Why You Should Get a Manicure

On first thought, manicures can be a wonderful way to jazz up your hands and make you feel more put together and confident. Whilst these are valid reasons to get a manicure, they are only a small proportion of the reasons why you should get a manicure. 

Much like many other beauty treatments, beauty is just the tip of the iceberg. Looking after your hands and nails can make a huge difference in the overall health of your hands. Now, you may think ‘what is hand health?!’. If that was your first response, you’d be surprised to learn that our hand health can make a huge impact on the overall health of our entire body. 

Manicures are the perfect way to increase your body’s health and to further, in more extreme cases, give you an indication of underlying health problems. Not to mention looking great too. 

What does a healthy nail look like?

Our fingernails are made of keratin, a type of protein. Healthy nails should be a nude/pink colour with white tips. All of your fingernails should be strong and shiny, with no discoloration or dark spots under the nail. There should be no indentation or ‘pits’ under the nail surface. Your nails should be constantly growing, roughly 3.5mm in a month. 

What is a sign in my nails of an underlying health condition?

If your nails are flaky or weak, you may have a more minor problem such as a vitamin D deficiency. If you have small horizontal white patches under your nails, you are probably lacking in calcium. However, some unusual physical appearances in your nails may be a hint to a more serious health problem. 

These are some of the traits you should look out for:

• Extremely cracked nails – if you are frequently experiencing dry, brittle nails that are constantly cracking, you may have a thyroid issue. If there is a yellow tone in your nail alongside the cracking, this is more probable to be a fungal infection. 

• Very pale nails – this could be a sign of anemia or heart failure. 

• White nails with darker rims – this is a sign of liver problems, like hepatitis. 

• Blue tones in your nails – this is usually a sign of bad circulation, which could lead to lung problems. Your lungs are not getting enough oxygen. 

• Rippled nails – If you have unusual, textured ‘bobbly’ nails, this may be a sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis. Often, the nails are also slightly red-toned. 

• Dark lines – If you have extreme dark lines under the nail, this is vital to get checked out by your GP as this has links to melanoma, the most lethal type of skin cancer. 

The majority of small changes, such as slightly cracked or peeling nails, or flimsy texture is simply a sign of a smaller, manageable matter such as a deficiency or too much moisture. 

When you get a manicure, your nail technician will have a close view of your nails and will be able to inform you of any obvious changes in your nails. Moreover, there are also many more benefits to getting a manicure…

Increased blood circulation 

During treatment, your fingers and hands will be massaged with cuticle oil and hand lotion. The universal act of massage is known to promote healthy circulation. Lack of circulation can result in numbness or swelling. Healthy blood flow will help carry oxygen around the body and will help with mobility. 

Promoting healthy nail growth

Frequent upkeep during manicures will help to create healthy nails which will stay strong. The removal of dry and dead skin cells helps to promote healthy cell renewal and growth. The deep clean and maintenance of your nails during a manicure will further protect against any fungal infection. Our hands are exposed to so many tasks and conditions on a daily basis.

 It is easy for dirt and germs to get underneath our nails, without proper cleaning this can lead to a fungal infection. On the other hand, over-washing of the hands may lead to your nails drying out and becoming more weak and brittle. 

Keeping your hands in great condition

Our hands, knees and elbows are often the first parts of the body to succumb to dryness. This includes excess flaky skin, redness and even some cracking (in worse cases).

During a manicure, the nail technician will exfoliate dead skin and use hand lotion to massage into your hands. This excess moisture will keep your hands baby soft and rid of dry skin. Well-moisturised hands can help combat signs of ageing such as wrinkles. 

Using cuticle oil 

A few drops of cuticle remover are applied in the early stages of a manicure and massaged into the nail. Your cuticles are then gently pushed back to reveal the nail plate. Cuticle oil will be applied after the polish has been applied. Cuticle oil does wonders for the nails. The first benefit is that it keeps your nails moisturised and rejuvenated. The oil also helps to increase circulation, this in turn promotes healthy cell renewal and growth. Your nails will be a lot stronger and will grow faster with the use of cuticle oil. Furthermore, it can help to protect your nail against any trauma. This includes banging your nail hard against something or trapping your nail in a drawer for example. 

Alongside these health benefits, manicures are also just an incredible way to switch off and relax if you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. If this blog post has you craving a manicure, check out our services here.