originally by http://www.prevention.com/
Nail An Age-Defying Manicure
Hands are a notorious age-giveaway, but studies show certain tricks can hide the signs. In fact, wearing nail polish can distract people from noticing common maturity signs such as veins and age spots, according to a study by plastic surgeons in England. Researchers asked people to estimate women's ages based solely on photographs of their hands. The stunning result: 49% thought women’s hands looked younger when adorned with nail polish. How can you keep your nails healthy and pretty? Follow these nail care tips.
File
Using a rough nail file can weaken your nails, leading to splitting and peeling. Crystal glass files have superfine grit to produce a clean, chip-free nail edge.
Shape
Preserve "sidewalls." Use a fine emery board to shape nail tips only—filing the sides weakens nails, says Jan Arnold, of CND, a nail care company. Keep nails no longer than ¼ inch beyond your fingertips for a more youthful appearance.
Groom
Stop snipping cuticles! This skin protects the nail's growth center; cutting it can lead to nail ridging and thinning. Instead, moisturize cuticles and push them back. If you don’t have a cuticle pusher, you can improvise one with a pencil eraser wrapped in tissue.
Prep
"People think nails turn yellow because they don’t ‘breathe,’ but really it’s from dark polishes staining the nail," says Mary Lupo, MD, a New Orleans-based dermatologist. “It’s a myth that nails need fresh air to stay healthy.” In fact, 24-7 polish protects weak nails from breaking. To prevent yellowing, apply a base coat before colored polish—especially if you're using a darker shade, which is more likely to cause harmless stains. Nails already yellow? Rub them with a lemon wedge—a natural beauty trick that helps whiten with fruit acids.
Paint
"Use pale metallic polishes," says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann of OPI. "They reflect more light, which helps disguise nicks, so time-crunched women can get away with a little more wear and tear." Plus, the shimmery particles make these formulas adhere better, so they're less likely to chip in the first place. Both of these brands make their forumlas "three-free," which means they are made without dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toulene, and formaldehyde—the three big no-no ingredients that are potentially harmful in large amounts.
Seal
The secret to a lasting manicure isn't the polish, it's the top coat, says Shari Gottesman, owner of a polish manufacturer and creator of Perfect Formula nail products. "To save time and money, many salons order mass quantities of thin top coat that dries fast but chips more easily," she says. Extend lacquer's life by toting your own topper to the salon (most drugstore brands do the trick) or applying it at home.
Strengthen
Stop nail breakage with a daily 2.5 mg dose of the B vitamin biotin—good for swimmers or in the summer months when you’re in the water more often. "This supplement helps prevent breakage from too much exposure to salt and chlorine," says Jin Soon Choi, owner of Jin Soon Natural Hand and Foot Spas. Research shows that a daily dose of the nutrient increases nail thickness by 25%, making nails less apt to split and tear.
Remove
Start by taking off old polish with a nonacetone remover. You've probably heard that acetone dries out your nails, but breathing in the fumes can also cause throat irritation and even increase your pulse rate, according to the National Institutes of Health.
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