Some simple steps and homemade recipes to give your self a wonderfully pampering manicure.

Here are the basics of creating a pampering manicure at home, without paying the salon price (Just a small word of warning: If you are uncertain of allergies or other contraindications consult your doctor prior to using recipes on this page.):

Nail whitener1 : Ingredients: White Vinegar; Method: Simply rub the nails with white vinegar.

Nail whitener2 : Ingredients: Lemon Juice; Method: Simply rub the nails with the lemon juice.

2. Shape your nails

File nails to a natural looking length, filing from each side into the centre. Try to avoid a see-saw action as this can make nails weaker. Also best to avoid over-filing the sides, again another nail weakener. Choose your nail shape that best suits your fingers - square, round, oval or pointed. Oval works best for most people.

3. Soak

Soften skin by soaking hands in warm, soapy water. A little body wash works nicely. Try adding a few drops of essential oil as a special treat, or olive oil which strengthens your nails.

4. Moisturize your hands

You can use your favourite moisturizer or oil and rub it thoroughly into your hands and around the nails. Give your hands a quickie massage - squeezing the palms and massaging each finger - to improve circulation and relieve fatigue. 

Nail Hardening Oil Treatment: Ingredients: 1/4 olive oil,1 capsule of Vitamin E; Method: Heat the oil but let it cool down until it is warm to the touch, then add the Vitamin E and gently rub the cuticles, nails and hands. Olive oil enhances the strength and flexibility, while Vitamin E oil nourishes the nails.

Nail Hardening Milk Treatment: Ingredients: Warm milk; Method: Dip fingertips in warm milk for 5-10 minutes. Milk is full of calcium and potassium, like honey, which fortifies the nails.

5. Neaten

Tidy up unruly cuticles. Your cuticles help protect the nail and skin underneath from infections and should not be cut. Cuticle care should only consist of gently pushing them back once they have been soaked or softened.

For cuticles try:

Cuticle Softener: Ingredients: 1 tsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. vitamin E oil; Method: Rub into cuticles, wait for five minutes and then push back cuticles gently.

6. Polish

Apply a clear base coat to keep your nails from absorbing pigments from the polish. Then apply two thin coats of colour and a clear top coat to help your manicure last longer. When polishing use three strokes - one down the centre of the nail, and one down either side. If you accidentally apply too much or get extra polish on skin around nails, use a cotton bud dipped lightly in nail polish remover to correct your mistake.


7. Wait!

Wait for 5 minutes before you do anything. You can also try using a blow-dryer on the warm/cool setting to help the drying process and to ensure all your efforts and beautiful manicure last.

Manicures and weak nails

Special considerations: Manicures and weak nails

If you rely on manicures to make your nails look good, keep a few things in mind. Don't have your cuticles removed — it can lead to nail infection. Also, check to be sure that your nail technician properly sterilizes all tools used during your manicure. Using unsterilized tools may transmit yeast or bacterial infections.
Weak or brittle fingernails can be a challenge to toughen up. The following tips can help you protect them, making your nails less likely to split or break.

• Keep your nails short, square shaped and slightly rounded on top. Trim brittle nails after a bath or a 15-minute hand soak in bath oil. Then apply a moisturizer.
• Moisturize your nails and cuticles several times a day and after your nails have been in water. Also, apply moisturizer at bedtime and cover your hands with cotton gloves.
• Apply a nail hardener, but avoid products containing toluene sulfonamide or formaldehyde. These chemicals can cause redness or irritate the skin.
• Apply nail polish. A thin coat of nail polish may help keep moisture in the nail. Remove and reapply the nail polish after a week.
• Don't use nail polish remover more than once a week. When you do need a remover, avoid those that use acetone, which dries nails.
• Take a biotin supplement. Taking 2.5 milligrams of biotin daily may increase the thickness of nails.

