This is the next topic from the poll at
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,9221.0.htmlYou can read about my experience (some of the information I have put in this post) here
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,660.msg10617.html#msg10617Nail (fingernails/toenails) definitionThe thin, horny, transparent plate covering the upper surface of the end of a finger or toe.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/88/F0128800.htmlBasic nail anatomy
The
free edge is the part of the nail the extends past the finger, beyond the nail plate. There are no nerve endings in the nail - this is the growing part of the nail still under the skin at the nail's proximal end.
eponychium or cuticle, is the fold of skin at the proximal end of the nail.
paronychium is the fold of skin on the sides of the nail.
hyponychium is the attachment between the skin of the finger or toe and the distal end of the nail.
nail plate is what we think of when we say nail, the hard and translucent portion, composed of keratin.
nail bed is the adherent connective tissue that underlies the nail.
lunula is the crescent shaped whitish area of the nail bed (when visible)
nail fold a fold of hard skin overlapping the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail.
taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FingernailPurpose of nails Human nails protect the tips of the toes and fingers, while fingernails help us pick up small objects and scratch ourselves.
Nail growing process and composition.Nails grow at an average rate of 0.1mm a day (1 cm every 100 days).[1] Fingernails require 4 to 6 months to regrow completely. Toenails require 12 to 18 months. Actual growth rate is dependent upon age, season, exercise level, and hereditary factors.
Fingernails and toenails, which are made of a tough protein called keratin and are a form of modified hair. For more information on molecular make up of nails and keratin see
http://www.bookrags.com/Keratin.Nail NutritionThe best way to support nails as well as hair and skin is to eat a proper diet (to help regulate hydration, oil production, and overall function of cells). Eat foods found in all three basic food groups. Fats, carbohydrates, and protiens.
Vitamins aid in healing, softening, and fighting diseases. Vitamins A, C, D, and E have been shown to have positive effects on the skin's health. Internal is better than external, though external helps some. These are the main ingredients in most skin helping supplements, lotions, and revitalizers.
Vitamin A -overall health of skin (health, function, and repair, antioxidant) , improves elasticity and thickness. In topical acid form it is main ingredient to Retin-A.
Vitamin C- absorbic acid, repair, aids and speeds up healing, fights aging, promotes collagen (helps skin be healthy and firm)
Vitamin D- healthy rapid healing skin, best source sunlight (limited), also helps bones (added to milk because of this)
Vitamin E- tocopherol, with vitamin A helps fight UV rays, great internally or externally, helps heal damaged skin (even burns)
Water- Drink Pure Water- take body weight divide by 2, then divide result by 8. example 160 pounds/2=80/8=10 glasses of 8 ounce water; add 2 more if you do intense physical activity.
Some basic nail productsNail clippers
Nail files
Nail buffers
Nail polish, Nail polish remover, Nail dryers, Nail top coats
Nail strengtheners and conditioners
Cuticle removers (tools and or liquid desolvers)
Nail Anti-Fungal and Antiseptics
Nail Art: decals, rhinestones, jewelry, striping tape, decals and specialty paints, glues and top coats
Nail services (from solon).Manicure
Pedicure
Set of nails [fiberglass, gel, acrylic]
Nail repair
Polish, buff
Nail Art
(just picking random ones just to get a small range of possible prices [see your local salons for more exact prices]
Sample Costs USA
http://www.pazazzspa.com/NailServices.cfm,
http://www.highlandspa.com/nailsalon.html,
http://www.salonschools.com/ht_docs/services/nail.shtml,
http://www.bobsteele.com/Web-2006/service-nail.htmI need to find some UK, Australia, and Canada prices too. Feel free to link me some sample prices from other countries also.
Proper trimming and maintenance stepsSo first, eat well to create building blocks, drink Pure Water sufficient amount, take a multivitamin (helps with all basic vitamins), add supplements for A, C, D, and E internally
Add lotions, conditioners, and nail oils/nutritions to troubled areas externally(find one best for you),
Nails- B vitamins, gelatin, and keeping them hydrated (oils, moisturizers, and sealer/protectors)
Massage hands and arms to improve circulation of nutrients to the hands and nails.
