10 Tips for Healthy, Beautiful Nails

Nail Facts:

• It’s important to keep in mind that nails are dead.
  
• Nails and hair are made of the same type of cells.
  
• Nails absorb as much water as hair, so over-soaking nails can be the start of many problems.
  
• It is difficult to keep nail polish on, no matter whose you buy.
• Expensive nail-care products are NOT better than inexpensive ones; wasting money on nail care won’t help your nails or your budget.
• Fingernails take 4 to 6 months to regrow; toenails take a year to 18 months.
• There is no specific, proven supplement other than a healthy diet to improve nail growth.

Common Nail Problems- and How to Solve Them!

Yellow nails - Usually caused from wearing very dark or deep nail polish, such as red shades. Be sure to wear one or two coats of a great base coat. If you still have the problem, gently buff the top of the nail and then soak for a minute or two in 3% hydrogen peroxide that you can buy at the drugstore for $1. If this doesn’t improve the yellowing then you may have a more serious nail problem that needs medical attention.

Excess or ragged cuticles - Use a cuticle remover. The most effective I’ve found is Be Natural Cuticle Eliminator ($5.99), it isn’t natural in the least, but it works. You can find it at www.sallybeauty.com. Just be careful and don’t leave it on for too long. Wipe it off and then gently push the cuticle back and nip off the free edge only. Do NOT nip into the cuticle, only the free dead edge; it is better to under-do it than over-do it.

Calluses on heels - Keep a pedicure file in your shower or bath and scrub over your heel every time you shower. It helps to apply Be Natural Dry Heel Eliminator ($9.99) at www.sallybeauty.com. Then apply a urea-based moisturizer, Paula’s Choice Body Butter, or Paula’s Choice Skin Revealing Body Lotion with 10% AHA.

Callus shavers are risky, but if you want to try them, be sure to do this step do it at home. Do not have the nail salon do it for you. Most salons do not change the blades for each person and that means a possible transfer of blood or bacteria that can penetrate skin and cause an infection.

Ingrown nails - DO NOT cut the nail below the white portion of the tip! This will make a world of difference. Wearing shoes that don’t fit properly can also lead to ingrown nails. If you are still having the problem after following these tips then you need to see a good podiatrist.

Nails that grow and split or have a strange shape - This is usually a result of trauma from bad manicures, artificial nails, slamming your fingers in a car door, or nail biting. Once the trauma stops, if after a year it isn’t better, the nail plate has been permanently damaged and there is nothing you can do to fix the problem.

Ridges in the nails - This can be just a part of how your nail grows, but it could also be from continued damage to the base of the nail from picking at your cuticles or pushing them back too far. Avoid over-cutting or picking at your cuticle, and it could start growing back perfectly.

Nail polish remover that works quickly - Acetone is the best option. It is actually a natural substance and works faster than non-acetone nail polish removers, so it is in less contact with the nail and skin; there is nothing safer about non-acetone nail polish removers.

Getting nail polish to last - Don’t over-soak your nails before applying polish (they absorb more water than you think), wear one or two layers of top coat, keep your natural nails short, and wear gloves when doing house work, dishes, or working in the garden. I don’t like the big yellow gloves, so I use disposable medical gloves and they work great. You can find these at any drugstore.

Manicure prep – Be sure to dry out the nail with acetone or alcohol before you apply the polish. Always apply a base coat and top coat over the color polish you choose. DO NOT dry nails with any kind of heat, they will peel. Every other day apply a new layer of top coat and if you nail does chip, reapply the color and top coat over the nail.

Storing and disposing nail polish – Do not put nail polish in the refrigerator. It’s a myth that should have died a long time ago. Polish only gets thicker in cold temperatures. Just like paint, when nail polish dries out, it is time to toss it. Thinners sort of work, but overall they change the texture of the polish for the worse!

Nail fungus - Check with your doctor; topically-applied miconazole nitrate (No Miss Antifungal Fungus Killer, $9) can help, but you may need an oral medication that contains that ingredient or another antifungal. Nail fungus can be extremely stubborn to treat!

Preventing dry cuticles - Any thick, emollient moisturizer will make a huge difference if you apply it frequently. Keep one in your purse. There are lots of options, but Paula’s Choice Lip & Body Treatment Balm or our Cuticle & Nail Treatment are great.

Peeling nails - Gently, and I mean really gently, buff the part where there is peeling. It is also essential to keep nails short. Nail buffers are widely available at beauty supply stores.

Bubbles in polish - This is caused from either using old polish, too much polish, or using a fan to dry your nails with too much wind.

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This Week's Topic: The Look Younger Now Diet!
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Discover how your diet can help fight the signs of aging! Author and wellness coach Deborah Enos joins the program to share what to eat for healthier, younger-looking skin. Call with questions during the live broadcast to receive expert advice for all of your skin needs and for a chance to win FREE Paula's Choice products!

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Dear Paula,

Thank you so much for all your thorough work and sound advice on cosmetic products. Recently Olay has come out with a cleansing tool called Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System which they compare to a $200 product, presumably the one from Clarisonic. Have you done any research on their claims that it works just as well as the high end cleanser for a much lower price? My local drugstore retails the Olay product for $29.99. If it truly does work as well, I am considering purchasing it rather than investing in Clarisonic’s system.

Lisa, via email

Dear Lisa,

We haven't reviewed this Olay Pro-X product yet, but having seen it myself, I suspect it would work as well as the Clarisonic or similar hand-held, battery-powered cleansing devices. What you need to know is that the Clarisonic isn't all that great and may potentially hurt skin in the long run. Many people that swear by it aren't aware that the action of the bristles (especially if one is aggressive) being massaged over skin causes inflammation that eventually hurts skin. Here’s the dilemma: the initial inflammation reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles, causing many to think "Wow, this makes me look younger each time I use it!" Personally, I wouldn't use this type of device on a daily basis; maybe only when I felt my skin was truly dirty or if I was feeling extra-oily. Olay recommends using their cleansing system twice daily, which I strongly suspect would be overkill.