Nails are a complement to the skin that develops on the toes and fingers. These are a rigid structure, which is made of keratin, this can be known under the name of onyx and the main function they fulfill is to keep the fingers protected from blows and diseases.
However, they can suffer from abnormalities and diseases due to various factors. One of the most common causes is the effect caused by blows and trauma, although they can also be affected by diseases or by the action of cleaning products, detergent or enamels.
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Index
Types of False Nails.
Currently, manicure is very important for thousands of women, which is why thousands of types of artificial nails have been created.
Each type can be adapted to the taste of each client and there really is a great variety of these.
Acrylic nails
They are the most used, because their durability is greater than the other types , in the same way they are also firmer and their posture does not disturb, that is, they are comfortable to wear.
They can be used in various ways in its completion, many colors can be used and the length can also vary , depending on the length that the person wants. These details allow the client to adapt them to their taste and preference.
This type of manicure can be applied by the same person, if he / she follows a series of simple steps . The only problem you might think of is that they can be very sturdy and taking them off can cost a bit. However, if you soak your hands in acetone for thirty minutes, you can make the process easier.
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Gel nails
E hese may look more natural , however, durability is less than the type acrylic.
The application of gel nails is not that complicated , but it must be done in a beauty center, since when placing the gel you need a lamp with ultraviolet light so that it can dry. Another detail to highlight is that they must be removed only by professionals, they cannot be pulled or removed by yourself.
Nail Designs
Unlike the previous ones, the sculpted ones are made by lengthening a metal sheet and sculpting it to give it the appropriate shape . However, this typology needs constant maintenance to be able to keep them with a natural shape and appearance.
Types of Enamels.
French manicure
It is a style with a characteristic way of painting them. This style is very classic and widely used by women all over the world, since due to its simplicity and elegance it is the most discreet and beautiful thing to wear.
The style consists of painting the tip of the nail with a line of white polish and the rest is left with a transparent glitter. Nowadays it has had a few variations, since it has been modernized and styles have been combined, so it can be found with the white line of various thicknesses or other colors, you can also find textured styles and other designs, but following the classic idea of French manicure.
Chrome Nails
They are a manicure style, which consists of a painting method that gives the chrome effect, as if it were a mirror. This can be achieved with several methods, you can use a paint that has a chrome effect, there is a powder that can be applied on the nail and provide this effect. Chromed ones differ from metallic ones, as the chrome effect is more like a mirror.
Holographic Nails
Also 3D enamel flames . They are nothing more than an enamel style that gives the effect of a hologram. This is characterized by having a considerable amount of concentration of particles, which make the color look nuanced in multicolor, as if it were a rainbow.
The hologram effect is the closest you can find to an iridescent effect , and another detail that can be highlighted is that the tonality will vary depending on the lighting where you are.
Holographic enamels can tend to be confused with those that contain glitter , however, these have a more homogeneous consistency and an excellent and uniform shine can be produced throughout the entire extension of the nail, which remain integrated into the enamel and do not come off of the.
Inlaid Nails
They are a style of manicure that consists of the use of inlays that adhere to enamel or resin. In this procedure, small appliqués and accessories are used that stand out, these give a different style and can decorate the manicure to make it look unique.
Metallic Nails
They are those that are painted with a metallic type enamel , which when applied gives the effect of metal on the surface of the nail. Unlike chrome enamel, metallic is less shiny, it gives a more nuanced appearance, just as if it were a metal such as iron.
Marble Nails
Known as water marble in English, it is achieved by mixing several paints in water , creating a design and adhering it to the nail by dipping the finger into the container of water.
This method can be seen in thousands of tutorials on the internet , since it is most used at home. To perform this method you must use adhesive tape around the nail to prevent the paint from adhering to your skin, you can also solve this with a cotton swab and acetone.
To do it at home you must follow the following steps :
- Fill a container with cold water
- Put several drops of paint in the container of water
- The paint will spread through the water, use a toothpick to shape it as you want
- Then, dip the nail in the water, it should be looking at the design you made in the water
- This last step should be done as quickly as possible so that the paint does not dry and then it is very difficult to remove it.
- Finely remove the paint residue that remains around the finger with the toothpick.
For the effect to be in a better way, you can choose to use a white enamel base , in this way the color that you add on top will stand out more.
