Nails are an integral part of our body that add aesthetic value and hence should be given adequate attention. Today’s nail professionals do more than hand and foot services. They also provide various nail-services, thus an in-depth knowledge is required by the professional service-provider and an awareness on part of the clients. Asha Dodhia from Aroushi Beauty Salon shares her insights:
Our hands and feet are made up of bones and fatty tissues that absorb shock and impact. Similarly nails too, are exposed to shock and trauma. The nail unit is intriguing. The form and design allow the nail plate to protect the nail bed not vice versa and grow and function normally, giving the hands and fingers an aesthetic appeal.
Manicure should be performed with utmost care. Any unnecessary cutting or pushing cuticles could cause calluses or scar tissues to form. This scar tissue is harder and thicker than healthy tissue and will thicken with continued cutting. A typical cuticle to be cut is the non-living tissue that is shed from the underside of the surrounding skin attached to the nail (protective walls) plate. Aggressive pushing and unnecessary cutting should be forbidden, because it can create deformities and damages since the nail is made up of liquid keratin and grows out to harden into a nail plate covering the nail bed. Hence the importance of thorough education of the nail technician.
Proper sanitisation and disinfection of all tools/implements is mandatory in nail services. The whitish opaque half-moon that you see at the base of the nail (lunula) is actually a partially developed nail and hence maximum care should be taken when treating this part of the nail. The middle part of the nail plate, which covers the nail bed, appears pinkish because here the nail is fully formed and covers the oil and moisture channels, making the nail appear translucent. The free edge which is the part of the nail that extends beyond the finger is easily prone to dryness due to lack of moisture from the nail bed. This requires regular oiling/moisturizing.
Typical damages to the nail plate:
Excessive exposure to solvents such as acetone, even water nail varnishes, abrasive buffers, excessive filing causes heat due to friction, aggressive pushing and cutting of living tissue or skin.
Nourishing the nail plate
Since the nail plate is porous, oil acts as an internal lubricant and a shock-absorber. The nail plate absorbs water very easily and also loses it quickly, hence care must be taken to avoid either of these extremes. The best way to achieve a proper balance and replenish the lost moisture is to ensure frequent application of oil to the nail daily.
A healthy nail is a flexible nail.
Hard nails are not flexible nails and can be painful in case of trauma!
Brittle Nails can crack or shatter when force is applied! Weak nails can result in overall loss of nail plate strength!
Tough nails are nails that have the right combination of strength and flexibility, which means perfect balance of oil and moisture and they have the ability to resist trauma.
Weak nails need coating; Brittle nails need oiling
10 Fun Facts
Fingernails grow twice as fast as toenails.
Men’s nails grow faster than women’s.
Nails grow faster during pregnancy.
Nails grow faster when damaged or frequently bitten.
The longer the finger the faster the finger nail grows.
Nails grow faster in warm climates, fastest during summer.
Nail growth slows with age.
Extreme dieting slows down nail growth.
Nails grow at the same rate that the continents move Little finger (pinky) nail grows the slowest.
Use your nails as jewels not as tools!