发信人: tedyboy()
整理人: yangki(2001-01-11 01:05:41), 站内信件
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Great nails complete the picture of well-groomed good looks.
But for some women, getting them poses a real challenge.
"Regular care is essential if you want your nails to look
beautiful," says Jan Arnold, president of Creative Nail
Concepts. "This can mean a weekly visit to a professional
manicurist or time at home to clean and nourish your nails,"
she adds.
But if you're short on time and forced to pass up regular
visits to the manicurist, you are probably not making time
at home to take care of your hands, either. To help you get
started on your way to healthy, beautiful nails, here are
some home basics to keep in mind.
The Essentials
A large part of taking care of your nails properly is
having the right products and tools at your fingertips,
literally. Here's what Arnold suggests to help you build
your arsenal of healthy-nail products:
* Cotton balls
* Nail polish remover
* A nail file — as a rule, use one that is not too coarse
* An orange stick (a slim wood stick with chiseled ends)
* A nail brush
* Cuticle cream
* Hand cream
* A base coat
* Nail polish
* A top coat
* A nail stone
The Weekly Regimen
Arnold suggests treating your nails to a mini spa once
a week:
Clean Up
Remove all traces of nail polish on your nails and soak
hands in a bowl of lukewarm water to soften the cuticle.
Use a softly bristled nailbrush to clean any dirt from
underneath the nails. Next, wrap the tip of an orange
stick with cotton (moisten the tip slightly so the cotton
adheres better) and gently push cuticles back toward the
nail bed (you can also do this with a terry cloth towel
wrapped around your finger). At this point don't be tempted
to cut your cuticles, since it's almost impossible to do
it correctly by yourself. "Cut them only if you have a
hang nail," says Arnold. "And if you do, make sure your
hands are damp since cutting dry skin can lead to infections."
Shape your nails by filing in one direction only (a back
and forth action can lead to tears). Don't file deep into
corners of the nail bed since this weakens the nail.
Christian Dior's new Diorific Nail Enamel, above, adds
intense color and shine.
Moisturize
At this point, be generous with cuticle and hand cream.
Good choices are products with alpha hydroxy acids which
help keep cuticles in check and diminish fine lines and
wrinkles. If your hands, nails and cuticles are seriously
dried and ragged looking, consider giving yourself an
overnight deep conditioning treatment by slathering on a
rich hand cream and covering your hands with white cotton
gloves (available at beauty supply stores). In the morning
when you take them off, you'll think you have new hands!
Some creams to consider:
* Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream
* Vital Thymes, Uplifting Hands
* Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Age Hand Treatment
* Visible Solutions Rejuvenating Hand Treatment
* Ahava Advanced Hand Cream
Polished Perfection
Once you've cleaned, shaped and moisturized your hands,
remove any residue in the nail area with a bit of polish
remover. Apply a base coat to the nails to protect and
prevent them from turning yellow. On top of the base coat,
apply two coats of polish. Clean any goofs with the tip
of an orange stick (no cotton on the end) dipped in polish
remover. Finish with a top coat to protect the color from
chipping and add shine.
Borghese's Spa Mani, above, gives hands an intensive
moisturizing treatment.
Things to Keep in Mind
1.If you are so busy that you can't find time to treat
your nails, consider giving your nails their mini spa
while you're in the shower. Keep your nail brush and
diamond stick (the orange sticks will rot) in the stall.
Clean your nails with your nail brush. Then, after you
shampoo, take advantage of your soft cuticles to push
them back. Apply cuticle cream when you've toweled off.
Voilà!
2.Change your polish every week. If you leave it on and
it begins to peel and crack it will affect the health of
your nails.
3.When using nail polish remover, place a saturated cotton
ball on top of the nail, count to three, then gently wipe
from nail bed to the tip. Do not rub back and forth; it
damages the nail bed.
4.Touch up your polish every three to four days: One good
coat of color and a top coat does the trick.
5.Jonice Padilha, co-owner of the J. Sisters Salon in New
York City, recommends using a darker polish if your nails
aren't in perfect shape. "Dark colors tend to absorb light
and diminish imperfections —and touch-ups are easier,"
she says.
6.Don't scrape, pick, pull or open anything with your nails.
If you plan on gardening, cleaning or doing the dishes,
wear gloves.
7.A healthy diet is essential when it comes to having
healthy nails. Be sure you are consuming the recommended
daily allowance of vitamins and minerals, including calcium
and vitamins A and D. And remember, it takes three to six
months to grow them from base to tip, so don't expect
miracles overnight.
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