These days, it seems like everyone is opting for DIY nails. From press-on nails to traditional manicures, the possibilities are endless. However, if you’re looking for an alternative that pairs down your manicure routine, nail stickers should be on your radar. Nail art stickers are perfect for those who just can’t find the time to sit in a salon chair. Thanks to this buzzy beauty trend, you can give your nails a professional touch with fancy nail art designs and patterns right in the comfort of your home. Since nail stickers come with their own rulebook, it’s important for you to go through this guide before you test drive the trend. Follow along as we give you the lowdown on nail art stickers.

 

WHAT ARE NAIL STICKERS?

Nail stickers aka nail polish strips, are simply stickers with an adhesive layer on one side and a fancy design on the other. Nail stickers are typically available in pre-cut sizes that cover the entire nail, replacing polish completely, but you can also find them as smaller stickers that can be used to accent a regular manicure.

Of course, nail art stickers aren’t only reserved for cool designs. If you prefer to rock a minimalist mani, you can find options in solid nail colors that provide a clean-cut look. These allow you to skip the mess and dry time that often come with traditional nail polish.

 

ARE NAIL STICKERS SAFE?

 

 

Let’s cut to the chase: Are nail stickers bad for your nails? The answer to your question is a resounding no! As we mentioned above, nail stickers are made from nail polish with a bit of adhesive. Since nail stickers can peel off without damaging your nails, you’re totally in the clear.  

 

HOW MUCH DO NAIL STICKERS COST?

If you’re searching for a budget-friendly manicure, nail stickers are just the ticket! Nail art sticker sets typically cost between Rs.99/- to Rs.299/-. So, your days of spending a pretty penny to score a gorgeous manicure are over!

 

HOW LONG DO NAIL STICKERS LAST?

Now that we have the basics on nail stickers out of the way, it’s time to explore how long nail art stickers last. When applied to your nails correctly, you can expect nail stickers to last up to two weeks. Keep in mind, the more precise your application technique, the longer your nail stickers will last.

 

HOW DO YOU APPLY NAIL STICKERS?

 

 

Ready to give nail stickers a try? Grab your set of nail stickers and follow our step-by-step tutorial to master the trend.

 

STEP #1: REMOVE OLD NAIL POLISH

Before you can apply your nail stickers, you’ll need to make sure that your natural nails are nice and clean. Set the stage by removing old nail polish that's left on your nails. 

STEP #2: FILE YOUR NAILS

The overall goal is for your nail stickers to look like your natural nails. So, it’s essential to file and shape your nails first. Trim your nails and make sure that they’re even. Follow up with a nail file to shape your nails for a nice and smooth finish.

STEP #3: CLEAN UP YOUR NAILS

Place your hands in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to give your nails a quick soak. Pick up an orange stick and push your cuticles out of the way for a fresh look.

STEP #4: SELECT YOUR NAIL STICKERS

Once your nails are dry, it’s time to whip out your nail stickers! Each set of nail stickers comes on a transparent sheet featuring various sizes so that they can work for people with different nail shapes and sizes. You can make sure you select the right size by placing the sheet over your nails. Once you have your stickers picked out, it’s time for some sticking action!

STEP #5: PEEL YOUR NAIL STICKERS

If you’ve tried nail stickers before and found yourself asking, “How do you get nail stickers off the sheets?”, it’s time to listen up! You should be able to remove the strip from its backing with just your fingers, but this may give you some trouble if your nails are extra-long or the stickers are super sticky. If that’s the case, pick them up with a pair of tweezers. 

STEP #6: APPLY YOUR NAIL STICKERS

Gently place the side with the adhesive as close to your cuticle as possible. Smooth it down against your nail from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. 

Note: If you’re using nail stickers as an accent to your base nail color, place the nail art sticker wherever you please and smooth it down for a seamless finish. 

