A manicure is a beauty treatment for your fingernails and hands.
In its simplest form a manicure involves shaping and filing of the
nails followed by the application of nail polish.
Other types of manicure may include specific treatments aimed at softening the hands and stimulating nail growth.
Getting to Know Your Nails
Your
nails can tell a lot about your body's internal health. Healthy nails
suggest a healthy body, while ridged; dented, unusually colored or
shaped nails can be a sign of ill health.
Nails protect the sensitive skin of the fingertips and toes from injury and are made up of layers of protein called keratin.
Each nail comprises:-
o Nail plate - the visible hard portion you see
o Nail folds - the surrounding skin that frames the plate on three sides
o Nail bed - the skin beneath the nail plate
o Cuticle - the tissue that overlaps the nail plate at the base
o Matrix - the hidden area under the cuticle where growth takes place
o Lunula - the half moon shape at the base of the nail plate
Types of Manicure
There are various types of manicure available.
During
a regular manicure, nails are first shaped, cuticle remover or
conditioner applied and then the fingertips and hands placed in warm
soapy water and left to soften for about ten minutes.
The hands are removed and dried before the cuticles are gently pushed back with an orange stick.
Nails
are buffed from cuticle to tip and then lotion applied to the entire
hand. Some manicurists will spend some time massages the lotion into
the hands.
All traces of oils will be removed before applying
polish. Polish will include a base coat followed by two or three coats
of your chosen color, and then finished of with a top coat.
If
having a French manicure, the tips of nail are painted white and when
dry the entire nail is painted with translucent shell pink polish.
A French manicure is elegant and is suitable for both day and evening.
Paraffin Wax Manicure
Paraffin
wax is warmed and the hands dipped repeatedly in the warmed liquid
until a thick coating is formed. The hands are then wrapped in plastic
film and covered with a towel to retain the warmth.
Hands remain
wrapped for approximately 15 minutes. After the towel, plastic and
paraffin wax is removed, the manicure continues in the normal way.
A
paraffin wax manicure conditions and moisturizes the skin and is
beneficial if your hands are sore, stressed or tired or of you just feel
like being pampered.
Hot Oil Manicure
Hot oil is used to
soften the cuticles before being cleaned and neatened. This treatment
is popular with men seeking a manicure and is recommended if you have
extremely dry hands or nails.
Attending a Manicure
When
going for a manicure ensure that the working area is clean and that all
tools are properly sanitized. New tools such as orange sticks, emery
boards and clean towels should be used.
The use of un-sterilized tools can transmit viral infections.
Regular Manicure - Keeping Your Nails Healthy
Nails grow at the rate of about 0.05 to 1.2 millimeters per week and a regular manicure can keep your
nails in tip top condition.
nails in tip top condition.
Along with a regular manicure, a high protein diet can help your nails grow stronger and healthier.
Between visits to your manicurist you can ensure the health of your nails by:
Between visits to your manicurist you can ensure the health of your nails by:
o Keeping nails clean and dry - this helps to keep bacteria and other infectious organisms from collecting under the nail.
o Keeping the use of nail polish remover to a minimum as it can dry out your nails and cuticles.
A manicure is healthy and will make you look your best and remember most guys love great nails to
By
Kelly Price