Beauty comes from within, and our nails are often a reflection of inner imbalances! To take good care of them and have beautiful nails, at Demain®, we love natural formulas that are simple to make at home and free of any additives.
Follow our tips for maintaining healthy nails and having beautiful nails every day!
To begin, let’s try to better understand the nail?
WHAT IS A NAIL?
The nail is made up of 3 parts:
The nail plate: the most important part of the nail. A horny plate composed of three superimposed layers of keratin. The lower, softer layer adheres to the nail bed.
The lunula: the white half-moon-shaped area located at the base of the nail plate. It is an extension of the matrix.
The matrix: located under the skin at the base of the nail, it produces keratin and ensures the growth of the nail plate.
The nail is surrounded by cuticles.
WHAT IS THE NAIL MADE OF?
Nails are essentially made of keratin. They also contain small amounts of water, fatty acids, calcium, and iron.
WHAT IS A CUTICLE?
Cuticles are the small pieces of skin found at the base of your nail. These small pieces of skin that line the edge of the nail have a very specific purpose: to protect us from infections.
Indeed, they are there to protect our body against moisture and the intrusion of harmful bacteria. It is therefore very important not to touch them and not to cut them as some manicurists might do.
Sometimes they can be quite overgrown on the nail or they may tear. The best thing to do is to hydrate them rather than tear them off.
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT DETERMINE THE APPEARANCE OF NAILS?
The appearance of nails depends on several factors:
Genetic inheritance: which determines the initial shape of the nail.
Diet: deficiencies, restrictive diets, and an unbalanced diet are detrimental to nail health.
General state of health: anemia, fatigue, stress, or certain chronic diseases can lead to nail deformation or the appearance of white spots or ridges.
Smoking: responsible for yellowing of the nails.
External aggressions: (impacts, use of chemicals without gloves, harsh cosmetic treatments).
HOW DO NAILS AGE?
Nails are subject to aging, just like skin and hair. The morphology of the nail evolves: over the years, its surface becomes marked with ridges: grooves oriented in the direction of nail growth.
Its properties gradually deteriorate: the nail plate becomes thinner, more fragile, and more brittle. The nail is less resistant to abrasions and daily aggressions which leave increasingly visible marks, and the nail growth rate slows down.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR NAILS?
NUTRITION
Consuming certain foods can help you have beautiful, healthy, strong, and resistant nails.
Let’s discover which ones to prioritize:
Protein-rich foods: these are what will nourish the keratin responsible for the growth of our nails
Where to find protein-rich foods? In meat and fish, eggs, but also in legumes, lentils, chickpeas, chia seeds, broccoli, and many others necessary for keratin synthesis.
Foods rich in zinc: zinc has the characteristic of helping to manufacture proteins. A diet rich in zinc therefore contributes to the manufacture of proteins, including keratin, but also the collagen that makes up the skin.
Where to find zinc-rich foods? In oysters, seafood, meat, and liver.
Focus on iron and vitamin B
Foods rich in iron: essential for the growth of hair and nails. Iron is one of the minerals to favor in your beauty diet. Iron deficiencies can lead to hair loss and nail alteration characterized by nails that are no longer curved but concave in shape, sometimes cracked.
Where to find iron-rich foods? Red meat and fish are excellent sources of iron, and it is therefore very well assimilated by the body. In contrast, the iron present in vegetables and oilseeds (spinach, lamb's lettuce, beans, lentils, pistachios...) is less well absorbed by the body: it is therefore advisable to combine it with other foods rich in vitamin C to help assimilation by the cells.
Foods rich in vitamin B: vitamin B is particularly recommended for having beautiful nails and hair. Indeed, this vitamin participates in the manufacture of keratin, and all the vitamins in the group (vitamins B1, B6, …) are therefore recommended for strong nails.
Where to find foods rich in Vit B? In meat, liver, tuna, salmon, eggs, cheese, nuts, almonds, wheat germ, watercress, or even nutritional yeast, which is also rich in proteins and trace elements.
Do not neglect foods rich in omega-3 and antioxidants
Foods rich in omega-3: omega-3s (like omega-6s) are fatty acids essential for the proper functioning of the body. They are said to be essential because the body cannot make them itself. They must therefore be provided by the diet. Omega-3s play a role in the health of your nails. They help to strengthen them naturally. Thanks to these fatty acids, your nails break less easily and are less fragile.
