Mary,

- Hope

Dear Hope,

I think most women (and many men!) want beautiful, well-cared-for nails, but many people don't have the money or perhaps the time or inclination to have their nails done professionally on a regular basis or to use fake nails. Nice-looking nails, whether painted or not, can really enhance a woman's overall beauty and are a subtle message that you care about yourself and your appearance. Cared-for nails demonstrate self-confidence.

The Do's
In order for nails to grow longer and thicker, they need to be healthy. You can improve the health of your fingernails by first, eating healthy. Without the required nutrients, your nails will generally be more brittle and will not grow as well. Eat your fruits and vegetables and proteins, and make sure you are getting enough calcium. You might even consider taking a daily multivitamin (just think, in addition to having healthier nails, it might give you more energy, too!).

You can also stimulate the growth of your nails by gently tapping them on hard surfaces.

Trim your fingernails, especially if they get snagged so that they will not snag further. Use nail clippers or scissors or a gentle emery board to smooth rough edges. You may want to invest in your nails with an at home Manicure and Pedicure System.

It is also important to moisturize your nails often. This will help prevent them from being dry and brittle. Many hand creams and lotions are available, so experiment and find one that works best for you. We recommend Robanda Anti-Aging Hand Cream. If you have really dry skin, consider applying moisturizer after each time that you wash your hands.

Finally, be kind to your nails. Wear plastic or rubber gloves when you do the dishes, for example, as overexposure to water can weaken them. Also, don't expose your hands to harsh chemicals that might harm your nails. Keep the cuticles neat and in good health. An excellent way to do this is with

The Don'ts
Do not use your nails to scratch off stickers or labels or scrape food off of dishes, for instance. This can damage the nails and cause them to break.

Don't rip off hangnails! Doing so can often make the hangnail worse, can be painful if you pull off too much skin, and can leave your fingernails looking unsightly. If this should happen, use a nail camouflage to cover up imperfections. An excellent choice is Barielle's Natural Nail camouflage.

If you have problems with biting your nails, try wearing nail polish, as this may discourage you from biting. Also, if your nail biting is related to stress, try exercising or other meaningful activities when you feel anxious. Try reducing (or eliminating) the causes of your stress, and your nail biting will likely cease.