Dietary changes that supposedly strengthen nails don't work. Unless you're malnourished — not getting proper nutrition through your diet — taking daily multivitamins won't strengthen your nails either. Taking gelatin supplements or soaking your nails in gelatin also won't help.
It's easy to neglect your nails. But a little basic nail care can go a long way to keeping your nails in healthy condition.

Nail care tips

No nail care product alone can give you healthy nails. But following these simple guidelines can help you keep your nails looking their best:

• Don't abuse your nails. To prevent nail damage, don't use your fingernails as tools to pick, poke or pry things.
• Don't bite your nails or pick at your cuticles. These habits can damage the nail bed. Even a minor cut alongside your nail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter and cause an infection (paronychia).
• Keep your nails dry and clean. This prevents bacteria, fungi or other organisms from growing under the nail. Clean under the nails regularly and thoroughly dry your hands and feet after bathing. Wear rubber gloves when using soap and water for prolonged periods.
• Trim nails and file nails regularly. Trim nails straight across and file down thickened areas. Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers and an emery board to smooth nail edges. Trimming and filing are easier and safer if done just after bathing or soaking the nails.
• Never pull off hangnails — doing so almost always results in ripping living tissue. Instead clip off hangnails, leaving a slight angle outward.
• Wear shoes that fit properly. Shoes that place excessive pressure on your toes or pinch your toes may cause your nails to grow into surrounding tissue.
• Moisturize your nails frequently. Nails need moisture just like your skin does. Rub lotion into your nails when moisturizing your hands. Be sure to apply a moisturizer after removing fingernail polish.
• Watch for problems. If you have a nail problem that doesn't seem to go away on its own or is associated with other signs and symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor to get it checked out.

How to keep your fingernails healthy and strong

Take a close look at your nails. Are they strong and healthy looking? Or do you see ridges, dents, or areas of unusual color or shape? Many less than desirable nail conditions can be avoided through proper care, but some actually indicate an illness that requires attention.
Healthy nails are smooth, without ridges or grooves. They're uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration. Nails can develop harmless conditions, such as vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Vertical ridges become more prominent with age. Nails can also develop white lines or spots due to injury, but these eventually grow out with the nail.
Not all nail conditions are normal, however. Some are signs of diseases that require medical attention. See your doctor if you notice these changes in your nails:

• Yellow discoloration
• Separation of your nail from the nail bed (onycholysis)
• Indentations that run across your nails (Beau's lines)
• Nail pitting
• Opaque or white nails
• Curled nails

Home Made Tips for Getting Healthy Teeth

There are a couple of ways that you can adopt to maintain your teeth’s whiteness, naturally and forever. You can adopt some natural ways, without spending much at your home itself to whiten your teeth.
Adopt the following methods of natural teeth whitening and see the change.


Healthy teeth help you to look beautiful. Maintaining healthy teeth is not a tedious and time consuming task. Rather, it needs only few minutes in the entire day. The best method of getting your teeth whitening is to clean it with baking soda. Baking soda has been used since centuries for teeth whitening and for healthy teeth. Thus, for getting great results naturally, use baking soda.

Follow some of the below mentioned natural ways for good oral health.

• Keep your mouth clean with water and gargling. By doing so, you can remove the food particles that are left out and stuck between the teeth.
• Use a combination of mashed strawberries and sage leaf, massage the same into the teeth area, and rinse it out. What you will see will be natural white shining teeth.
• Lime juice, when mixed with baking soda, also works as one of the best options in natural teeth whitening.
• Flossing the teeth once in a day also helps to eradicate all the problems related to teeth whitening and other oral problems.
• Avoid the usage of red wine and coffee as they are harmful to your teeth and can leave unwanted stain on your teeth.
• Try to drink as much of water and milk in a day as you can. This will help you in getting better results, naturally. Also, you might be able to cut down your visits to a dental clinic.
• Use a tooth paste which is approved under American Dental Association. Currently, the market is loaded with many teeth whitening toothpastes. Try them out and see the results.
• Take healthy cereals for teeth because they can naturally increase your teeth strengths and whitening effects too.
• Eating lot of fruits and vegetables is really beneficial for teeth and for other parts of body as well, since it is said that healthy food is good to gain healthy body, healthy bones and healthy teeth. Thus, always choose healthy cereals for teeth.

