Lengthening the nail plate on bitten nails with a very small plate

The structure of nails and their growth

Nails are keratinized plates, the function of which is to protect the delicate tissue underneath from mechanical, chemical, thermal and other influences.

The structure diagram is shown in the figure, where:

A – nail plate.
B – nail hole.
C is the root.
D – sinus (sinus) of the nail.
E – matrix.
F – nail bed.
G – hyponychium.
H – free edge.

The lateral edges of the nail are surrounded by ridges of skin, and the root part is covered by a posterior ridge of skin that passes into the cuticle.

Nail growth occurs due to the formation of keratin, which, as it grows and is pushed out, becomes denser, becomes smooth and flat. This process is influenced by nutrition, body condition and even the time of year. On average, growth occurs by 0.6-1.6 mm per week.

Ingrown nail

Incorrect trimming during manicure can lead to the appearance of such a disease on the fingernails. The sharp edge of the nail plate pierces the skin of the finger, in which inflammatory processes are already occurring. The disease is characterized by tissue redness, swelling, severe pain, and suppuration. The cause of ingrowth can be:

fungal infection;
injuries received.

To cope with the disease, you will need:

carefully remove the ingrown piece of the plate;
take warm baths using antiseptic drugs;
wash your hands regularly with soap;
exclude injuries;
perform manicure correctly;
cure fungal disease;
in advanced forms of the disease, surgically remove part of the plate.

Laboratory research

Nail plate screening is a study during which the content of micro- and macroelements is determined. The goal is to see the level of vital substances: iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, sodium, selenium and others. And also determine the presence of toxic elements: barium, beryllium and aluminum, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, lead.
Test for the presence of fungus. A piece of the plate itself and the subungual contents are examined under a microscope.
Sowing. The material affected by the fungus is placed in a nutrient medium to grow colonies of fungi. In this way, the type of fungi and their resistance to drugs are determined. The process takes three weeks to a month.

Reasons for reducing the nail bed

Over time, the nail grows to the skin underneath it. However, bad habits or other factors can interfere with this fusion and contribute to a decrease in the distance of the nail bed. These include the following bad habits:

Gnawing, biting and biting nails with teeth.
Tearing off, breaking off, twisting nails with your hands or on other objects.
Scratch, rub, scratch with your nails.
Clean dirt under the nails with the wedge-shaped edge of a nail file, a pusher or any other tool. Any sharp objects “tear” the skin from the nail, reducing the bed.

You should clean your nails with a small brush, gently moving underneath them.

Manicure for nail growth

Small nails of a non-classical shape (square, rectangular) are unlikely to add femininity to your hands. But they can be made more attractive. To do this, you can try to lengthen the nail plate. Simple procedures will make her more attractive.

So, let's start with a manicure. First of all, you need to have good tools, cuticle liquid with fruit acids, a cream that prevents skin growth, special nail oil, essential oils for nail baths.

First, apply gel or liquid with fruit acids to the cuticle. After a minute or two, remove the skin. It is better to do this using orange wood sticks.

Then pour warm water into the container, add a couple of drops of tea tree oil or orange. Keep your fingers in this bath for 3-4 minutes. Then push back the cuticle and cut off the excess skin with tweezers. Rub cream into the skin to slow down cuticle growth. Give your nails the desired shape using nail scissors and a nail file. Cover the nail plates with a strengthening base in two layers. It is desirable that such a base contains calcium and vitamins. This care will promote nail growth. Just don’t think that you can solve the problem of lengthening your nail plate in a week.

Using cuticle oil

How to lengthen your nail plate with cuticle oil, you ask? It’s very simple, because such cosmetic preparations, when used regularly, slow down the growth of the cuticle, making it thin and almost invisible. In addition, rubbing any oil is accompanied by soft massage movements, which significantly improve blood circulation, promoting active nail regeneration. This has a huge impact on lengthening the short nail plate. The massage fills the fingers with health and vitality, giving the nails refined lines and an oblong shape.

Options for lengthening the nail bed

You can give it a beautiful shape using home care and cosmetic procedures, special manicures, and surgical methods. Doctors are consulted in case of ingrown nails or finger injuries, since it is not possible to lengthen the nail bed on your own. If there are no such problems, then you can achieve a good result on your own.

