Practical nail care for men
When you think about it, it seems obvious, but, as usual, reality goes against theory. There is no reason for a man not to keep himself properly groomed, but everyday I find that everybody around me go through their lives with dreadful nail style (If someone can call “style”to that). In fact, I think it is pointless for a man to try and dress nicely unless he plans to fully care for his appearance. That includes regular manicures and pedicures.
You can forgive a bad tie; you can overlook a suit that is a bit worn; and you can even look aside when you see brown shoes with a blue suit. The one thing that won’t be forgiven or forgotten is ill-kempt fingernails. Fingernails that are too long or even worse, dirty, have got to be one of the biggest turn off to a potential suitor.
In order to learn how to take care of our nails, let learn about them…
Fingernail structure
- The nail has four components: the matrix, bed, plate, proximal nail fold, and cuticle.
- The nail plate is formed in the nail matrix which is located beneath the proximal nail fold
- The cuticle is a section of skin at the end of the proximal nail fold that protects the nail matrix
- The nail plate lies atop the nail bed which is the living portion of the nail with nerves and blood vessels
Nail care process
Although there is nothing like a professional treatment, you need not spend time in a salon to achieve the look you want. Go to your local drug store and invest in some manicure scissors, nail clippers, a nail file, a nail brush, and hand cream. This basic equipment can be purchased separately, or you can buy a manicure set. In addition you should have some moisturizing cream. Some men also buy nail buffers to add a shine to their nails.
Basic steps
Nail should be trimmed neatly each week. That’s the minimum for nails: trimmed and clean.
Along with the trimmed, clean nails, you will want to get rid of ragged cuticles. If you do not know how to manicure your nails, particularly the cuticles, you’ll have to depend on a professional manicure and see how it goes.
If you choose to do it by yourself with your home kit, you’ll find that it may take some practice but a weekly manicure is essential to groomed nails. You may or may not want to buff nails for a smooth appearance.
Let’s see more detailed…
Things You Need
Nail Clippers
These are the standard nail trimming tools that everyone needs. Nail clippers are relatively inexpensive and you should always get the best possible quality of clippers that you can find. A good quality pair of nail clippers will cost you less that US $10 and will last you a lifetime. A good nail clipper will cut cleanly without needing to exert a lot of pressure. Poorly made or dull clippers can end up tearing the nails and can lead to problems (not to mention pain) if the nail tears into the nail plate.
Nail File or emery board
Another inexpensive item that you should buy for quality is a Nail file. These are used to pare down and shape the nails as desired, and to smooth the edges of the nails after clipping. The nail file can be metal and designed to last a long time, or plastic coated with grit for durable wear (although not permanent). Or you can use emery boards which are small cardboard files coated with a different coarseness of sandpaper-like grit on each side. These are designed for single use and should be discarded afterward.
Nail Brush
This is a small brush with short bristles designed to clean into the grooves at the sides and under the free edge of the nail. It is useful for removing dirt and debris that gets into the crevices at the tips of the fingers.
Cuticle Pusher or Orangewood Stick and cotton balls with lotion
The cuticle pusher is a tool designed to gently slide the cuticle back from the nail plate. In the normal course of growth, the cuticle can extend onto the nail plate and become bothersome. Many cuticle pushers come with a rubberized tip to gently buff away dead cuticle skin from the nail plate. Orangewood sticks are disposable wooden rods that are cut at an angle to provide a tapered flat edge for pushing back the cuticle. Both cuticle pushers and orangewood stick should be wrapped with a small amount of cotton before using, and a small amount of lotion should be applied to the cuticle beforehand to soften it and aid in the process.
Optional Items
Sanding Block
This is a rectangular foam block that is coated with a fine grit. It is used for smoothing out ridges in the surface of the nail.
Cuticle Oil
This is a light emollient designed to absorb quickly and keep the cuticle soft and healthy. It prevents painful cracking and drying that can occur in some cases.
Nail Buffer and buffing cream or Buffer Stick
The nail buffer is an elongated foam rubber tool covered with a chamois. It is used with a special cream that acts as a fine smoothing paste to “polish” the surface of the nail and give it a shine. Most men prefer to have their nails buffed instead of using clear polish. The Buffer stick looks like a nail file of sorts with rubberized panels of differing hardness to smooth and buff the surface of the nail without any additional product. It takes longer than the Buffer and cream method, but has the benefit that it can be used anywhere. Done properly, both the buffer and cream and the buffer stick will give the nails a high glossy finish that will last a long time.
