overexposure. Remove the 'allergen/irritant', and the symptoms will disappear.
29. Daily Apply hand cream (for fingernails) or foot cream (for toenails) as often as you can, e.g. after washing your hands/feet or taking a bath.
30. Fungus can enter through cracked skin. To prevent skin from cracking use a good moisturizer. But do NOT use it in between your toes as they breed fungus easily. Daily for toenails
31. Daily for toenails Avoid walking on your bare feet as this can encourage bacteria growth as well as causing your heels to become hard and start cracking.
32. While choosing shoes and boots for outdoor activities, buy those that will easily allow circulation of blood to the toes. Daily for toenails
33. Daily for toenails If you have sweaty feet, ensure that you use antifungal powder while working outside for long periods of time. This will prevent nail fungus infection.
39. Trimming and Shaping Nails Start filing the free edge in one direction only, keeping the emery board at a 45 degree angle. Emery Board (or Nail File) and Dust Brush Metal File (it can damage the nail)
40. Softening Cuticles Push up the cuticle in a circular motion using the corner of the cotton stick with light pressure. The circular movements will prevent damage to the skin. DO THIS FIRST: Apply cuticle remover and soak fingers in a soapy lukewarm water for 5 min Cotton Stick or Orange Stick
41. Applying Nail Polish Apply thin coat of nail polish, let it dry and then apply another coat. Starting at the base of the nail and applying polish in an upward motion helps you evenly coat your nail. Bottles of Nail Polish