10 Toothbrushing Mistakes

Toothbrushing is such an ingrained habit, few people think twice about it. But as with any habit, you can get sloppy, and that can lead to cavities and gum disease.
Here, dentists and oral health experts point out 10 common toothbrushing mistakes and how to fix them.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 1: Not Using the Right Toothbrush

Consider the size of your mouth when picking a toothbrush,
If you are straining to open wide enough to let the brush in, the brush is probably too big.The handle has to be comfortable. It should feel as comfortable as holding a fork when you eat.
The more comfortable it is in your mouth and your hand, then the more likely you will use it and use it properly.
Which is the better toothbrush: Electric or manual?
A person who brushes well with a manual will do as well as a person who brushes well with an electric.
It's not the toothbrush, it's the brusher.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 2: Not Picking the Right Bristle

Some toothbrushes have angled bristles, others straight. So is one type better?
'It's more related to technique than the way the bristles come out,
What is important when buying a toothbrush? Bristles that are too stiff can aggravate the gums.
''Bristles should be sturdy enough to remove plaque but not hard enough to damage [the teeth] when used properly," Price says. He doesn't recommend "natural" bristles such as those made from animal hair or boar bristle.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 3: Not Brushing Often Enough or Long Enough

Softly brushing your teeth at least twice a day is recommended, ''Three times a day is best,"
With too much time between brushings, he says, bacterial plaque will build up, boosting the risk of gum inflammation and other problems.
Brushing should last at least two minutes,Three minutes is even better.Most people fall short of both time lines, "It's an arbitrary number, but it's just so people take the time to clean all the surfaces. people divide the mouth into quadrants and spend 30 seconds a quadrant. Some toothbrushes include built-in timers.
To make the two minutes go faster.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 4: Brushing Too Often or Too Hard

While brushing your teeth three times a day is ideal, more may not be,"More than four toothbrushings a day would begin to seem compulsive.
Excessive brushing could expose the root of the tooth to irritation, and that could in turn irritate the gums. Brushing vigorously can also erode tooth enamel. The trick is to brush very gently for two to three minutes

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 5: Not Brushing Correctly

''Long horizontal strokes along the gumline can lead to abrasions," says Sesemann. "Aim your bristles at the gumline at a 45-degree angle and do short strokes or vibrations." Softly brush up and down your teeth, not across your teeth. The strokes should be vertical, not horizontal.
Be sure to brush outer and inner tooth surfaces, the chewing surfaces, and your tongue.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 6: Starting in the Same Place Each Time

Many people start brushing the same part of their mouth over and over, dentists find.
"Start in a different place so that you don't get 'lazy' in the same area of your mouth. He reasons that by the time you get to the last quadrant of your mouth, you're bored with brushing.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 7: Skipping Inner Tooth Surfaces

Most people forget to brush the inner surfaces of teeth – the surface that your tongue presses against.
"The plaque you can't see is just as important to remove as the plaque you can see.The most commonly skipped area, dentists say, is the inner surface of the front teeth.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 8: Not Following Up With a Rinse

Bacteria can grow on an un-rinsed toothbrush. Then, the next time you brush your teeth, you may actually put old bacteria back in your mouth.Rinsing the toothbrush after you brush will help remove any leftover toothpaste, too.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 9: Not Letting the Toothbrush Dry

"If you have a toothbrush that's perpetually moist, it will cultivate more bacteria."if the bristles stay soggy, you can misshape them as you use the brush,". "Or it might be a breeding ground for bacteria."
It's a good idea to shake out the moisture, then recap it with a cap that allows air in.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 10: Not Changing the Toothbrush Often Enough

The American Dental Association recommends a new brush every three or four months, or even sooner if the bristles look frayed.
But rather than go by a strict timeline, he says a visual inspection of the bristles is better. "Once the bristles lose their normal flexibility and start to break apart, change your toothbrush".
"Look more at the state of the bristles than the time period."
Some brushes have colored indicators that alert you when they need replacing.

