Nail care: 5 basic principles

If eyes are the mirror of the soul, then hands are a reflection of a woman’s love for herself. Well-groomed, beautiful hands are the same attribute of non-verbal communication as, say, stylish clothes, expensive jewelry and accessories. And in the end, every woman enjoys wearing a beautiful manicure, what can we say! That is why manicure services are considered one of the most popular.

Now many women are abandoning traditional varnishes in favor of more durable coatings such as gel polish, biogel, shellac, and so on. Thanks to these modern coatings, nails, colors and manicure designs, household chores and everyday troubles are no longer scary. Without serious strength tests, coatings last from two weeks to a month. Five to ten years ago such a result could not even be expected from conventional varnishes. However, progress often presents us with new tasks and difficulties. Therefore, women now face the question: how to care for their hands after a manicure in order to preserve its beauty longer? If there are no more questions about the durability and quality of the coating, then the same cannot be said about the condition of the cuticle and skin of the hands.

Perhaps, many women are familiar with the situation when literally a day or two after going to the nail salon, hangnails begin to bristle around the nails, spoiling the whole picture of well-groomed hands. In addition to hangnails, beautiful hands can be ruined by dryness and flaking of the skin.

Specialists of the Velvet Hands brand have prepared for you the basics of hand care after a manicure, which will help preserve the beauty of your hands for a long time.

Hydrate, hydrate and hydrate again

Make it a habit to regularly use hand cream.
It is advisable to use it not only in the morning and evening, but also as often as possible during the day. Be sure to choose a cream that you like in texture and aroma so that you will enjoy using it. “Velvet Hands” creams contain carefully selected effective moisturizing and nourishing components: allantoin, “beauty vitamins” A and E, hyaluronic acid, shea and olive oils and others. In addition, the brand's assortment includes a collection of creams with precious oils such as argan, macadamia, tiare and acai berry oils. All brand creams have moisturizing and nourishing properties and help protect the skin from external factors (cold, wind, temperature changes).

If you don't feel comfortable using regular cream in the office or just during an active day, use a lighter lotion or aqua gel. They are absorbed faster, moisturize and do not leave marks on clothes and objects.

Hand care: testing and choosing

Yulia Korneeva Editor of the Home portal

Home

Returning your hands to a normal state is much more difficult than protecting them in advance - I was convinced of this from my own experience.
Scentsations Green Tea & Lemon hand and body lotion from CND on my desk at work . The cream is incredibly pleasant both in texture and smell. Personally, I apply cream after every hand wash. It contains green tea - a well-known antioxidant, it perfectly fights dryness, irritation and protects skin cells from the negative effects of the environment, and lemon - it is responsible for skin elasticity. I am pleased when, after each application of the lotion, a halo of citrus scent is created around me, and my colleagues immediately find reasons to come up to me with a question and be sure to apply a little CND cream to their hands.

Moisturizing lotion CND
Ksenia Gershanok Editor of the “Food” section on the “Home” portal

A harsh and even deadly time for the skin of the hands called “winter” is approaching.
A beauty editor came to the rescue and offered to test a nourishing hand cream from Himalaya Herbals , which should save the skin of the hands from drying out and peeling. The cream has a pleasant consistency, very light, and is absorbed instantly (yes, yes, instantly!). The manufacturer claims that the composition contains natural almond, olive and sunflower oil. And, apparently, this is really so, because after a couple of days the skin of my hands became silky, soft and smooth. And most importantly, after this miraculous cream I did not have the feeling of a hated greasy film, which so often happens after applying the cream. The only sad thing is that I found a lot of parabens in the composition, which self-respecting brands have long abandoned. If you close your eyes to this, the cream is wonderful, I recommend it!

