7 things you didn't know about your nails

Here are a few things you already know about nails:
1) They look GREAT in nail polish
2) Weak, brittle nails are an absolute no-no
3) The longer they are, the harder it is to text.

And here are seven things you probably didn’t know about them:
 

THAT WHITE SEMI-CIRCLE THING HAS A NAME

See that milky white semi-circle at the bottom of your nail? It’s most prominent on your thumbs. Well, it’s called the lunula, which is the end of the matrix (the root of your nail).
 

YOU’RE NOT NECESSARILY LACKING CALCIUM

I’d bet my nail polish collection that you thought all those white spots on your nails pointed to a calcium deficiency. Or even a zinc deficiency. Am I right? Turns out they don’t mean much more than you’ve had some kind of trauma on your nail plate or matrix. Kind of like a bruise, but not painful at all.
 

YOUR NAILS AND HAIR ARE BASICALLY COUSINS

Fun fact: both nails and hair are made up of keratin. So if you’re eating foods or taking supplements to strengthen your nails, you’re strengthening your hair, too. Suddenly it makes sense for Blackmores to have a supplement for Nails, Hair & Skin.
 

YOUR NAILS GROW REALLY FAST

Like 3.5 mm-per-month fast. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your fingernails grow faster than your toenails (only 1.6 mm a month). Also, men’s nails grow faster than women’s, except during pregnancy. You know, hormones and stuff. And if you’re wondering why you have to cut your nails so often in summer, it’s because they grow quicker in the warmer months. So, something like the QVS Manicure Set will be really handy until winter rolls around.  
 

YOU SHOULD TAKE A BREAK IN BETWEEN MANICURES

Not only does having a manicure prevent your nails from ‘breathing’ – which can affect your nail health – the repeated use of polish and remover is actually quite drying, leaving your nails weaker and more prone to breaking. To keep your nails in tip-top condition, be sure to use a nourishing cuticle treatment like essie apricot cuticle oil in between manicures.
 

CUTICLES HAVE A PURPOSE

If you’re always cutting away your cuticles (or getting a nail technician to do it at a salon), then you’re putting your nails at risk. See, cuticles protect your nails by helping them to retain moisture and ward off bacteria. Without them, you’re opening yourself up to a world of infection. Ew. And ouch.
 

YOUR NAILS SHOW MORE THAN YOU THINK

Your nails and the skin around them can be pretty good indicators of what’s going in your body. Any changes in the shape, colour or thickness can mean there’s something more sinister going on (like melanoma, lung disease and infections), so keep a close eye on them!

Did you know any of those nail facts? Can you add to the list of nail trivia?

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