Looking great and feeling great often go hand in hand. Partly, that's because good nutrition truly shows -- your hair, your skin, and your nails all look their best when you start by eating the right foods. And so, if your current beauty goal is to grow long, beautiful nails, start at the dinner table by eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to get the necessary vitamins.

Now that you've got the nutrition aspect under control, let's talk about some other things you can do for healthy nails. According to ehow.com, there are five steps you can take to get your best nails ever.

Click through the gallery to learn more about the vitamins you need and to see the steps -- but don't break a nail!

Source

I've worn fake nails exactly one time in my life -- on Halloween when I was a teenager. And all I can say about that experience is that I've kept my nails super short ever since. Typing, opening jars and even wiping your behind are just too much hassle with long nails, if you ask me. But if you've found a way to get used to acrylic nails, good for you. However, there are some things you should know about acrylic nails, according to my favourite beauty experts, the Beauty Brains:

• Don't use your nails as a tool. Sure, your nails are a handy alternative to a screwdriver, but if you end up ripping it off? You real nail goes too. Ouch.
  
• Acrylic nails can also expose you to some harmful chemicals.
  
• Gel sculpted nails can react with some medications.
  
• Nail polish remover can be harmful both to real and artificial nails.
  

Want to find out why? Read the original post. And tell us -- do you use acrylic nails? Have you encountered any problems with them?

Source

Do your nails look a little worse for wear? They may need more than a manicure. Your fingernails and toenails can actually be a window into your internal health and various problems you may be having with them may be a sign that something more serious than ragged cuticles is going on. If your nails:

• are shaped like spoons, it can be sign of anemia.
• are pitted, it may be a symptom of psoriasis or alopecia.
• are yellow or orange, it could be a sign of sinus infection or lung disease.
• show signs of clubbing, it could be due to lung or cardiac problems including cystic fibrosis or TB.
• are uniformly white, except for a band at the top, it could indicate liver cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, or diabetes.

Before you cover up those unsightly nail imperfections with the perfect polish, make sure they aren't giving you a sign that you need to make a visit to your doctor first!

Source

As you've almost certainly experienced, the first thing that hits you when you open a bottle of nail polish is that awful smell. This is due to the chemicals nail polish is made from -- namely phtalates, solvents and formaldehydes, along with a few fragrances, synthetic preservatives and dyes. For many people, this can cause an allergic reaction.

Chances are, you won't find a nail polish that doesn't use these chemicals. However, there are some alternatives that aren't quite so toxic -- like those offered by Honeybee Gardens and Natural Solutions.

That said, they apparently aren't very effective, and might still trigger a reaction in those with more severe allergies. So, Linda McCloud of BeyondAllergy.com offers some simple tips for great-looking nails without polish.

1. Keep your fingernails clean.
2. Soak them frequently in a bowl of warm water and gentle soap.
3. File them weekly.
4. Use a nail buffer to keep them ridge free and shinier.
5. For extra white and shine, use a half of a lemon as a buffer.

Source

The same way your hair has a major impact on how your face looks, your nails have a major impact on how your hands look. It seems like some poeple are naturally blessed with beautiful fingers and fingernails, while the rest of us struggle with brittle, peeling, cracking nails that break easily.

So what sets some people apart from others when it comes to long sleek nails versus short breaking ones? According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, some common causes are over-using nail products (nail polish, polish removers, hardeners, or other nail products and applications), low zinc or iron levels, or even thyroid problems.

And sadly, sometimes brittle nails are just a normal side-effect of the aging process.

Oh yay.

Source