QUESTIONS REGARDING NAIL CARE

RECIPE- DILL SEED AND HORSETAIL NAIL BATH!
According to the book "World of Herbs", the mineral salts in dill seed and the high content of silicic acid in horsetail combine to make a useful treatment for strengthening the nails. Take 2tbsp (30ml) crushed dill seed, 2 tbsp (30ml) fresh or dried chopped horsetail, and 1 cup of water, bring to a boil for 15 minutes over medium heat to reduce the liquid by half. Repeat three times a week with warm solution until nails are stronger. Strain any solution to be kept and store in the fridge for a few days but make it fresh each week.

THE NATURAL MANICURE
File, wash and soak nails, soften cuticles, clean and shape cuticles. File in one direction only, and always do this when your nails are dry. Wash your hands and soak in warm water or a fruit acid solution such as buttermilk or organic apple cider vinegar, before applying a cold-pressed fruit or nut oil into the cuticle area near the half-moon at the base of the nail. Use the blunt end of an orangewood manicure stick to gently push the cuticles back from the nails. Sand an buff nails now. Dry your hands completely. Sand and polish the top of each nail with a fine pumice-stone sand stick to remove any ridges. Do the same thing with a fine-grit block. Once the ridges are removed, smooth the top of the nail with a smoothing file and a buffing chamois. You'd be amazed at how shiny your nails will look following these steps, almost as if you were wearing a clear polish. You can choose a more natural, less-shiny matte finish if preferred, by not using the finest grade buffing files. Finally, moisturize by massaging your hands with a moisturizing cream or lotion.

ANTI-FUNGAL NAIL OIL
According to the book, "The complete guide to aroma- therapy," you can take 5 drops of tea-tree essential oil, 1 drop of cinnamon bark essential oil and 1/2 ounce neem oil (or calendula infused oil) and mix them into a bottle. Then apply around and under the nail two or three times per day. Tea Tree oil by itself may be used if you don't mind the smell, but be careful not to rub into your eyes. All these ingredients we carry here!

IMPROVE YOUR NAILS
FROM THE INSIDE OUT!
Drinking oat straw, nettle and horsetail tea daily can improve your nails and hair from the inside out, because these herbs are high in silica and other minerals important for nail growth.

AROMATIC CONDITIONING NAIL SOAK
According to the book "A complete Guide to Aroma- therapy," you can take 2 drops of each: lavender, bay laurel and sandalwood essential oils; Add 1/2 ounce jojoba or neem oil and then soak your nails in the mixture for 10 minutes. Buff to stimulate circulation and bring out a healthy shine. For dry or torn cuticles. All these ingredients we carry here!

HYGIENIC PRACTICES
A WARNING TO THE WISE!
Its hard to know if your favorite salon is sterilizing their tools of the trade! Just how many times have the cuticle clippers drawn blood? According to dermatologist Paul Kechijian, M.D., of New York University, "not all salons have the most hygienic practices." So Firoze suggests protecting yourself from infection by bringing your own tools. She recommends bringing a buffer board or block, a cushioned emory board (not metal), tweezerman nail clippers, and a hindu stone. Why not add your own nail polish too! You'll be relaxing more comfortably in no time! - Organic Style Mag. and myself!

DOES GELATIN STRENGTHEN NAILS?
According to Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, a noteworthy doctor with Parade magazine, the protein in food is what strengthens fingernails, not gelatin. Fingernails consist of protein with high sulfur content. Dietary protein is broken down into amino acids, which circulate throughout the body and repairs muscles, organs and other structures, such as the hair and nails.