If your nails are fragile and weak, maybe you’re being too hard on them or maybe they’re just missing something. Believe it or not, what you do and what you eat can actually affect the health of your nails. If you want healthy nails, now is the time to get those nails back into tiptop shape. Want to know how? Read on.

Your nails consist of several then layers of protein called keratin. Your nails are also made up of several parts, including:

Nail plate – the hard area that is visible on the fingernail.

Nail Folds - the skin that surrounds the nail plate.

Nail Bed - the area beneath the nail plate.

Cuticle - the tissue that overlaps the nail plate, found at the base of the nail.

Lunula - the whitish area that looks like a half-moon, found at the base of your nail under the plate.

Your nails grow from the area under the cuticle at about 0.1 millimeters a day. When your nails are healthy they’ll take about four to six months to fully regenerate. If nails are damaged, the regeneration process slows down and could even stop. If your nails are unhealthy you may find that you have the following conditions:

Brittle – If you have brittle nails, you maybe lacking calcium or vitamin A in your diet. Try drinking more milk or eating broccoli to bring brittle nails back to life. Another common cause for brittle nails is the use of harsh detergents. If you’re going to use harsh detergents such as dish soap, be sure to wear rubber gloves to protect your nails.

Hangnails - If you’re experiencing a hangnail, you may need to increase your intake of vitamin C. You may also need to add more protein to your diet. Avoid removing hangnails by pulling at them. Instead, gently clip them away with a pair of nail scissors and take caution not to dig into the nail bed where the hangnail resides. To prevent future hangnails, always trim fingernails straight across.

White Bands - If you have white bands forming across the nail plate, it’s generally a sign that you are missing protein.

Splitting - If your nails are splitting, make sure you are getting enough hydrochloric acid.

Dryness - If your nails seem very dry and dark, try increasing your vitamin b12 intake. You may also want to limit your use of nail polish remover to no more than once a week since the acetones in the removers can dry out your nails. Instead use an acetate-based remover.

White Spots - If you’re seeing white spots on your nail plates, you may be lacking zinc in your diet. Try eating hard-boiled eggs, since they are rich in zinc. White spots can also mean you’ve damaged your nail bed. If this happens, the only thing you can do is let the white spot grow out.

Cracking - If your nails are cracking across the nail plate, you need to drink more water.

Fungus - If you have a black, green or yellow coloring under your nail bed, that is generally a sign of a fungal infection. This usually means your hands are constantly in water or it can also be cause from wearing artificial nails. To prevent fungus from artificial wear, apply a combination of tea tree and eucalyptus oil, before applying artificial nails.

Thinning - If your nails are thin or peeling, blame the artificial nails since they can leaves natural nails weak and remove layers of your natural nails.

Ridges - If you have vertical or horizontal ridges across your nails, then it’s more than likely that you’re not getting enough Vitamin B. However, vertical ridges could also be caused by a lack if iron.

Keep in mind that no matter how much a company may try to persuade you, a nail product alone will not give you healthy nails. If you want healthy nails, you must treat your nails with respect. Don’t use them as tools. Don’t bite your nails or pick at the cuticles. Protect your nails when working around any harsh chemicals and make sure your diet is rich in the vitamins and minerals it needs in order for your nails to look their best!

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