Entries from June 2007 ↓

Brittle nails are simply nails that have dried out to such a degree that they are splitting or simply snapping off.This is a common problem for a lot of women, but if you know what is causing it, you are that much closer to fighting back.

Known Causes

* -contact with harsh household products

* -low grade polish removers

* -metal nail files

* -chlorine from swimming pools

* -shortage of calcium or essential fatty acids

* -products containing formaldehyde

Tips that Can Help

* -Use polish removers no more than once a week. The low grade polishes I mentioned above can be extremely drying and have the strength of paint strippers in some cases.

* They can also remove the microorganisms that are necessary to healthy nails. Look for removers that are oil based.

* -Massage the nails with castor oil. After a month or two, you should notice a difference. Olive oil is another inexpensive way to moisturize dehydrated nails.

* -Give your nails a break from daily use of polishes. Let them breathe as much as possible. Rubbing the surface of the nail with your fingertips can not only stimulate circulation but leave each nail with a healthy glow.

Foods That Can Help

1. Salmon

2. Tuna

3. Shrimp

4. Trout

5. Cauliflower

6. Liver

7. Milk

For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page

The condition of our nails speaks volumes about us. While you or I may pay scant attention to our nails, others will. Think of the nasty nails you’ve seen on display in open-toed shoes and you know what I mean. Showing off out-of-style nail trends also says a lot about us — mostly that we don’t subscribe to fashion magazines. When was the last time you saw a model with a French manicure or nail art?

Nail Art
I sincerely hope no one orders a hit on me for saying this, but nail art is tacky. A painted flower on one big toe is cute because it’s dainty and unexpected, but ten fingers decorated in swiggles, lightening bolts or glued-on cubic zirconias are wrong.

That said, if you love nail art (in some parts of the country, such style is incredibly sought after). There are loads of ideas for nails.

French Manicures
People think French manicures are a classic style but I agree with the editors of a major beauty magazine (the name of which I can no longer remember) who stated quite firmly that French manis are declasse.

Even tackier than French manicures? French pedicures. Find out what happened when I said that on a blog in May, 2006. More than 50 people wrote in the comments section either agreeing or vehemently disagreeing with me.

Fingernails of Varying Lengths
This is a major fingernail faux pas of which I am constantly guilty. It is a big no-no to leave one’s house with unkept nails of varying lengths (I will never forget the day my friend Deirdre took one glance at my hands and said, “That’s just wrong.”).

At any given time, one of my nails will be legions longer than the other nails, no two of which are the same length. This is because I have nails of varying strengths. If I let them grow, only the nails on my pinkie and ring fingers would make it to Guinness Book of World Record length. My thumbs? Not a chance. They are always the first to break.

Long nails in general are not popular right now. Even if you have fingernails that are strong as horse hooves, you should aim for a short, rounded nail.

Unkept Nails
Chipped nail polish isn’t cool. If you are like me and are too lazy for proper upkeep, skip the color and try a clear polish.

Also falling under “unkept”: Chewed nails. To stop biting your nails, invest in a manicure. You’ll think twice before gnawing on your $20 investment. Plus, nail polish doesn’t taste good.

So what type of nails are in? Short, rounded nails. Squares were popular for awhile and are ok, but rounded is really the way to go. Paint nails a bright, dark, opaque (my fave) or clear. Bare nails are also OK if you are too busy for manicures or inately lazy like me.

For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page

There are a lot of little things that you could be doing without even thinking about it. And, it could be taking a toll on your nails. Here are some of the things that we all do from time to time.

* Don’t wash a dish without slipping into a pair of rubber gloves. Hand models who make their living from their gorgeous hands and nails, wouldn’t dream of doing any housework without some sort of gloves to protect their investment.
* You haven’t made certain that your nails are dry and free of oil before applying polish.
* You find that your polish is chipped and you can’t help yourself from picking at the remaining polish. Not a good idea. You could actually damage the underlying nail.
* Don’t let your nails get too long. Not only do they look unattractive… picture talons in your mind…

# they are easier to break.
# Don’t use your nails as tools. We do this all the time, and it weakens our nails.
# We go out in public with chipped polish. Nothing looks worse and everyone does notice. Get a repolish
# You don’t moisturize your cuticles and it is such an easy thing to do. Get into the habit of moisturizing every night. Who needs hangnails.
# I was told a long time ago never to carry heavy packages. The reason… the weight caused blood to rush to your hands and becoming trapped in the veins, which in time enlarges them. That is not something you want to see when you hit your forties.
# You don’t carry an emery board with you at all times. If you find yourself with a snag and you don’t have an emery board handy, guess what you are going to use… that’s right, your teeth.
# No one likes ridges in their nails, but overbuffing could lead to traumatizing the nail. Instead, massage a good oil into the nail and then a ridge filling base coat. That should take care of the ridges before you apply your polish.