Nail Shapes.
Apart from the types of nails and manicures that suit your way of being, you should also take into account the form with which you are most comfortable. And what better it goes to your hand. Surely you know very well how you have to make up your eyes so that it favors you. Well, the same goes for your nails.
Oval nails
It is the wild card, especially for women who do not paint their nails or who only wear them with glitter. If your nails grow slowly and you can’t wait to get them long, that shape causes an optical effect that makes them look longer than they really are.
The best thing is that they won’t bother you when it comes to doing everyday activities such as typing on the computer keyboard.
Round nails
You hardly even have to touch them. You just have to touch up the edges of your nails a bit with the file to make them look beautiful and that’s it. This shape is ideal for your fingers to appear somewhat longer and more refined. Natural nail polish shades and simple manicures work well.
Square nails
This shape is in fashion , but you should be careful if your fingers are not thin because they widen. They come to be to the nails like the horizontal stripes of the shirts on the clothes. Therefore, it is not recommended to file them like this if you have a dark nail polish.
Instead, they look great with pastel shades. Even with the French manicure if you have them a bit long.
A variety within the square nails are those that have the tips with a more rounded shape. You can easily do that effect with the file.
Ballerina Nails
There is a style of nails that receives the name of ballerina or coffin (which translated into Spanish would be ballerina / coffin). Just look at them to know the reason for that denomination.
If you are daring, try wearing sparkly ornaments. They will be spectacular, but the best thing is that your fingers will seem much longer. But, since you are not very virtuous with the file, it is better that you leave the work in the hands of a professional.
Stiletto
Like the shoes of the same name, stiletto nails are characterized by being filed in such a way that the tip is completely pointed. To get them you will need to leave your nails quite long. They will lengthen your fingers whatever Polish you choose.
What is the natural color of the nails?
Many times, after using false nails for a long time, or aggressive manicures, ours become weak and even sick. That is why it is important to know what they are like and what diseases they develop.
When they are completely healthy, their color should be transparent or it may turn a little pink.
The texture is characterized by being smooth and the shape it should take is oval or almond. On the other hand, when suffering from a disease or infection, the color can vary from yellow to purple.
Causes of brittle and flaky nails
In the same way that happens with hair and skin, nails are also affected by factors such as our health and our diet , as well as our rhythm of life. When we suffer from a disease, our diet is not the most adequate or we are very stressed, they can become brittle and / or scaly.
When we go through a deficit of vitamins, nutrients and minerals, we can see the quality of our nails affected, as well as in different aspects of our health. But, physically this directly affects the hair, skin and nails.
However, brittle nails can also be caused by the following factors:
- Blows or trauma
- Bacterial or fungal infection
- Detergents and products with high alkalinity
- Glazes that are not beneficial, such as those that contain a lot of formaldehyde
- Very strong or abrasive nail polish remover
- Lack of vitamins.
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Brittle Nail Treatment
We must first determine the reason for the weakening and attack it in order to solve the problem.
That is, if the problem is caused by a lack of vitamins, we must provide our body with a greater amount of these in order to see benefits reflected in our health in general, and therefore: in the quality of our nails.
On the other hand, if the damage is caused by the use of enamels or nail polish removers, we must change the product we are implementing and look for one that is more friendly to their surface. In the market there are thousands of options that can be beneficial, since they contain vitamins and minerals in their composition.
Nail diseases
The nails are responsible for protecting the tissues of the fingers , these are made up of layers, these layers are composed of a protein known under the name of keratin, it is also contained in the hair and the skin.
When they are healthy, their texture is smooth and their color ranges from white to light pink. However , when a change in color and texture is seen, it can be an indicator of a disease in the body , or an infection.
Problems such as white spots can develop, but these are totally harmless. On the other hand, nail problems that do need treatment are:
- Ingrown / Ingrown Nails
- Infections, either by fungi or bacteria
- Tumors
- Warts
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Red or buried nails
It is a problem that occurs when the corner or edge of the nail curves into the surrounding skin . This problem causes pain and makes the area swollen and red.
This problem can be seen in any toe, however, curiously, it occurs more frequently in the big toes . Ingrown nails can be seen for the following causes:
- Wrong cut . When it is cut round it can cause an ingrown toenail, since this causes it to grow abnormally.
