It is not just the face that needs to look good for a good impression, the hands and feet are equally important. One way you can have gorgeous hands and feet is by grooming and taking care of your nails.

EATING RIGHT

What you ingest will definitely have an effect on your nails, and thus to grow stronger, healthier and shinier nails, add lean meat, eggs, milk, salmon, flax seeds, almonds, lentils and beans to your diet. Nails are made of the protein Keratin; hence, a diet rich in protein can help your nails grow faster and tougher. Essential fatty acids present in flax seed, folic acid present in lentils and beans, and biotin in almonds will keep your nails from becoming too brittle and breaking off.

BREAK THE HABIT

Habits like biting your nails or peeling your nail polish off are your nails' worst nightmare. Just leave the poor things alone. If you bite your nails due to anxiety or boredom, find an alternative like chewing a gum or twiddling your thumbs. If a chipped nail polish irks you then use a polish remover to wipe it off immediately instead of peeling it off. Peeling can chip away the top layer of your nail bed making your nails more sensitive to breakage.

MINI MANI AND PEDI

You can create your own, easy-to-do routine at home for the perfect hands and feet. Cut your nails according to the shape you want. Then soak your hands and feet in warm water but not for too long because the water can make your nails soft. Then scrub away dead skin cells and remove dirt under your nails with a cuticle remover. But don't cut your cuticles because they can sometimes lead to more cuticle formation and infection. Just push your cuticle back. Then file your nails to get that sharp edge but do not file back and forth. File from the corners to the center in one direction and in one fluid motion. This will help prevent frayed edges. Lastly, don't forget to moisturise. Apply a nail polish the next day to ensure that your nails have dried completely.

MOISTURE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

Moisturisers will not only make your hands and feet look smoother but will also keep your nails healthy. You can apply your daily lotion or moisturizer or you can use a cotton bud to apply some olive oil to your nail bed and cuticles. This will prevent your cuticles from drying and chipping and your nail beds from looking rough.

PROTECT ALL THE WAY

When applying nail polish, make sure you apply a clear base coat or nail hardening lacquer first. This way when you do apply a nail polish it will prevent staining of your nails while keeping them strong. Don't keep your polish on for long. Make sure to remove them after a week. Wait for another week of rest before applying a new coat. 

Pretty nails can truly give your hands and feet the right make over. Choose the colours to suit your day to day life, and you are set to go.