Nail Art For Halloween

 

 Happy Halloween! Here are some tutorials on fun halloween themed nail art to try! 

What Are Nails Made Of? And Other Things You Should Know About Your Nails

Your nails are made from a protein known as keratin, unlike bones, which are made mostly of collagen. Keratin protects nails from damage by making them strong and resilient. Keratin forms the cells of your hair and skin, too. It also forms cells that are a key part of many glands and that line internal organs.

1. Your visible nails are dead

Nails start growing under your skin. As new cells grow, they push old ones through your skin. The part you can see consists of dead cells. That’s why it doesn’t hurt to cut your nails.

2. But they need blood flow to grow out and create the “nail”

Tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, sit under the nail bed. Blood flowing through the capillaries helps nails grow and gives them their pinkish color.

3. Nails do have feeling — sort of

The nails you can see are dead and have no feeling. However, a layer of skin under the nails, called the dermis, has sensory nerve endings. These send a signal to your brain when pressure is applied to your nails.

4. Fingernails grow about 3.5 millimeters each month

And toenails grow about 1.5 millimeters per month. Those are the averages for healthy adults. Whether you’re getting proper nutrition and how well you take care of your nails can affect the growth rate.

5. Your nails stop growing when you die, though

Although the myth about nails growing after death isn’t true, there’s a reason it exists. After someone dies, their skin dehydrates and shrinks, making it look like their nails grew.

6. Men’s nails grow faster

Their hair grows faster than women’s, too. The one exception is during pregnancy, when a woman’s nails and hair might grow faster than a man’s.

7. So do the fingernails on your dominant hand

If you’re right-handed, you might’ve noticed the nails on that hand grow faster than on your left and vice versa. This could be because that hand is more active.

8. Seasons influence growth

Nails grow faster in summer than in winter. Not much research has been done about why this happens, but one study involving rats found that cold weather stunted their nail growth.

9. How much you use your hands affects growth, too

Using your hands a lot makes your nails more prone to minor trauma from things like tapping them on a table or using a keyboard. This promotes blood circulation in your hands, stimulating nail growth.

10. Your nail color can change according to your health

About 10 percent of all dermatological conditions are nail-related. Yellow, brown, or green nails usually mean you have a fungal infection. In some cases, yellow nails are a symptom of a thyroid condition, psoriasis, or diabetes.

11. White spots on your nails aren’t actually a sign of calcium deficiency, though

White spots or lines are usually caused by minor injuries to your nail, like from biting them. These spots are typically harmless and will grow out.

12. And stress can really affect your nails

Stress can cause your nails to grow more slowly or even temporarily stop growing. When they start growing again, you might have horizontal lines across your nails. They’re usually harmless and will grow out.

13. Nail biting is the most common “nervous habit”

Also called onychophagia, nail biting usually doesn’t cause long-term damage. However, it raises your risk of getting sick by spreading germs to your mouth. Damage to the skin around your nails could cause infection, too.

14. You really do need to let your nails “breathe”

To keep nails healthy, take breaks from using polish or having artificial nails. Using and removing these products can be hard on your nails, so taking a break from them helps nails repair themselves.

15. You can blame your parents for how thick (or thin) your nails are

Nail growth and other nail characteristics partly depend on your inherited genes. Other factors include your age and health status.

16. Cuticles do have a purpose

This small sliver of skin at the base of your nail protects the new nail from germs as it grows through your skin. You shouldn’t cut your cuticles. Doing so removes the important barrier that helps prevent infection.

17. Nails separate primates from other mammals

Primates, including humans, have nails instead of claws as well as opposable thumbs. This gives humans more agile hands that allow us to grasp things better than other mammals.

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The Holidays Are Right Around the Corner!

It’s that time of year again — when life gets busy, lists get longer, and finding the perfect gift can feel impossible. This season, make it effortless with an UpKept Nail Spa Gift Card — the thoughtful way to give comfort, relaxation, and beautifully cared-for feet.

 Ideal for:

 • Busy moms who deserve a quiet moment

 • Loved ones who appreciate clean, one-on-one care

 • Friends managing diabetic or problem feet

 • Anyone who needs a little “me time” in a peaceful environment

Whether they choose a Sole Soothe Pedicure for deep renewal or a simple polish refresh, your gift gives them something rare during the holiday rush — time to unwind.

Available to purchase online anytime at StayUpKept.com

Dazzle Dry: Nail and Cuticle Care

 

Apply Dazzle Dry Nail & Cuticle Oil to keep the nail plate and surrounding skin conditioned, moisturized, flexible, and less prone to breakage and hangnails.

Are High Heels Bad for My Feet?

In a perfect world, style and comfort would exist side by side, and you’d never need to trade health for fashion. For those irresistibly drawn to high heels, there’s little common ground. So you can better understand the toll that heels take on your body, let’s review the physical effects that high heels create...

