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Healthy nails are something that most all women strive for, myself included. I have had issues in the past with being able to grow out my nails, pesky cuticles, and thin/brittle nails. All the things I was doing to get the nails I dreamed of (such as the ones seen above), were just not working & I was frustrated. People would tell me things such as don’t paint your nails dark, clip your cuticles weekly, take biotin, etc. etc. Yet I was not seeing any changes. I decided to do a little research and see which myths were true, and which were not. Once I got the truth about healthy nails, I quickly saw some fabulous changes. Not saying I turned into a hand model over night, but there has been some definite improvement!

Here are some nail myths, debunked!

Myth: You should regularly snip your cuticles.
Truth: Your cuticles are basically scar tissue, so your cuticles are the barriers between germs entering your nail beds. Each time you clip your cuticles, not only does it expose your nail beds, but they will also grow back thicker. Instead of clipping or pushing back your cuticle, opt for some quality cuticle oil instead.

Myth: Dark nail polish discolors your nails.
Truth: This is TRUE; always wearing dark nail polish can most definitely discolor your nails to an icky shade of yellow. Not only are your nails porous, but also dark polish has more pigments than light polish and these pigments will absorb into your nails. In turn your nails will actually become permanently discolored. This will only go away once they grow out. To avoid this, always use a base coat as a barrier!

Myth: Gelatin makes your nails grow strong & healthy.
Truth: This is false! Your nails are composed of keratin, not gelatin; therefore this will not have any effect on the health of your nails.

Myth: Bite your nails long enough and they won’t go back.
True: This sounds like something your mom told you when you were a kid to scare you out of nail biting & it is not true! Your nail grows from the bottom, so even though biting your nails damages them, it doesn’t stunt it’s growth. Regardless, nail biting is a bad habit that you should probably work on ASAP.

Myth: White spots on your nails means you need to consume more calcium.
Truth: This is most certainly false! White spots show that you recently had an injury to your nail (i.e. slamming a door on your finger- OUCH)! There are only slight traces of calcium in your nail, so you will not be able to tell if you have a calcium deficiency through your nails. In the same regard, consuming more calcium will not make your nails stronger.

Myth: Lastly, My favorite nail myth of all! Pre-natal vitamins make your nails grow!
Truth: If you have ever had a pregnant friend, you probably noticed they had long nails, thick and healthy hair, and glowing skin. You ask them “what’s the deal”? My guess is they will probably proceed to swear by their pre-natal vitamins. Even though they probably contributed to that for your expecting friend, it does not mean it will work for you. These vitamins contain MUCH higher amounts of regular vitamins, and should not be taken unless recommended by a doctor. If you are not pregnant and take pre-natal’s you may develop cystic acne, or become sick from too much iron.

Do you have any nail myths you want debunked? Let me know and I will get to the bottom of it for you.