Nourishing hand cream from Himalaya Herbals
Ksenia Chebysheva Editor of the “Fashion and Beauty” section on the “Home” portal

I have always dreamed of a home manicure that would not take a lot of time and effort.
For this purpose, I decided to test the new nail care series The ONE from Oriflame , consisting of 8 products for comprehensive nail and cuticle care. This is a softening balm for cuticle care, a remedy against peeling and brittleness of nails, a product for nail growth, nourishing oil-care for nails, a protective base for nail polish and a 2-in-1 glossy finish, a scrub for removing cuticles, a gel for whitening nails and nail polish remover.

8 products for comprehensive nail and cuticle care The ONE
Frankly, I have thin nails that are sensitive to varnish - almost all of them start to peel. After using yogurt varnish the situation worsened. Therefore, I started testing with a product against splitting and brittleness of nails. I applied it daily, alternating with nourishing oil, which contains vitamins and antioxidants. The result did not make itself felt immediately as we would have liked. And only after a week the nails returned to normal. After that, I started testing the nail growth product. The gel contains microgranules, which I applied with massage movements morning and evening. A week later I felt that my nails were stronger and then I decided to get a manicure. I treated the cuticle with a scrub and softening balm. Then I applied a protective base under the varnish. After that I applied regular varnish. And I waited for the result with caution. Typically, nails begin to peel immediately before removing the polish with liquid. But this did not happen here. Hands and nails still look well-groomed.

Lidia Samsonova-Zharkova Editor of the “Entertainment” section on the “Home” portal

Home

Making a bad hand cream is, in general, a rather difficult task. And at Oriflame... they couldn’t cope with it! They made a nice Nature Secrets Vanilla & Pomegranate hand cream!

At first, the smell of vanilla and pomegranate seems harsh, but then you get used to it. The problem of any office employee working in open space is constantly dry skin. And on the hands as well. I now have this protective hand cream on my desk at work. I use it several times a day and the problem of dry skin on my hands is solved!

Hand cream Nature Secrets Vanilla & Pomegranate, Oriflame

Cuticle oil

Well-groomed hands mean not only beautiful and healthy nails, but also the skin around them! How to maintain a manicure if an overgrown, cracked and dry cuticle inevitably spoils the beauty and neatness of your hands? To avoid problems with the cuticle, you need to monitor its appearance and constantly moisturize it with cuticle oil. Now on store shelves you can find a variety of oil options - multi- or single-component, as well as various formats - in a bottle with a brush, with a pipette, or even in a tube. You can choose a cuticle care product that is convenient for you. The bottles are usually compact, so you can moisturize the cuticle even on the go or while standing in a traffic jam. A small drop is enough to treat the surface of the cuticle and nail. Place a drop of oil on the cuticle of each finger and gently rub it into the nail plate and cuticle. The result will be best if you do this procedure as often as possible - 3-5 times a day. Cuticle oil not only cares for the cuticle and skin around the nail, but also for the nail itself, moisturizing and nourishing it.

Positive effects of massage

Massage can also have a positive effect on the receptors of the skin . In addition, it promotes lymph and blood circulation, relieving ligaments and muscles from tension. For this purpose, classical massage in the form of stroking and rubbing, as well as acupuncture or acupressure, is mainly used. During the procedure, the skin should be lubricated with a simple moisturizer or special massage oil.

Thanks to exercises, you can eliminate the fatigue and tension that has accumulated in your limbs during the day. If the legs and arms are in the same position for a long time, this can lead to their fatigue and stagnation of blood in the vessels. When your hands are busy throughout the day, for example, working at the keyboard, they need rest.

If your fingers have been under severe tension for a long time and have been in a bent state, you need to do exercises to relax and straighten. Each exercise must be done about 10 times. Moreover, such gymnastics does not take much time. Basic exercises :

To relieve tension, you can shake your hands, then rotate your hands counterclockwise and back.
Take the starting position with your hands on the table. Extend and bend your hands.
Place your elbows on the table. Clench your hands into fists, then sharply unclench and squeeze.
Straighten your palms. Bend your fingers one at a time, starting with the little finger. You need to straighten your fingers in the reverse order.