Clear Nail Polish (basecoats, topcoats), Colored Nail Polishes
These are nail enamels that are designed to give shine to the nails, or add a fashionable color.
The Basic Manicure
Step One
Wash your hands thoroughly and carefully and dry them completely. Be sure to use your nail brush to clean beneath the free edge and in the grooves along the sides of the nail. Your nails are somewhat porous and will become softer when wet. When they are wet they become more easily damaged.
Step Two
Trim your nails to the desired length. This is always a personal decision, some people like their nails longer, while others find that shorter nails better suit their lifestyle. Some people’s nails are thinner and more flimsy than others and cannot support more than a minimal amount of length before they break.
Always try to keep your nails an even length when compared to the other fingers. Begin with the little finger on each hand and work your way inward. The goal is uniformity.
Step Three
File the nails to remove sharp or rough edges. Use your nail file to pare down the nail and shape it as you desire. There are five basic nail shapes people use: Round, Oval, Pointed, Square and a relatively new shape: Squoval.
The Round shape follows the curve of the fingertip and is usually shorter in length extending only slightly past the tip of the finger. Many men prefer this shape when manicuring their nails.
The Oval shape is longer with a rounded end and is considered the strongest of the shapes based on the experiences of nail technicians. It can be difficult to keep even lengths with oval shaped nails, but practice and experience will pay off.
The Pointed nail is tapered to the center of the nail, although it is rarely shaped into an actual ‘point’. This shape looks best on women with long slender fingers.
The Square shape is one where the nail is trimmed to a specific length and the ends are filed to a straight edge. The corners are filed only enough to remove any truly sharp corners to prevent accidental scratching. Many men like to have their nails filed into a short, square shape.
The Squoval shape is relatively new, and came about because of the number of people who liked the look of the squared nail, but needed the added structural strength of the oval. It is simply a square nail with the corners rounded.
Step Four
Once your nails are the desired shape, examine your cuticles. If they are growing down onto the nail plate or appear to be sticking to the nail plate, you need to push them back. Apply a dab of lotion to each fingertip on the cuticle, and massage it in. Give the lotion a few moments to soften the cuticle and then take your cuticle pusher or orangewood stick and wrap the tip in cotton. Gently rub the padded tip along the nail plate at the base of the nail and push the cuticle back away from the nail.
Be sure to rub away any remaining dead skin residue. Gentle is the key here; the cuticle is usually very sensitive and can be painful when damaged. A light touch is usually sufficient to push back any cuticle.
Step Five
Examine the nail plate. If there are any ridges in the nail plate, you can use the sanding block to gentle grind them down. Gentle pressure and small circular motions work best. Once the surface of the nail plate looks and feels smooth, you’re done.
Step Six
It’s time to finish your nails. Some people simply want a coat of clear polish for a clean, glossy look. Others - mostly women - like to have color applied. Many men don’t like the idea of even clear polish, and prefer to have their nails buffed.
Apply a small dab of buffing cream to the center of each nail with a cotton swab or the unused end of your orangewood stick. The cream is usually quick-drying, so give it just a moment and use your nail buffer to rub the cream all over the nail and begin buffing the nail plate with long, quick strokes. The act of buffing and the texture of the cream mean that the nail tends to heat up in this process, so try to keep your number of strokes in succession to three or four. It’s easiest to count it out. (Back, forth, back, forth, and pause; back, forth, back, forth, and pause; etc.) You’ll start to see the results after a few repetitions and you can continue until you reach your desired level of shine.
Additional tips
Quick Groom: When you are rushing and don’t have time for a regular manicure, try this short cut:
- Insert your fingertips in half a lemon.
- Twist your fingers back and forth to clean your cuticles and your nails.
- Finish with a good scrubbing with soap and a nail brush.
Last but not least: Remember, No nail biting!
Toenails and Feet
Keep nails neatly trimmed.
A nail fungus causes thickened, discolored nails that are often misshapen and painful. The fungus usually starts by wearing poor fitting shoes or allowing athlete’s foot to go unchecked or both.
There are no really effective topical treatments for nail fungus. However, prescription treatments are available from your doctor now.
Remember to use powder on your feet during the summer. Also use powder when wearing athletic shoes, winter or summer.
During the winter, feet dry out, then often get rough. Keep your feet smooth by applying lotion to rough spots. A pumice stone helps, too.
This can be part of your morning routine. It only adds a minute or two daily!
Sources: Cyberparent, CareFair, GreatestLook
Comment by mens grooming kit
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