First Aid for Nails

Did you know that nails grow faster in summer? How do you choose the right hand cream to suit your needs? When should you throw out your nail file so it doesn't damage your nails? The answers to these and other questions come from Lina Valerieva of the Nail Home manicure studio, whom we introduced to you back in March (watch our interview with her on our YouTube channel). Read her answers here and take proper care of your nails. If you're curious about anything else, write to us! You can now also watch part two of our interview with her.

What should we eat to have beautiful, healthy nails and hands?

Like all the cells in our body, the cells that form our nails are also nourished and supplied with oxygen through the blood. So, when we eat healthily, the condition of the skin and nails tends to be better. However, we shouldn't forget that this also depends on many other factors.

Nails are part of our hands. How should we care for them so they stay healthy and look good?

There are a few things worth following if you want your natural nails to look healthy. The overall condition of the body matters, and so does a well-rounded diet.

I would give a few tips for home care of natural nails. Use an oil or cream for the cuticle and the nail plate. It's important that this isn't the same cream you use for your body or hands, but one specifically designed for this purpose. The nail file should have an abrasive suited to natural nails, and you shouldn't use it once it's already worn out.

Is there seasonality in hand and nail care? If so, what do we need to know?

Hand care differs between the warm and cold months. During the warm months the skin needs hydration, while during the cold months it needs active nourishment, and sometimes a cream with protective properties. Seasonality comes down to using the right cream for the season and for your skin type.

Hand cream should be chosen not by its scent, but by skin type and need. Nails also change with the climate. In warmer climates nails grow faster, while in colder ones, due to weaker blood flow reaching the last phalanx, our nails often become weaker. They also break more easily when our hands are very cold, since we don't have the same sensitivity.

Do nails change with age?

We all know that cell division is accelerated up to a certain point, after which cell renewal slows down. In older people, nails grow significantly more slowly than in childhood and youth. Other changes may also appear, such as ridging or dryness, and beyond the aesthetic aspect, these too need proper care and maintenance.

When we go for a manicure for the first time, what should we say or ask? How do we recognize a professional?

First, you need to trust the professional. The manicurist is the one who should be asking you the questions.

When first booking your appointment, you should clarify exactly which procedure you want, so they can assess how much time it will take and so both of you can plan your schedules.

Once you're at your appointment, the manicurist examines your hands or feet and then must decide which material and technique to use based on your individual case. A good professional can be recognized by whether they're willing to do something they know isn't suitable, just because the client wants it, or worse, simply doesn't know any better. That's the second problem: when they don't have a wide enough range of techniques and the necessary knowledge to make a real, informed choice, and instead react based on their limited abilities.

We believe that beauty comes from within, outward. What do the hands of a beautiful woman look like?

Well cared for - yes, definitely, that's the word, because every hand undergoes changes due to age, climate, and purely physical activities… This doesn't necessarily mean professional maintenance; even proper care at home is enough.

A well cared for woman is a beautiful woman, her hands have beautiful, healthy, elastic skin and a well-done manicure.