Where to find foods rich in omega-3 and 6? Fish, nuts, cod liver, rapeseed oil, flax, walnuts, soy, wheat germs...
Find our article on the benefits of omega-3s and the foods that contain them.
Foods rich in antioxidants: since skin and nails are subject to an acceleration of aging due to external aggressions (pollution, UV etc.), a diet rich in antioxidants is therefore recommended.
Where to find antioxidant-rich foods? Generally speaking, in colorful fruits and vegetables! Red fruits, berries, red cabbage, beetroot, pepper, eggplant, grape, mango, carrot, melon, grapefruit...
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
You can also take dietary supplements that will fortify nails and hair. Indeed, hair is made up of 97% keratin. By taking care of your nails, you will also be taking care of your hair!
Prioritize dietary supplements rich in zinc, iron, calcium, antioxidants, Vit B6, but also methionine and cysteine (two amino acids that promote nail nutrition) and silicon to promote nail regrowth and shine.
The dietary supplement Go For Detox contains zinc and VIT B6, the dietary supplement Go For Protection, zinc, vit B3, and antioxidants. You can supplement them with a diet rich in brewer's yeast or with our Age With Grace collagen cure.
RECIPE FOR BEAUTIFUL, STRONG, AND RESISTANT NAILS
A good diet will help nourish your nails with good nutrients to promote their growth and ensure they are healthy. But just like for the skin, this "Inside Beauty" action must be supplemented by an "Outside" action to achieve complete results.
Ingredients:
5ml of castor oil
5ml of argan oil
20 drops of lemon essential oil
Test tubes and graduated cylinders with oil
How to make it?
Massage your nail each evening with a drop (or at least every other night) before bed. This way, you can maximize the product's penetration (since you won't be washing your hands for 8 hours). Furthermore, lemon essential oil is photosensitizing, and sun exposure after application is not recommended. Note also that lemon essence is contraindicated for pregnant women under 3 months.
Why do we love this recipe?
Very simple to make, it is very comprehensive and will allow you to have beautiful nails and fortify them while protecting them from external aggressions.
Argan vegetable oil is rich in omega-3 and 6 and is nourishing and protective. It is perfect for hand care and for damaged or brittle nails.
Castor oil is a very nourishing and fortifying vegetable oil for lashes and nails. It ensures good keratin production, making nails stronger and healthier. Nail growth is thus accelerated. Rich in vitamin E, it is suitable for localized treatments for dry areas, damaged hands, and brittle or ridged nails.
Lemon is an effective antiseptic, antifungal, anti-breakage, anti-ridge, and anti-yellowing agent.
We will end this blog with some manicure tips!
A NATURAL MANICURE:
At Demain®, we favor natural manicures that do not damage the nails and do not harm health. Indeed, even though many brands have made great progress in formulation by offering more natural nail polishes based on potato or corn, the remaining 15% still contain ingredients suspected of being endocrine disruptors.
Moreover, natural manicures have great benefits! By filing and polishing the nails naturally, you will naturally erase your ridges, and your nails will be naturally shiny!
For this, only 1 tool is needed: the 4-sided file.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR CUTICLES?
To push back cuticles gently, the ideal time is to do it after a shower or bath. Push back your cuticles gently using a wooden stick (more eco-friendly!). This is the right time, as they are soft and you won't risk injury. To be done once a week.
OUR MANICURE TIPS
If you are a manicure enthusiast, we can nevertheless offer you the following advice:
Always apply a protective base coat, two coats of polish, and a top coat, choosing the most natural formulas possible.
Let your nails breathe between 2 manicures: “The nail is not meant to be permanently covered with polish; it needs to breathe, because the keratin that makes it up and allows it to grow hardens in the open air.” Between each polish application, we therefore make a habit of giving our nails a week-long break. ” says Marie, manicure expert at Gloss’up.
Treat your nails to a NAIL DETOX !
WHAT IS A NAIL DETOX?
Just like with a hair detox, once a year, you leave your nails not only bare, but also free of any treatments, for a month to a month and a half.