File instead of clip if possible. File from the side to the tip. Any chips or cracks should be filed before they spread. Clippers should only be used to take large chunks of nail off (following major breaks), followed by filling them. Metal ones are the least effective files, where as the ones more sand paper like(emry boards) are better (files smoother), the common double sided 2 different sided grained ones are very good
If Nails are brittle try a more squarish shape of nail shape to give it more strength
Wear rubber gloves if in contact with harsh chemical cleaning agent
Constant quick dry polishes, removal agents, and hardening agents may weaken and dry out nails. Take a break from them and go natural for a while
Different nail shapes
Popular shapesSharp-corner Square
Totally trendy now, trends change, but these nails always looks good. This shape looks great with short nails and on longer ones too. Square is more masculine then round or oval
Oval
These nails look glamorous but break easily and make typing more difficult. Very feminine.
Rounded
Good for the active person who hates to fuss. A low maintenance manicure. Between masculine and feminine.
LengthsNo Nails: At a minimum, the nail should cover the entire nail bed. Very popular masculine length. At a minimum loition or oil them to keep moisturized.
Short Nails: Also popular for any gender is a slight protrusion around 1/8 inch (about 1 months growth). This is mostly masculine, with only slight femininity, though a curve can feminize this length a bit
Medium Nails: More daring and length becomes evident is about double the slight length somewhere around 1/4 inch (about 2 months growth).
Long Nails: These are in the 3 to 6 month growth range (3/8 to 1 inch growth). Special care must be taken to prevent breaking.
Ultra long Nails: These are much longer than 1 inch and rare.
For some long fingernails on men see a great site with pictures at
http://www.xs4all.nl/~richardw/nails.htm.Nail colors, designs, and decoration.Natural- masculine
Clear Polished-masculine slightly feminine or metrosexual
One Color traditional [should work together with your clothing, style, and mood]
One Color -black (or a few dark colors or unusual colors) can be used by some artists/musicians in a masculine way.
French Manicured- Feminine shiek style
Non traditional colored, symbolism, shocking or unusual colors, statements - Spiritual or Social movement related
Exotic - seductive
Nail Art - Artsy creative persona
Nail Biting [from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nail_biting]
Nail biting is the habit of biting one's fingernails or toenails during periods of nervousness, stress, hunger, or boredom. It can also be a sign of mental or emotional disorder. The clinical name for nail biting is chronic onychophagia.
28% to 33% of children ages 7-10 years old,
44% of adolescents,
19% to 29% of young adults and
5% of older adults
It is more common in young males
Negative side-effects
Biting the nails can result in the spreading of germs that are on or under the surface of the nail into the mouth. It may cause the spread nail fungi, staph bacteria or viruses.Thus biting nails can potentially cause health issues.
A compulsive nail biter could also be tempted to bite not only the nail, but also the surrounding skin and cuticle, possibly breaking skin. Broken skin is susceptible to microbial and viral infections. These pathogens can be spread between the fingers and toes via the mouth. A normal, healthy (nail biting) person has a very low risk of suffering from infections.
Nail biting also has the negative side effect of restraining the use of the hands. A compulsive nailbiter can be restricted in their ability to work (i.e. writing, typing, drawing, playing stringed instruments, driving) because of the damage done to the nail or surrounding skin and/or anxiety in regards to the appearance of their nails. However, non nailbiters often find they must cut their nails to a very short length to play stringed instruments or the piano, as nails inhibit the playing of such instruments.
A long-time habit of nailbiting may have detrimental effects on the substantia adamantinea of the front teeth, promoting caries in these areas.
Extreme nailbiting is considered to be a form of self-mutilation. Chronic nailbiters will bite their nails so much so that it borderlines masochism. Fingertips will become overly sensitive to pain, usually at the place the skin meets the edge of the nail. If the nail has been bit short enough, salty foods (such as potato chips and pickles) can get between the skin and nail and cause pain and hypersensitivity.
Nail biting is, according to Freudian theory, a symptom of oral fixation.