Nail baths

If you not only have an extra minute to apply hand cream or cuticle oil, then we recommend using your free time to benefit your hands, namely, making an oil bath for your nails. This procedure provides excellent care for the skin of your hands after a manicure: moisturizes and nourishes it, strengthens your nails, and saves them from brittleness and splitting. To do this, you will need any vegetable oil, such as olive or coconut. You can also add lemon, orange, tangerine or grapefruit essential oil. Heat the oil (or a mixture of oils) to a temperature that is comfortable for you and hold your fingers in it for 15-20 minutes.

Nine best recipes

Try one of the recipes below to see how effective this simple and enjoyable procedure is.

Vitaminizing Doing this procedure is useful for brittle and peeling nails once a week. The bath recipe is simple - warm 60 ml of corn or almond oil, stir in 4 drops of vitamin A (from pharmacy capsules) and 5 drops of lemon juice. Soak your fingers in the oil mixture for 15 minutes.
Salt It must be done before a manicure to prepare the cuticle, and also as a nail strengthener. Thoroughly stir 1 tablespoon of sea salt in 250 ml of warm water until completely dissolved. Add 3 drops of tangerine essential oil to the solution. Immerse your hands in it and hold for 15 minutes.
Chamomile This remedy will prolong the youth of the skin and strengthen the nails. Chamomile baths can be done for small wounds on the hands to heal them. Pour 2 tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers into 500 ml of boiling water, cool the infusion at room temperature to 42 degrees. Immerse your hands in the hot broth for 7 minutes.

Lemon with oil Use this remedy for brittle nails. In a water bath, warm 120 ml of olive oil until warm, add 10 drops of lemon juice to it. Soak only your fingertips in the mixture for 12 minutes.
With soda The product helps to effectively remove stubborn dirt from the skin and disinfect it. It is recommended to take cleansing soda baths to soften your hands. Mix a little of any liquid soap with baking soda (7 g) and dissolve in 1200 ml of warm water. Add 2 teaspoons of ammonia to the water and mix thoroughly. Dip the brushes into the prepared solution for 20 minutes.
Dill Used to relieve fatigue, irritation and dry skin. Brew a tablespoon of dill seeds with 500 ml of boiling water, let it brew under the lid for 10 minutes, cool to a temperature of 40 degrees. Keep your hands in the finished infusion for no more than 7 minutes.
Cabbage with kefir The product is ideal for softening hands and strengthening the nail plate. It is very simple to prepare - combine 120 ml of sauerkraut juice with the same amount of kefir, hold your hands in this mixture for 10 minutes.

From starch If you regularly do this procedure, your nails will noticeably become stronger and the skin of your hands will be moisturized. Add a teaspoon of starch to 250 ml of boiling water, stir thoroughly to break up all the lumps. Add 750 ml of slightly warmed water to the mixture. Immerse the brushes in the starch bath and keep them there for 15 minutes.
From potato broth The moisturizing properties of this product will help chapped and cracked skin. Boil 3 peeled potato tubers, drain the water after cooking into a separate container and cool to 40 degrees. Place your hands in the broth for 7 minutes.

Contrast baths without adding additional components are also beneficial for the skin of your hands. They are easy to make. It is enough to alternately dip the brushes in containers with hot and cold water for 30 seconds, 10-12 times. The final step must be a bath with cold water.

After making therapeutic or contrast baths, wet your hands with a soft towel and apply cream to nourish the skin. You can complete the procedure with a massage with skin oil. To make the recipes more effective, make hand baths at home three times a week for a month.

Use gloves

Admit it, how often do you use gloves when washing dishes, doing laundry and cleaning? Meanwhile, the use of detergents negatively affects the condition of the skin and nails, and the integrity of the manicure. Dishwashing detergents, stain removers and laundry soap dry out the skin, leaving an unpleasant feeling of tightness. Because of such everyday little things, all your nail care after a manicure can go down the drain. Therefore, do not forget to use protective gloves to preserve the beauty of your hands until your next trip to the salon.