Unnatural angles

Perhaps the biggest challenge in wearing heels comes from the downhill slope that’s forced upon your feet. The bulk of your weight rests on the ball and toes of your feet. This ramping effect potentially leads to six physical effects with negative impacts on the structures of your feet and beyond. These include: 

1.) Posture changes

Posture refers to the overall balance of your body, both at rest and in motion. Good posture reflects an even distribution of load shared from head to toe, while poor posture sees larger than normal loads concentrated in certain areas. Poor posture caused by high heels results from the weight that your forefoot is forced to absorb. Your body mechanics automatically shift to restore some type of balance. However, this shift forces other joints out of their normal relationships, most commonly the knees, hips, and lower back. 

2.) Body imbalance

Your feet are your stabilizing connection with the ground, the basis for balance and support of the rest of your body. For that, you require all 26 bones, 33 joints, and supporting soft tissue to maintain stability. Yet heels lift about half of your feet out of the balance equation. Anatomical components in your feet and legs must compensate, under strain, to maintain your ability to balance in an upright position. 

3.) Foot pain

High heels force a misalignment of body weight that’s forced onto the ball of the feet, overloading the area and potentially causing chronic pain conditions related to the extra weight forced on the forefoot. 

4.) Arches and heels

The Achilles tendon has a range of motion through which it expands and contracts normally. In heels, the tendon is forced into its contracted position, leading to pain and irritation of the tendon. The arches of your feet are held in their curved shape by a band of tissue called the plantar fascia. The uneven distribution caused by wearing heels can cause micro tears in the fascia tissue, causing pain and inflammation that contributes to an often-chronic pain condition called plantar fasciitis. 

5.) Hips and knees

The normal orientation of joints in the hips and knees must adjust to absorb the altered load from high heel weight distributions, leading to aches, pains, and, potentially, deterioration of these joints.

6.) Fractures, sprains, and tears

The lack of foot stability can lead to turned ankles, missed steps, and even simply increased forces that cause stress fractures. 

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Why Do Your Feet and Ankles Swell?

Having swollen feet and ankles is a common problem, especially at this time of year when temperatures are climbing. The swelling is caused by an accumulation of fluid: you might hear your podiatrist refer to this problem by its medical name, oedema. You develop oedema if fluid leaks from tiny blood vessels called capillaries into the surrounding tissue. Your feet and ankles are particularly prone to swelling due to the effect of gravity – it’s difficult for your circulatory system to carry the build-up of fluid away from these areas.

When your feet and ankles are puffy, the skin may look overstretched and shiny. The swelling makes you feel uncomfortable and stiff, so it’s more challenging than usual to be active. Your normal shoes and hosiery could well get too tight, in which case wearing them may lead to blisters and sores.

Swollen Feet and Ankles – Common Causes

• Hot weather – blood vessels expand, allowing heat to escape in order to help you cool down. However, fluid can easily escape too and flood your tissue.
• Sitting or standing for long periods – being stationary leads to poorer circulation and fluid pooling in your feet and ankles.
• Being overweight or obese – excess weight puts your lower limbs and circulation under strain, which makes fluid build-ups more likely.
• Aging – as you get older, your circulatory system gets weaker. You’re therefore more susceptible to swollen feet and ankles.
• Eating too much salt – adults should consume less than six grams per day to help protect their circulation. Consuming too much disrupts your normal salt/water balance; your body tries to compensate by holding onto more fluid than it should.
• Side effect of some medications – you may develop oedema when taking certain prescription drugs, such as steroids and blood pressure tablets.
• Pregnancy – an expectant mother’s body retains more water than usual, while the weight of the baby can impair the circulation in her lower limbs, making swollen feet and ankles more likely.

Tips for Reducing the Swelling at Home

There are various ways you can try to relieve swollen feet and ankles. The aim is to boost your circulation and encourage blood vessels to reabsorb the fluid and carry it away.

• Raise your feet and ankles a little above heart level – you could lie down and rest them on pillows for half an hour. Gravity will help to move the fluid.
• Massage swollen areas – apply light pressure, working upwards from your feet.
• Try gentle exercise – lie on an exercise mat, raise your legs and make a pedaling motion, as if you’re riding a bike. Swimming can help too.
• Enjoy a footbath – place your feet and ankles in a bowl of warm water and Epsom salts to soothe them and improve blood flow. (Please note: diabetics shouldn’t soak their feet.)
• Take regular breaks if you have to stand or sit for long hours – ideally go for a walk.
• Reduce your salt intake, if you consume more than six grams per day, by avoiding foods such as crisps, microwave meals and cooking sauces.
• Stay well hydrated – drink about two liters of water per day. Your body ends up holding onto more fluid than it should if you’re dehydrated.
• Wear comfortable, breathable shoes – this isn’t the time to be squeezing your feet into impractical footwear. You may need slightly bigger socks – wear some that cool feet by wicking away sweat.

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Pumpkin Nail Art - Hand Painted/Fall Themed Nail Design Tutorial

 

Here's a tutorial for a fall themed/hand-painted pumpkin nail art design.