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Your hair and nails can tell many things about your overall health. Many people do their best to keep their nails and hair as clean and healthy as possible. While unhealthy hair and nails might be provoked by certain medical conditions, there are some habits that can make them fragile and weak. Fortunately, knowing them can help you prevent nail and hair problems. Keep reading to find out about everyday habits that are ruining your nail and hair health.
1. Using astringent cleansers and soaps
Certain harsh soaps contain an alkaline pH that negatively affects the outer layer of your skin and nails. Use gentle cleansers instead. When choosing a shampoo, watch out for ones that have sulfates. Sulfates tend to strip hair of its natural oils.
They can also lead to fading and brassiness in color-treated hair. There are lots of sulfate-free formulas available that can help restore damaged hair and keep it strong and healthy.
2. Wearing ponytails and updos regularly
Constantly wearing ponytails and updos can lead to breakage. If you need to wear a ponytail while exercising, try a scrunchy made of a softer material. This can minimize breakage.
3. Spending a lot of time under the sun
In addition to causing skin damage, sun rays can harm your nails. Consistent exposure to UV-rays can result in nail dryness and brittleness. Apply a hand cream with SPF daily to prevent damage. The same applies to your hair, as it’s made of the same proteins as skin. You can use a heat protectant, serum, or conditioning spray with UV protection.
4. Consuming the wrong foods
A healthy and nutritious diet can provide your body with the building blocks for proper functioning. However, when you don’t get those essential nutrients, your hair and nails won’t grow or be strong enough. For instance, lack of iron can contribute to hair thinning.
5. Cleaning the house without protection
When cleaning your home, you need to ensure protection for your hands and nails. Household cleaners tend to cause nail dryness and can make them brittle. Luckily, you can prevent any nail damage by wearing gloves, and if you’re wearing polish, they can help keep it from chipping.
6. Gardening without gardening gloves
Although gardening might seem like a good activity for your health, it can harm your nails. First, during gardening, your hands and nails are exposed to sun damage. Second, you can get a fungus from the soil. To prevent sun damage and fungal infection, consider wearing a sturdy pair of gardening gloves when gardening.
7. Tapping your hands
Tapping your hands is considered a nervous habit that can wear down and weaken your nails. Typing on our phones can harm as well. If you can’t get rid of that habit and don’t want to cut back on social media, you can try a nail-hardening clear topcoat.
8. Clipping your own cuticles
It’s not a good idea to try and clip your nail cuticles at home. The skin around the nail bed exists to protect the nail and if you’re not a salon type, then you only need to gently push back your cuticle after a shower. Your cuticle protects your nails against germs and bacteria and acts as a barrier.
9. Styling hair too often with hot tools
Heat styling can damage your hair significantly. Hot tools can both dry out strands and lead to breakage. Blow dryers are especially hard on the hairline, while both flat irons and curling irons can thin out the ends. Try a heat protectant on strands before styling and keep your dryer in the lowest temperature setting to protect your mane.
