Healthy nails are important for several reasons so it is important to know what they look and feel like. They protect the sensitive tips of your fingers and toes from injury and act as a shield against trauma to help prevent damage to the soft tissue beneath. Healthy nails are less prone to fungal and bacterial infections where as damaged or brittle nails can lead to cracks or splits, providing an entry point for bacteria and infections. 

Characteristics of a healthy nail

How do I keep my nails healthy?

Now that you know the characteristics of healthy nails how do you achieve them and then maintain their quality? The condition of your nails can be a reflection of your overall health. Changes in nail color, texture, or shape can sometimes indicate underlying health conditions, like nutritional deficiencies or certain diseases. So it is important to keep a balanced diet and contact your doctor if you have any chronic issues. 

Shellac and Gel nails - while they may be a good alternative for acrylic nails - are still drilled and filed off. This is terrible for the health of the keratin layers in your natural nails and in extreme circumstances can even expose the nerves in the nail bed. It is important to give your nails breaks in between sets of false nails to allow them to breathe and recover. Using products like Inacril Nail Serum and Cuticle Oil help this process by providing your nails with the tools they need the recover and aid those keratin layers that have been damaged.

Other steps you can take including using a fine grit nail file such as a glass nail file. This causes less trauma to the nail than a traditional emery board. Limit your nails exposure to water especially water with chemicals in it such as chlorine. Excessive repeated exposure can weaken the nail plate and cause dryness and brittleness. 

Which vitamins help healthy nails?

There are many different nutrients that your body needs in order to grow healthy nails. These include:

• Biotin (vitamin B7) - helps promote keratin production
• Iron - Essential component of blood cells that carry oxygen to your nail
• Zinc - important for cell growth
  

A lack of these specific nutrients are all linked to the development of weak and brittle nails. Please remember that is it always best to consult your doctor before considering dietary supplements.