 

STEP #7: FILE AWAY THE EXCESS

If you find that you have a bit of extra polish strip hanging off of your nails, there’s no need to panic. Simply use a nail file to smooth away the excess for a clean finish. Repeat until you have a full set of nail stickers on your nails!

BONUS STEP: ADD A CLEAR TOP COAT

Want to give your nail stickers a shiny finish? Apply a top coat to your nails for a glossy effect. 

 

 

HOW TO REMOVE NAIL STICKERS

Once your nail stickers start to lift at the edges, it’s time to remove them. Below, find three ways to get the job done.

1. PEEL AND GO

If your nail stickers have been in place for at least two weeks, they will probably peel off with ease when the time comes. Peel the stickers off from the lifted edge, and you’ll be all set.

1. ACETONE SOAK

A great way to remove stubborn nail polish stickers is with an acetone soak. Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to your cuticles to protect your nails during the removal process. Pour acetone into a small bowl, place your fingers in the bowl, and let your nails soak for 10 minutes. 

Once your soak session is up, use an orange stick to gently lift the stickers off of the nails. If the nail stickers won’t budge, repeat the acetone soak for an additional five minutes.

1. HOT WATER SOAK

Prefer to remove your nail stickers without acetone, but you’re having trouble? A hot water soak will do the trick. All you need to do is fill a small bowl with warm water and add a few drops of dishwashing soap. Place your hands in the bowl and allow your nails to soak for 20 minutes. Once the nail stickers are loose, you can gently peel them off.

Nail-biting may be something that you did as a child. Fortunately, by this time, this habit, behaviour, disorder, mannerism, or whatever you may call it is something that you no longer do.

However, for those who have carried on biting from childhood to adulthood, it would be best to let go of this oftentimes annoying tendency.

 

So, how do you put a stop to this irritating habit? Here are some ways:

 

There is actually a scientific term for nail-biting. In psychology terms, the nail-biting disorder is known as onychophagia. If we were to approach this habit as a kind of behaviour, this means that one of the solutions is to stop or modify that behaviour by looking at its root cause. Most often, nail-biting is caused by mental issues such as boredom, depression, anxiety and stress. Nail-biting could be the first symptom that your stress levels have increased and are starting to have a negative impact on your life. If you could get to the bottom of your nail-biting habit, then you can make a conscious effort to stop it. Also, you can simply modify the behaviour by using other stress-relieving tools such as a stress ball for instance or anything that can keep your hands busy.

 

If you can’t get to your nails, then you can’t bite them. Another way you can stop yourself from biting your nails is by wearing gloves. You can also wear a face mask since you would have to consciously remove the mask to actually bite your nails. There are also stickers that are primarily made to cover nails.

 

You can also simply just get a manicure. Not only are manicures pretty, they could also prevent you from biting your nails. You wouldn’t want to tarnish that really good-looking French tip, right? Also, many manicures are made from acrylic, the same element we use in paint. Imagine tasting paint!

 

In all, keep in mind that your nails like your hair are indicators of your general health. Nails and hair are actually categorized as dead cells that have the ability to grow! They, too, like our body, need to receive the nutrition to keep us looking healthy and vigorous.

 

Did You Know?

Nail biting, or onycophagia as it is known scientifically, is an impulse-control disorder. Believe it or not, some links have been found by the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine between nail-biting and untreated obstructive sleep apnea when a patient stopped biting his nails entirely after successful treatment of his sleep apnea. If you’re an avid nail biter and can’t seem to stop, look into your sleep patterns, and make sure you don’t suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. In the meanwhile, do some sleep apnea exercises regularly for better sleep – it can’t hurt!

Dry lips again?  We get it, friend. We all have that day where we are sitting by our window looking at the billboard outside, trying to get the most amazing lips portrayed by that model on that big screen. But we forget chap stick or our lipstick alone isn’t going to make that happen. But don’t you worry your pretty little head. We got you! The first step to any natural lip care routine is to know why your lips are dry in the first place. And there are loads of things that will dry out your lips.

