For sure you have looked intently at your nails countless times before. You might have noticed how long or short they are. There are times that you are quite aware when they are properly trimmed or if they are kept clean even when they are long or coated with a nail polish. How about the nails on your toes. For sure you are also certain how your nails have grown after just a few days. Or, perhaps, you religiously trim your nails to a length that you are used to so that they won’t tear up your socks or will just fit snuggly inside your shoes.
You do a lot of things with your nails, but no matter what you do, whether you cut them or not, allow the nail plates to thicken or let your nail files or buffer do their trick in making your nails look thinner and more appealing, nothing will change what makes up your nails.
All nails are made of the same material as that which is found in somebody else’s nails — keratin.
Keratin is the same protein that is found in your hair follicles as well as in the outer layer of your skin. It may seem that your nails grow only from the tips of your fingers or toes. This is the part which you cut or trim.
In fact, your nails grow from the nail bed. This is a small surface found below where your nail disappears into your fingers or toes. They are attached to tiny blood vessels that feed them like your hair.
That’s the reason why your nails have a pale pink color. If you press the flesh at your fingertip, you will notice that your nail takes on a deeper pinkish color as blood rushes underneath.
Nail cells also multiply but under the skin. They keep on dividing to create even more cells. As the new cells come in, they push the old cells above the skin surface.
Once they reach the surface, they are pushed by new nail cells growing beneath placing them nearer your finger or toe. Once they come out they become dead cells.
Your fingernails grow faster than your toenails (about four times faster!). They don’t grow as fast as your hair follicles, however. Records show that an average human nail grows about 0.12 in every month. The root of your nail that appears on your skin is the cuticle. Your cuticles protect newly formed nails as well as the nail bed. You will see at the tip of each nail (the part where the nail comes out of the skin) is a white crescent-shaped part known as the lunula.
Your nails protect your fingertips and toes. They also make grabbing things a lot easier. You will need to protect them so it will be easier for you to keep gorgeous nails even in the comfort of your own home.
As any other part of your body, your nails should also be well cared for. They need to be trimmed regularly to the right length. You also need to make sure that they are thoroughly clean as dust particles and dirt may get buried under your nails and skin. If disease-causing microorganisms in the dirt and dust particles mix with the food that you eat or find their way to your body, you might get sick, so you really have to make sure that your nails cleaned properly.
There are also other means that disease-causing bacteria and other organisms may enter your body, such as when you bite or chew your nails. Many young people do not realize that such a habit can lead to an infection. Others do not a better option. Those who are forced to work with hazardous chemicals like paints and other products may also be at risk of developing an infection. If you are one of them, you need to be careful when handling those products.
There are also several salon products that may be harmful to your nails as they may contain toxic ingredients. Products such as DND polish removers, fingernail glue remover, artificial nail products, and so on can also weaken the nails. These salon products may contain harmful chemicals from Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Butyl acetate, Formaldehyde, Quaternary ammonium compounds, Toluene, and so on. Needless to say, you should be careful when using them. You should add Best Vitamins for Nail Growth to your nails when you feel they are weak
If it’s time to trim your nails, you need to be careful to trim them straight. If they cut in a curve, you may feel the edges of your nails poking through your skin and flesh. This happens when you have what is called as in-grown nails. For some, in-grown nails can be easily removed. However, there are those who are not as fortunate as they may need surgery to help ease the pain that comes with their in-grown nails.
Nails usually get broken off if they reach a certain length. The record indicates, however, that there are people who are able to keep their nails longer than any other men. One who holds the record in nail growth is Shridhar Chillal from Pune, India. He had them cut only after 66 years of growing them. His nails had a total length of 909.6 cm (29 ft 10.1 in). The nails of his left hand (the longest) measure a total of 197.8 cm.
No matter how long or short your nails are, you need to take nail care of them properly. You can also flaunt them in style. Have your favorite shade to cover those nails. If you want a more natural look, you can just keep them clean, filed, and buff. However, you want your nails to look, just make sure that you wash them thoroughly and keep them clean all the time.