Masks at home

You can easily make nourishing and moisturizing skin masks at home, thanks to which the skin becomes even softer than from using baths. Such masks will not only nourish the skin, but also have a positive effect on the protective properties of the surface of the epidermis, while simultaneously stimulating the process of cellular restoration.

Tip: masks should only be applied to previously cleansed skin.

Most often, such products are made based on glycerin, lanolin, moisturizers, oils, vitamins, honey, wax, royal jelly, ginseng, chamomile, aloe and much more. In cosmetic stores you can purchase whitening, algae, modeling, anti-aging and other ready-made mixtures for masks.

As a mask, you can also use a regular fatty cream, which should be applied in a thick layer and kept on the surface of the skin for at least 15 minutes. The remnants of the mask are removed with warm water or simply removed with a paper napkin. It is recommended to apply such compositions at night, lubricating the skin with cream and wearing cellophane gloves on top. In the morning, the mask is washed off with warm water. Mask recipes:

Paraffin mask. Lubricate your palms and hands with cream, cover the top with paraffin, which must be brought to a liquid state when heated. Wrap the brushes in cellophane and put on terry or cotton mittens on top. This way it will be possible to slow down the cooling process of the paraffin composition. This remedy relieves tension in ligaments and muscles and relieves joint pain. Under the influence of heat, pores expand, sebaceous secretion and sweating increase, and lymph and blood formation improve. As a result, the skin becomes toned, tightened, and smooth. A paraffin mask is recommended for dehydrated and dry skin.
Oatmeal-honey mask. Mix three tablespoons of oatmeal with a tablespoon of olive oil, add the same amount of milk and one teaspoon of honey. Mix everything thoroughly and apply the resulting composition to the skin. After an hour, the mask can be removed. To enhance the effect, you can wear cotton gloves on top.
Oil-yolk mask. Beat one teaspoon of honey and one chicken egg yolk, add a tablespoon of olive or sunflower oil. Rub the resulting composition into the skin, wait 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and lubricate the brushes with nourishing cream.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that it is necessary to clean not only the skin of your hands, but also your nails. To do this, you can use special brushes and various oils. To lighten your nails, you can use lemon juice by rubbing it in thoroughly. The beauty of your skin can be complemented by a beautiful manicure.

Cosmetic product for nail care "Klavio"

Lotion "Clavio" is used to treat damaged, weak and brittle nails on the hands, as well as protect them from damage and exposure to environmental factors. It contains a polymer that creates a protective film on the surface of the nail plate, as well as water, minerals and vitamins. Eg:

D-panthenol is responsible for normalizing the water balance and nutrition of the nail plate;
vitamin PP (nicotinic acid) stimulates blood circulation, which ensures rapid growth and regeneration of the nail;
vitamin E helps improve metabolic processes, which helps restore the elasticity of the nail plate;
vitamin C (ascorbic acid) helps to moisturize the nail plate, because if it is insufficient, it becomes dull and dry, and bumps begin to form;
B vitamins protect nails from infections of fungal and bacterial origin; their deficiency provokes separation of the nail plates and even their deformation.

Klavio lotion is produced in a small container that contains a brown-yellow liquid with a specific odor. The bottle contains a cap with a thread and a brush.

To achieve the effect, it is necessary to use the Klavio lotion in a course; the duration of use should be an average of 14 days. During this period of time, the nails will recover, become stronger and healthier.

It is recommended to apply the product in between manicure procedures. The lotion is completely absorbed from the nail plates, without leaving even a visible transparent layer.

Despite the large number of positive aspects, the use of the cosmetic product is not recommended for individuals who, after a single use of the lotion, developed symptoms of allergic reactions.