Beauty: Beautiful nails

I've been noticing a lot of questions about fingernails recently. A lot of women want to know how to make them strong, how long to wear them and what shape. I've always had a fascination with nails, no not in an odd way. I love how if you find the perfect length that they can make a hand look so delicate and elongated.

My mom had some of the most beautiful nails I have ever seen. She always got comments on them and some wouldn't even believe that they were real. She took such amazing care of them, every night before bed she would manicure them (it ranged from filing, clipping, using creams for cuticles and polishing them). Never once in my 23 years with her did she ever get fake nails and she never took prenatal vitamins.

After years and years of having awful nails, I decided to take charge and follow in my mom's well manicured footsteps. I don't actually put color on my nails, like she did, because I mess them up too quickly. If I do paint them for some reason it is a light shade and done once in a blue moon. Other than that I do everything she did and so far it's really paying off for me. My nails are much better! To get there I have a few trusty items that I thought I would share with you.

Hand Lotion: This is kind of a give away. Soft hands lead to soft cuticles and less breakage. I honestly don't have a set lotion I must have. I use whatever I have around, though I do love the smell and feel of Lavanila's "The Healthy Body Butter" in Pure Vanilla. I got mine as a free sample from Sephora (loves!). Once my sample runs out I may just have to get more of it, though the $25 price tag is hard to fall in love with.

Photo from Kaboodle.com

Cuticle Clippers: This is a must for me. I can get bad hangnails and would freak out if I didn't have a clipper on hand (an have done so once or twice). There are a lot of them out there. Some are good and some are really bad. I try not to get any that have plastic in them. I like mine to be all metal and have a double spring. I get mine at Target from Tweezerman.

Photo from Target.com

Nail file: Here is where a lot of people debate on metal and the emery board. After a lot of trials I have stuck with the metal version. The emery board always loses it's kick after a few days for me. Another plus for me is that the metal ones have a pointed tip which helps get things out from under your nails (we've all been there). Oh and I don't want to forget about glass nail files. I like them as well, though at times they can be too thick to get into the place where the side of your nail meets the skin.

Photo from Walgreens.com

Cuticle cream: I have found this is something that I cannot live without. I now understand why my mom used it all the time. I found my love in Burts Bees "Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream". I am in love with how it feels going on. It's not greasy at all and soaks in quickly, plus the smell is wonderful. It even gets a 100% approval rating at their site! Within only a few days of using it, I notice a total change in my cuticles. I go everywhere with it. You can buy it off of their site or at Target stores.

Photo from BurtsBees.com

Top coats: While I don't paint my nails I will put a strengthener on them as well as a growth one and an anti chip/crack one. I have stuck with ones from Sally Hansen because it's easy to find and has worked for me. They are quick to go on and fast drying. The newest strength one I have found is the "Nail Nutrition Green Tea and Bamboo Strengthener".

Photo from SallyHansen.com
When I am needing my nails to grow just a little bit faster, then I go for "Nail Nutrition Daily Growth Treatment".

Photo from SallyHansen.com
For when my nails break, and that is far too often, I go for "Diamond Strength Instant Nail Hardener".

Photo from SallyHansen.com

So far, with the use of these items, my nails have been doing great. They aren't quite up to snuff to compare them with my mom's, but they are getting there. I hope that any of these can help you on the road to beautiful nails!