For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page

Some quick tips to help: -Yellow Nails - Soak your nails in one-fourth cup of bleach mixed with one-half cup of water. -Not Quite Dry - Coat wet nails with cuticle oil and cover your nails with plastic wrap. -Polish Smudge - Moisten the pad of your finger with polish remover and tap lightly to smooth it out. -Chipped Polish - Moisten your finger with polish remover and quickly swipe over the chipped area to smooth out the edges. -Broken Nail - If the break isn?t too low, carefully cut the nail, file it, and trim the other nails so they?re of equal length. For a big break apply a couple of drops of nail glue to the surface of the nail. Let set and hold the break in place for about a minute. Reapply glue and cover the nail with a piece of tea bag or tissue. Let dry, and then buff excess off.

For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page

Your nails take a beating in summer. Make sure you care for them properly and they’ll look positively gorgeous. Pedicure of summer! In the buff: Hard skin builds up quickly on your feet in summer because they’re more exposed than in winter. Using a pumice stone every night in the bath or shower will prevent your heels from cracking and needing more drastic action. After using a pumice stone on stubborn areas, rub over your feet with an exfoliator and apply a nourishing foot treatment cream to keep skin soft. Bright nails look lovely in summer, but if you can’t maintain them, rather use a buffing kit that makes nails look pretty with minimal effort. Buffing also removes the orange stain that nail polish leaves behind after it has oxidised on the nail plate.

Go for bright: As soon as summer sandals come out of your cupboard, so should pretty nail polish, at least on your toes. Make sure that your nails are well prepared by smoothing any ridges with a buffing kit or a ridge filler. Keep toenails short to prevent the tips from chipping and apply a topcoat every two to three days to protect the colour. Fast-drying formulations tend to chip more quickly than regular nail polish, so if you plan on walking barefoot on the beach, take the time initially to apply a regular nail polish rather than having to redo the whole process because it’s chipped so quickly.

For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page

Some interesting facts about our age and our hands.

In your 20s: Prevention is better than cure.Get into the habit now of applying sunscreen to the back of your hands after you’ve applied it to your face. When you’re driving, your hands are constantly exposed on the steering wheel, because UVA penetrates through glass. By protecting your hands now, you’ll prevent pigmentation blotches later, which can be time-consuming and costly to erase.

In your 30s: Beautiful hands in a hurry.Keep a tube of hand cream next to your hand basin, next to your bed and in your car ? and apply it often. But if your hands seem beyond repair, book a specialised manicure: Warm oil is massaged onto your hands and then they’re dipped in paraffin wax to boost the effect (your hands heat up in the wax). It’s the best way to get beautiful hands… fast.

In your 40s: Banish blotchy pigmentation.Regular exfoliation will keep your hands looking smooth and youthful. It removes dry skin, and also improves the appearance of superficial blotchiness caused by pigmentation. A hand cream that contains antioxidants, retinol or hydroxy acids will also help, but it needs to be applied regularly. Cape Town dermatologist Dr Ean Smit recommends microdermabrasion to treat pigmentation. IPL is another option. You should see results after the first of these non-invasive treatments, but subsequent treatments might be necessary if blotches are large or numerous. It is very important to apply a sunblock after IPL or microdermabrasion to prevent pigmentation from returning or intensifying.

In your 50s: Help for bony hands.With age, the layer of dermal fat that gives the skin its cushioning diminishes, so hands and feet look bonier and blood vessels become more obvious. Fat can be injected into the hands to soften the boniness, but respected South African plastic surgeon Dr Gavin Morrison recommends caution. ‘One needs to be careful with hands, as their primary purpose is function. Also, because fat takes best where there is some subcutaneous tissue in which to site it, the risk is irregularity.’

For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page

Apply speed-dry nail polish when time is of the essence. Drink lots of water. Keep your body hydrated everyday to maintain healthy nails. Fortify your diet with FDA approved vitamins or supplements. Your fingernails count on you to be responsible with your health and your diet. Unless instructed otherwise by your physician, increase your daily doses of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, folic acid, protein, Vitamin B12, and zinc. Touch up your manicure on a daily basis to prevent chips and cracks. Your nails depend on you to maintain a healthy diet. Take in lots.

For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page

A pedicure is a way to improve the appearance of the feet, and their nails. It basically is a manicure for the feet. The word pedicure comes form the Latin words pes, which means foot, and cura, which means care. It also means the care of the feet and toenails. A pedicure can be helpful because it can prevent nail pedicurediseases and nail disorders.

History: The history of pedicures dates back to ancient Egypt. A carving of a pharaoh’s official was noted as representing pedicures and manicures. Pedicures contain different parts: 1. Filing 2. Cuticle nipping - clipping excess cuticle around nail. When clipping cuticles, care needs to be taken to avoid infection. 3. Cleansing the nails - wash nails in finger bath with warm, soapy water. 4. Buffing - shaping of the nails. the nails.

For any enquiry or if you would like to get your nails groomed, give us a call or visit our salon! Our details can be found on this web page - Manhattan Nails Contact Page