Diet For Healthy Teeth

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE FOODS you consume can affect your smile as much as brushing or flossing.choosing foods that naturally fight bacteria, remove plaque, strengthen enamel, and freshen breath is a good way to preserve your pearly whites.

The best food choices for the health of your mouth include cheeses, chicken or other meats, nuts, and milk. These foods are thought to protect tooth enamel by providing the calcium and phosphorus needed to remineralize teeth (a natural process by which minerals are redeposited in tooth enamel after being removed by acids)

Other food choices include firm/crunchy fruits (for example, apples and pears) and vegetables. These foods have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain, and stimulate the flow of saliva (which helps protect against decay by washing away food particles and buffering acid). Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and lemons, should be eaten as part of a larger meal to minimize the acid from them.

BEST FOODS FOR HEALTH TEETH AND GUMS

1. Celery

Celery protects your teeth in two ways.The extra chewing it requires produces plenty of saliva, which neutralizes the bacteria Streptococcus mutans that causes cavities. Additionally, chomping on naturally abrasive foods massages gums and cleans between teeth. Try This: Snack on a handful of raw celery or carrots once a day.
2. Cheese


Studies from the last decade show that cheese, with its low carbohydrate and high calcium and phosphate content, provides several benefits for your teeth. It helps balance your mouth's pH (an acidic pH encourages the growth of cavity-causing bacteria). Cheese also preserves and rebuilds tooth enamel and produces saliva, which kills the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
3. Green Tea
Green tea (Camellia sinensis) contains substances called catechins that kill the bacteria in your mouth that turn sugar into plaque (a sticky mass of bacteria, sugars, proteins, and fats that produces cavity-causing acid when it comes in contact with sugary or starchy foods). Catechins also wipe out the bacteria that cause bad breath. Try This: Drink 2 to 5 cups of green tea (regular or decaffeinated) a day.
4. Kiwis
For their size, kiwis pack more vitamin C than any other fruit. In fact, one large kiwi supplies more than 100 percent of your recommended daily amount. If you don't get enough vitamin C, research shows that the collagen network in your gums can break down, making your gums tender and more susceptible to the bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Try This: Instead of topping your morning oatmeal with brown sugar, use a sliced kiwi.
5. Onions
Onions contain powerful antibacterial sulfur compounds.onions killed various types of bacteria.that they are most powerful when eaten freshly peeled and raw. Of course, raw onions can do a number on your breath, so be sure to have some fresh parsley on hand.

6. Parsley
Chewing parsley or mint leaves after a pungent meal will help you maintain sweet-smelling breath. These herbs contain monoterpenes, volatile substances that travel quickly from your bloodstream to your lungs, where their odor is released via your breath.
7. Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are also high in calcium, which helps preserve the bone around your teeth and gums. Try This: Sprinkle a tablespoon of sesame seeds on salads and steamed vegetables a few times a week for a gentle teeth cleaning and 87 mg of calcium.
8. Shiitake Mushrooms
A 2000 study in Caries Research showed that lentinan, a sugar found in shiitake mushrooms, prevents mouth bacteria from creating plaque. Try This: A few times a week, add four to five sliced shiitakes to soups or stir-fries. Buy fresh shiitakes or dried ones, which can be reconstituted by soaking them in hot water for about 25 minutes before use.
10. water
Drinking water keeps your gums hydrated and is the best way to stimulate saliva--your body's greatest defense against the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities. Rinsing your mouth with water also helps wash away trapped food particles that decompose in the mouth and cause bad breath.