Dehydration Dry, chapped lips are a common sign of dehydration. Solve this problem by drinking more water, eating more watery fruits, and limiting that caffeine intake. Sun exposure Small amounts of sun exposure can cause big issues. Protecting your lips by covering up with a scarf or face mask when going outside could be helpful. Use a humidifier if you work or live in a dry building.   Licking Lips It’s really hard to resist that when your lips are dry, isn’t it? But every time you lick, you put saliva into your skin. The chemicals in your saliva help break down food for digestion. So, by nature, they also break down the skin around your lips. It’s time to stop all the lip licking. You may want to take a sip of water every time you feel the urge to lick instead.

 Your Diet Some citrus and salty foods irritate your lips. Add a moderate amount of coconut oil, walnuts, or other nutrient-dense fats to your meals. Nutrient Deficiencies Low amounts of iron, zinc, or B vitamins can also be a solid reason for the demise of your lips. Increase your servings of fruits and vegetables every day to ensure your body has what it needs. Also, consider adding a multivitamin as well.  

Easons for dry Lips What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when your lips dry out? Lip balm, of course! But as it turns out, conventional lip products are often filled with ingredients that can make your lips worse, not better. Check out the ramifications of your favourite products- Petroleum All that good Vaseline is derived from the same stuff you put in your car. The manufacturing process used to refine this ingredient causes potentially toxic results. Google Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and see for yourself. Parabens Parabens really mess with your endocrine system. It would do you real good staying away from them. They’re also common in conventional lip balms, so be alert and check for them in the ingredients.

Chemical sunscreens Chemical sunscreens are always there in lip balms with SPF. They are known for causing allergic reactions, so avoid any balms with oxybenzone and homosalate.     What can I do better? Lots of things! First, you can do something to soothe and moisturize dry lips. Look for products with great ingredients. For example- Sugar Sugar has a gentle and natural way to slough dead skin cells from your lips. This type of exfoliation will help keep your lips soft and bubbly. With sugar, you also don’t have to worry about its environmental impact #completelysafe

Beeswax Beeswax naturally forms a barrier on the surface of your skin. This keeps moisture in and the elements out. It won’t cause irritation or clog your pores, but it will help relieve itching and discomfort. Oh, and it has a naturally sweet smell and taste, which is definitely something you want when you’re thinking about lip products. Natural Extracts and oils Natural extracts are the best alternative to artificial flavours. They make your lip products taste great; with some other benefits your lips will love. Look for the ones with antibacterial properties that support healing in chapped or cracked lips. Natural oils like coconut and jojoba deliver those gorgeous nutrients and healthy fats to your lips. This will help them stay naturally smooth and nourished. These oils also help treat dry skin, making it easier and faster to heal chapped lips.  Do we still need a routine? Yes, diva! Like so important. You can’t just go on putting stuff on your lips in a random fashion. You need a routine. Lucky for you we know a thing or two about this.

Follow through darlings- Remove all that Makeup Rinse or wipe away any lipstick, gloss, or liner. This is an essential thing to do before you go to bed anyway, and very important for getting the most out of your lip care routine. Exfoliate the Lips with an organic Scrub Apply a small amount of scrub to your lips. Use a clean finger. Now gently massage your top and bottom lips. When you’re finished, rinse off any excess. Do this once or twice a week.

Apply Lip Balm Choose an organic lip balm and put it on at least twice a day to moisturize and protect your lips. Of course, there’s no reason not to use it throughout the day as well!   Your lips don’t have those sebaceous oil glands that are found almost everywhere else on your skin. This really screws them when it comes to dryness and chapping, especially in cold, extremely hot, or windy weather. A regular lip care routine like mentioned above can help keep your lips soft and smooth.

Conditioner isn’t just for your hair—a little extra TLC will take your nails a long way.

Having healthy, strong nails is powerful, no matter what the nail colors you wear, whether you love nude nail colors or go polish-free. Healthy nails (and even the results of good nail cuticle care) are one of those less-visible morale boosters, like wearing a fancy pair of underwear just because or splurging on amazing socks to wear under your boots.

