As you gaze down at what should be your beautiful nails you see ugly lines created by fingernail ridges. “How can I make the bad thing go away?” You lament. Well, it may not be all that difficult. With a little effort on your part, your fingernails can be as gorgeous as you, the goddess, deserves.
There are two types of fingernail ridges; vertical and horizontal. Horizontal ridges or changes in nail color may indicate underlying medical conditions such as respiratory disease, malnutrition or possible heart attack. Therefore, it is advisable to visit your physician and have a checkup if you have horizontal fingernail ridges.
Vertical fingernail ridges, those running from the base of your nail to the tip are usually not a concern unless they are accompanied by other changes in your nails. Though the actual cause of these ridges isn’t known, they often occur as we age, but they can occur at any time and at any age.
Most common conditions associated with vertical fingernail ridges and also brittle nails include:
- Heredity
- Hands exposed to harsh chemicals such as the acetone in fingernail polish remover
- Frequent exposure to drying agents such as dishwater
- Dry air – this can cause nails to become brittle
- Improper diet leading to malnutrition
- Improper absorption of nutrients in diet
Getting rid of fingernail ridges
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- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat a healthy diet and take a good multivitamin and make sure you are getting plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids (1/4 cup walnuts a day or a fish oil capsule should do the trick).
- Lubricate your nails daily by rubbing jojoba or vitamin E oils on the cuticles
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Golden JOJOBA OIL – Moisturizer for Skin, Body, Hair, Nail Care – All Natural, Unrefined Oil (12 oz)
Sundown Naturals Vitamin E Oil 70000 IU, 2.5 Fluid Ounce
- Take extra care to massage hand cream around your fingernails
- Wear gloves when you are using household soaps and chemicals for cleaning
- Gently buff the ridges away (See instructions below).
How to buff nails
The goal here isn’t to remove the fingernail, just the fingernail ridges, so buff gently. If done correctly, your nails will look lovely and have a great natural shine.Tweezerman Shape and Shine Nail Tool
- The first step before you start to buff your nails is to clip and file them smooth. Remember to buff your nails in only one direction.
- If the fingernail ridges are fairly pronounced, use a coarser buffer (use a very light touch, you don’t want to thin the nail) to smooth down the ridges. If the ridges are less pronounced, use a less coarse buffer to start.
- After buffing, use a polisher to give your nails a natural healthy sheen.
- If you choose, you can then add a clear ridge filler polish that will even out your nails before applying polish.
Keep in mind that ongoing stress has a very unhealthy effect on your body. There’s no reason to assume that some of the effects of stress may manifest in your fingernails, particularly since it’s common knowledge that stress effects hair, and both hair and nails are made of the same constituents.
Now go have fun and relax.
Related articles:
Three Quick Fixes for Hangnails and Four Ways to Prevent Them