- Tight or high-heeled shoes : These factors also affect normal growth, making it easier for them to burrow.
- Poor hygiene: The accumulation of dirt can also cause your growth to look deformed.
- Bumps on the toes: Either by practicing a sport or by mistake, these types of actions cause a deformation, so that the nails can be buried in the skin.
They can cause a lot of pain in the finger , in addition to this other symptoms that occur are the following: redness around the nail, swelling and inflammation in the finger, tender skin of the finger, infections in the wound that causes the buried nail.
Tips if you have ingrown nails
To relieve pain or prevent the problem from occurring:
- Cut them straight: Do not do it round or curved, this prevents the nail from growing normally so the corners turn towards the skin and bury themselves.
- Take lukewarm baths: This can alleviate the pain caused by the nail, immerse the foot in a container with warm water for half an hour, you can do it several times a day, this will help to remove the pain and facilitate the extraction of the nail .
- Wear comfortable shoes: Choose shoes that are wide at the toe, this will give you space so that your toes do not have problems. Another detail is that the height of the heel does not exceed two and a half centimeters.
- Try to wear sandals when you are at home: This will help you to give freedom to the nails and you will heal the problem more easily.
- Avoid stopping it: If it is buried and you brake it, you can make it bury even more, which will be very painful and will make the situation worse.
- Consult a doctor : Especially if the person suffers from diabetes, since the condition can cause problems in the circulation of the blood and health complications can develop.
Home treatments to fix ingrown toenails
In a homemade way you can find the cure to a buried nail in the following way:
- Crush a garlic, place it on the affected nail and let it act overnight, cover the nail with a bandage, in this way the garlic will not move out of place. You have more information in the article Garlic Essential Oil: Contraindications, Side Effects, Benefits and Uses
- You can also soak the affected area in onion juice for a couple of hours.
- Another method is to immerse the foot in a bowl of warm salt water. Leave this on for a couple of hours and then cover your foot overnight.
- Soaking is the most effective way to make it yield to extraction, as well as pain relief. You can use in addition to hot water, a little calendula oil , soak the finger for thirty minutes and then bandage the finger with a soft cotton cloth and let it sit overnight.
- Cut a lemon in half and heat it in the kitchen, cut the lemon so that it is a little hollowed out so that you can insert your finger there. Leave it inside for twenty minutes, this will help relieve pain. You may be interested in knowing more about lemon essential oil: Contraindications, Properties and Benefits
- Peel and wash a carrot , grate it and place it on the ingrown toenail, let it act for an hour or two. This will help reduce inflammation in the area.
White or yellow nails: why do they come out, is it due to fungus?
Nails in their normal state are translucent in color, they may turn a little pink, but in general they do not have a marked coloration, so if this is affected it may be a problem of fungal infection.
In addition to infections, the change in color can be determined by other factors such as : skin diseases, injuries, medications, chemicals or poisoning. In this way, they can vary their color from white to yellow, brown, black or purple, depending on the problem that presents.
When it turns white, this can be caused by various factors and also the type of coloration varies. Depending on what is affecting, the white coloration can be:
- Whiteheads: These are very common and are not a sign of a major problem. They are usually caused by a small injury.
- Whole white nail: This can be a congenital problem, or it can also be due to contact with nitric acid.
- Cloudy white: This type is common with liver cirrhosis or ulcerative colitis.
- Diagonal white lines: In certain cases the cause is determined, but it is directly related to a skin problem.
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On the other hand, they can also tend to stain a yellow hue, this can be known under the name of onychomycosis, which is a problem with fungi.
When the coloration is brown or purple, it can be due to a bruise, caused in principle by a blow or an injury. When it comes to an infection by bacteria, the nails can turn gray, in the same way the coloration can also vary due to a skin disease, such as eczema or psoriasis.
If it is a brown spot , this may be due to a mole, or in the worst case a tumor , which is called subungual melanoma.
The change of color in the nails is a clear symptom that is due to the action of a greater problem, so do not rush to take a diagnosis without first consulting an expert. In the same way, the symptoms that are occurring should be pointed out to the doctor so that he can determine the reason for the change.
If it is a fungal infection, actions can be taken to eliminate the problem and stop the spread of the fungus, for this, traditional methods against infections can be taken.