12 tips for naturally beautiful nails

You don’t have to visit the salon on a regular basis in order to have beautiful nails. The combination of a well-balanced diet, a thoughtful beauty regimen, and good personal hygiene can give you salon-worthy nails at a fraction of the cost and chemical burden.

1. Use moisturizer

When rubbing lotion or oil into your hands, make sure you work it into the cuticles and nails, too. Regular handwashing or use of hand sanitizer can dry out the skin and nail bed quickly, so try to moisturize after every wash, if possible. Coconut oil is excellent for rubbing into your nails and cuticles.

2. Care for your cuticles

Avoid having your cuticles trimmed during a manicure. Cuticles are meant to be a barrier for bacteria, and cutting them can lead to painful infections. You can moisten and push them back with a cuticle pusher, and trim away only dead pieces of skin.If you’re planning on having a conventional manicure done, then at least protect your cuticles by dabbing with olive oil or almond oil prior, in order to reduce the amount of chemical that soaks in from the polish.

3. Avoid using harsh polish

Nail polish typically contains very toxic chemicals such as toluene, dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl and diethyl phthalates, camphor, and formaldehyde. Fortunately, companies such as OPI, Orly, Sally Hansen, and Revlon make some polishes that do not contain these chemicals, but make sure you read the label carefully before purchasing. You can also buy water-based polishes, which don't last as long but are the safest option out there.

4. Seek out alternatives

There are companies now making less toxic polishes and removers. Check out the following list and take your favorite color along when you go to the salon for your next pedicure.Suncoat
Scotch Naturals
Acquarella
SpaRitual
Deborah Lippman
Priti
No-Miss Nail Care

5. Buff instead of color

It may not be as fancy or eye-catching as color, but a bit of buffing can go a long ways. Take the time to trim, file, and buff your nails properly and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how great they can look, despite being au naturel. Never saw back and forth with a file because that can weaken your nails. Always file from the outside edge of the nail inward.

6. Choose a good remover

You can get acetone-free remover almost anywhere, which is less harsh on your nails. Priti sells a remover made entirely from soy and corn, and No-Miss has one called Almost Natural that contains fruit acids and vanilla.

7. Eat well

Diet is very important to maintaining healthy nails. Protein is crucial, as are omega-3 fatty acids. Eating foods with vitamin B reduces brittleness; zinc gets rid of white spots; iron prevents ridges from forming; calcium keeps them strong; vitamins A and C prevents dullness and drying. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

 8. Gather supplies

  You'll need a few tools in order to make your nails look healthy and beautiful. You might have to spend a little money to accumulate everything you need, but over time doing your own nails is much less expensive than getting manicures. Here's what you need:

• Nail trimmers
• Nail file
• Polish remover
• Cotton balls
• Buffer
• Cuticle cream
• Hand lotion
• Orange stick

9. Soak your nails in a bowl of warm water

  Soaking your nails softens them and makes them easier to trim. It also makes your cuticles more supple and easier to push back. Soak for about five minutes, until your nails are pliable, then dry them on a towel. 
 

10. Trim and file your nails

 Use nail trimmers to create the nail shape you want, either squared off or rounded. Don't trim too short; you want to leave a white crescent on each nail. This extra length protects your nail beds and looks pretty, too. Use a nail file to neaten the edges and smooth out the shape of your nails^.

• When you're using a nail file, move it in one direction across the tip of your nail. Don't scrape it back and forth, since this damages your nail fibers.
• Avoid using a file to make your nails shorter; always start with a nail trimmer, then use the file just for shaping purposes.
• Do not round the corners down into the sides of the nail bed, because this can cause ingrown nails, especially on the big toes.

11. Push back your cuticles

  Dry your nails and apply a cuticle cream. Let the cream soak in for about three minutes, then use an orange stick (or cuticle pusher) to gently push back the cuticles, the skin growing at the base of your nail. This makes the shape of your nails prettier and prepares them for an even coat of polish. Wipe off the cuticle cream when you're finished.

• Never force your cuticles back, and never trim them. Cuticles are there to prevent infection, and cutting them will leave your fingers prone to getting red and sore.
• If you don't have an orange stick, try using a binder clip or another item with a flat edge. Just make sure not to use anything sharp.

12.Buff your nails

  Use the rough side of your nail buffer to buff your nails, gently running it across the surface of your nails in one direction. Next switch to the medium-grade side and repeat the process. Finish buffing with the smoothest, finest side to add sheen to your nails. Don't grind down the surface of your nails too much. You don't want to thin out your nails. The goal with buffing is just to create a smooth, shiny surface.