Whether your nail care is a form of self-care, an indulgence, or just regular maintenance, keeping your nails in tip-top shape is a valuable investment. And here’s the good news: Healthy nails need an investment of time, not money.

The best route to stronger, longer nails is mostly through simple lifestyle habits, not pricy nail tools. But getting healthy nails also means kicking some bad habits, such as using your nails as a built-in pocket knife. Follow these steps, and you’ll have stronger, longer nails before you know it.

1. Moisturize your nails

Moisturizing is a well-known mystery to healthy skin, but it’s often overlooked in nail care. While dry, brittle nails can be the result of many aspects, they’re ultimately a cry for moisture, so consider good moisture the foundation of your nail care routine. When applying hand lotion, give your nails a little extra concentration. There are plenty of moisturizing nail products on the market, but using moisturizer is only half the battle—there’s more to strong nails than a fancy cream or serum.

 

2. Leave your cuticles alone

It’s common practice to cut, push back, or try to get rid of cuticles altogether, but cuticles are not the adversary. The cuticle is “the nail’s natural protective seal,” according to certified dermatologists and nail experts. Messing with your cuticles can do far more harm than good—even if a nail technician is the one doing the handiwork. A compromised cuticle can leave the nails helpless and at risk of infection.

Cosmetic dermatologists agree that poorly kept cuticles can have a domino effect. When your cuticles get dry or injured it can damage the nail bed and affect the way your nails are growing out. They suggest moisturizing the cuticles with cream or cuticle oil to help protect and strengthen your nails.

 

3. Avoid contact with water

Don’t stop washing your hands or shower with gloves on but do pay attention to ways you can reduce the time your nails spend in contact with water because excessive water contact can weaken nail structure. (Wet hair is especially vulnerable, and the same caution-when-wet approach you take to handling wet locks can apply to nail care, too.) For example, consider wearing gloves while doing the dishes or other wet work.

Do you know how soft and bendy nails get after a long bath? Consider this: The nail is like a sponge. It is 1,000 times more absorptive of water than the skin, for example, and so water can easily diffuse into the nail. Extreme water exposure can put considerable strain on delicate nail cells (called onycholysis), which can lead to brittleness, peeling, and breakage.

This is also why absorbing nails before a manicure is a bad practice. Not only does this make your nails more vulnerable to infection, but it also doesn’t allow nail polish to adhere as well or last as long.

 

4. Be gentle

The best nail care is gentle care. For starters, cosmetic dermatologists are against the habit of invasively digging under your nails. Sometimes someones take the pointy end of a nail file and dig underneath their nails to get the dirt out. You don’t want to do that, because it can separate the nail plate from the underlying bed, and then you can develop a bacterial fungal infection.

For similar reasons, you should resist the urge to use your nails as replacement tools—no matter how convenient it may be. (There are plenty of other creative ways to open a can of soda.) And if you do indulge in an acrylic or gel manicure—which you should only do sparingly—proper removal is important. When you peel [acrylic or gel nails] off, you’re peeling layers of the nail, the nail plate, and that’s going to weaken your nails—so that’s a no-no.

 

5. Treat your nails like you treat your hair

It’s the new golden rule. Hair and nails are both comprised of keratin proteins, so it makes sense that many of the same rules for treatment apply. Both hair and nails can become dry and damaged from over-processing. Frequent polish removal, gels, and acrylics do to nails what dyes, chemicals, and warmness application do to hair. Just as hydration can help repair hair issues such as frizz and split ends, it can help improve dry and brittle nails. There’s no nail care equivalent to second-day hair, but operating as though there are hard and fast rules for how to wash, care for, and use your nails can help keep them in the same good shape as your hair.

It bears repeating: Hydration is the foundation. For healthy, growing nails, you should condition your cuticles the same way you would your hair.

