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Different people have different beliefs when it comes to taking care of their nails. This is especially true for women who are obsessed with making their nails look beautiful. They have a lot of different myths and misconceptions about nail care that sometimes, it often results in them damaging their nails instead of taking care of them.

One of the most common myths that people have when it comes to the use of nail polish is that polish that comes with hardeners are better since they make your nails stronger and more resistant to damage. On the contrary, using this kind of nail polish only makes your nails more stiff thus making them easier to break when they are exposed to mechanical damage.

The best way to keep nails strong is by moisturizing them, especially after using nail polish removers. This makes sure that your nails stay hydrated. Hydrated nails are much more resistant to damage than stiff or dry ones. This is why it is always a good idea to use hand lotion whenever your nails become exposed to drying agents such as soap.

Another practice that is done my most women is the pushing back of their cuticles. Most people believe that this will help make their nails grow better. On the contrary, most dermatologists will not advise this as pushing the cuticles may cause complications. The cuticle serves as protection for your nail root, and removing this may expose the nail bed to possible infections.

For people who have ugly and broken nails, they may think that the use of artificial nails is a good idea while they are waiting for their nails to grow back. But the use of artificial nails can contribute to making nails look worse especially for those who have an infection. Bacteria and fungi can get trapped underneath the artificial nails, making them harder to get rid of. The chemicals used in attaching these nails also contribute to the weakening of your nails.

In line with this, you should remember that nails grow very slowly so it is not very easy to just wait for your nails to grow. Infected and damaged nails will take weeks to months for them to regenerate as they grow as slow as 0.1mm a day. Preventing problems from occurring is always better than waiting for your nails to grow back.

Going to nail salons to have nails done is also a relaxing pastime for most women. One thing that you should consider when going to such establishments is their policy on cleanliness. Nail salons should practice proper hygiene and cleanliness so as to avoid transfer of infections from one customer to another. Salons that use gels and creams on their customers are a safe choice as this greatly reduces the risk of getting an infection due to indirect transmission.

Before doing anything to your nails, be sure to research and find out if the basis for these practices is scientifically justified. Old practices that do not have any beneficial effects to your nails should be discarded. If you are not sure with what you are doing to your nails, be sure to consult a doctor first so that you won't do anything that you might regret in the future.