Nail Care, Art and Products

The value of having good looking and well maintained nails is evident both to men and women. Overall nail care is important for everyone who not only wants to look great, but also maintain healthy hands and feet as well. Nail care incorporates use of various nail care products to clean, remove or clip unwanted areas and enhance the appearance of the nails. Nail care is an age old practice and nail polish may just be the oldest of all nail care products. Egyptians in the time of Pharaohs were documented to have used henna to color their nails and fingertips to signify social order, while the Chinese used a colored lacquer, made from gum Arabic, egg whites, gelatin and beeswax. Today several types of nail care products have been invented all aimed at improving or enhancing the appearance of the nails as well as offering protection. These products have also provided a platform for artistic and imaginative expressions on nails, hence the emergence of a new form of artistry known as nail art.

The basic form of nail care involves detailed cleaning of the natural nails. A manicure or pedicure treatment provides such care and is not only a treatment for the natural finger and toe nails, but also for the hands and feet. The treatment also consists of filing and shaping of the free edges using nail files and clippers. After such a treatment, nail polish is applied to add a smooth and glossy look. Nail polish can be clear or in a wide range of colors and shades. Nail art which involves painting of pictures, patterns or designs on the nails is best done after such a treatment and can be enhanced further by applying small decorations or imitation jewels on to the designs and finally sealing all the artwork in a nice coat of nail varnish. Expert nail art practitioners use various elements such as gem stones, glitter, abstracts, crystal, crushed sea-shells, glass beads and prints to decorate the patterns on the nails. The bold artists have been known to even use dried flowers and diamantes as ingredients of nail art.

Styling up doesn't depend on the dressing and garment selection only. Most of our interactions involve the use of our hands, and good nails with exquisite nail art and polish will always make the first statement to our overall style. Use of the correct nail care products will not only result in classy nails, but also healthy and strong nails. Artificial nails such as Acrylic Nails and gel nails can be used by those who feel their natural nails don't reflect their style appropriately due to either shape or length, and the good thing about these nails is that they can be applied to suit any theme of dressing anytime. Nail art can still be applied on the acrylic nails and gel nails the same way it is done on the natural nails to give them even more natural feel. Some of these artificial nails come with ready nail art finishing on them, and provide a fast and easy way to enhance one's look.