 

6. Watch the weather

Winter can be a rough time for skin, hair, and nails alike. Not only can cool, dry climate cause nails to get extra brittle, but the drastic swings in temperature from going outdoors to indoors can cause additional damage. The shift from a heated home or office to the chilly open air can cause nail cells to contract and expand repetitively, resulting in a weakening between the cells, leading to breakage. For both your hands and nails, it's wise to wear gloves in the winter and to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

 

7. Rethink your products

Instead of those old-fashioned emery boards that cause microscopic tears in the nail, opt for a glass or crystal nail file.

It would be best to avoid nail polish remover altogether in the most ideal scenario. The best alternative is to use non-acetone removers that contain hydrating oils and ingredients instead of giving up the joy of a nice manicure.

Nail brush: Instead of digging under your nails with tools such as a filer, use a gentle nail brush to clean out the dirt. Or, for a resourceful alternative, use an extra toothbrush you have lying around.

Nail growth products: Go ahead and pass on these. So many of the so-called nail treatment or nail growth products on the market are in reality clear nail polishes with marketing additives that have no scientific validity. Just stick to basic nail care products.

 

8. Be patient with nail growth

You probably know the victory of growing your nails past your fingertips if you're a chronic nail-biter. Healthy habits plus patience pay off in nail care. But the primary focus should be on figuring out how to strengthen your nails, not solving the puzzle of how to grow nails fast. Stronger nails can lead to longer nails if you practice good nail care, but it all takes time. If you battle brittle nails and constant breakage, it’s smart to keep your nails clipped short until they regain strength; then they’ll have the foundation they need to grow longer.

Read More: Lip care- What and How?

 

How to Clean below Your Nails??

Our hands bear loads each day, and that we inevitably devour dirt and scrap below the nails. In a very 2018 study printed by the Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical biology, it absolutely was found that an oversized proportion of individuals have coccus and Acinetobacter bacterium below their nails. If this isn’t a reason to travel urgh, we have a tendency to don’t apprehend what is! 

Improvement below our nails, then, is very important, however it must be done fastidiously as any injury to the skin may result in a very nasty infection. with the exception of the infection half, beautiful, looked-after hands and nails square measure the staple of a woman’s charm and magnificence and therefore the inspiration behind several poems concerning beauty. After all, Petrarca has ne'er written a piece of art galvanized by a woman’s dirty unkempt fingernails.

The simplest methodology to scrub below your nails is to use the tip of the decide on a try of nail clippers once your nails square measure dry. Removing dry scrap is way easier than once it’s wet. Then, employing a gentle soap and heat water, wash your hands totally. It’s perpetually best to avoid harsh paraben primarily based soaps as they will leave your nails brittle and dry.

Follow this by soaking your nails in a very bowl of heat, saponaceous water for one or two of minutes to melt them, then employing a nail brush, provide them a decent scrub. Dry them totally and apply some moisturizer.

There square measure one or two of particular hacks to stay your nails trying, and feeling, great.

 

1. Once every week, for superbly clean nails, false impression a paste of oxide and saleratus. Use concerning a pair of ½ tablespoons of leaven to one tablespoon of oxide and unfold the paste on high of, and beneath, your nails. Leave it on for one or two of minutes, then rinse and dry totally. lightening dentifrice will an equivalent job and is simpler, departure your nails smelling minty fresh!
2. If your nails look yellow, rub 0.5 a lemon over them once each few days. instead, use a pipette and place a drop of pure tea tree volatile oil on every nail, departure it in situ for some minutes, before removal.
3. Soaking your nails in a very bowl of apple acetum for concerning 5 minutes can even facilitate to get rid of stubborn stains.
4. Dental appliance improvement solutions square measure a astonishingly smart nail hack, and a soak in a very bowl with one or two of tablets dissolved in heat water will extremely pack up stained nails.

There square measure millions of nice ways in which to stay your nails prosperous, and frequently improving your nails prevents infections, reduces crispiness, and will increase the longevity of any polish you utilize.