Beauty salons also offer spa treatments to reshape and strengthen nails.

A special type of manicure that allows you to create the effect of a long bed is performed by applying an opaque varnish of a color close to natural. After this, a new “smile line” is drawn above the existing one with a different contrasting color at the top of the edge, thereby visually lengthening the nail. The advantage of this manicure is naturalness and neatness.

Another way to lengthen your nail bed? A good option would be to use a bright varnish through which the outlines do not show through.

Ombre effect

The ombre effect is a smooth transition from one shade of varnish to another, while the border between the color changes should be invisible.

Using this technology, you can do a manicure on very small nails.

Indeed, with the correct arrangement of shades, you can achieve the effect of visually lengthening the plate. The lightest shade should be placed at the base of the nail, and the darkest at the edge.

The varnish application process is as follows:

Cover your nails with a base shade.
Apply the selected shades to the foam sponge in the required sequence.

Apply coating using a colored sponge.
Remove excess varnish in the periungual area and secure the effect with a transparent finishing product.

Deterioration in the appearance of nails

Sudden deterioration in the appearance of nails can manifest itself in different ways. More often their growth slows down. In addition, they become too brittle and brittle. The phenomenon of delamination and splitting of the plate is not uncommon. All this indicates problems in the body. If you take timely measures, you can restore the condition of the nail plates, returning them to a healthy appearance with an even, smooth structure, matte pink color, and pale pink lunula.

Why is this happening?

If the nail plates become brittle and brittle and grow slowly, then the main cause of this condition is a metabolic disorder. Such changes may result from:

lack of iron, vitamins B, A;
deterioration of the thyroid gland or kidneys;
poor blood supply.

When the nail peels or splits, the cause is energy depletion of the digestive system. This is also observed with poor blood circulation. Other causes of delamination:

malfunction of the nervous system;
problems with the genitals;
regular application of varnish, removal of the coating with a liquid containing acetone;
dry air, gap between the temperature of the street and the house;
circumcision with pliers or scissors;
using household cleaning products without gloves.

What to pay attention to

The first thing that fingernail diagnostics advises you to pay attention to is your diet. If you are deficient in vitamins, you should include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your menu. When cleaning the house or washing dishes, be sure to wear gloves, and after contact with aggressive agents, wipe your nails with apple cider vinegar. Hands should be given a break from polish at least once every 2 weeks. For filing, it is better not to use a metal plate, because it severely damages the nail plate.

Inflammation

But what to do if after the procedure there is inflammation around the nail? According to the master, in this case, the damaged area on the finger should be washed with chlorhexidine several times a day and the skin of the hands should be protected from the effects of various chemicals and aggressive detergents.

“As a rule, people with such nails are more likely to develop inflammation not because they cut them short, but because they bite them. To solve this problem, there are special nail polishes with a bitter, unpleasant taste.”

To prevent inflammation from returning, it is better to leave 1-2 millimeters of free edge during the nail trimming procedure.

Nail extensions

Extending artificial tips will help you hide the imperfections of your natural nail plate, hiding it under a layer of modeling material. In this case, the shape of the nail and the outline of its free edge may look different. It cannot be said that by extending artificial tips, you can count on lengthening a short nail plate. Rather, under a layer of modeling gel or acrylic, the imperfections of the nail bed will simply be invisible. Correctly modeled extended nails will transform the hands of their owner, and regular implementation of this procedure affects the natural nail over time, correcting some of its shortcomings. However, do not forget that under an artificial gel or acrylic coating, the tips become weak and fragile, so the nails need periodic restoration after extensions.

In the fight for beauty, all means are good. By combining cuticle and nail care with smart visual techniques and tricks, you can increase your nail bed by several millimeters. Just don’t count on a very quick result: the change in the natural structure of the nail plate will only be noticeable after a few months .
In the final video, the wonderful master expert Natalya Golokh will share useful tips on how to correctly and painlessly push back the cuticle so as not to injure the nail. Improve your skills, and the little secrets of nail art will help you create the perfect manicure!

Interesting designs for small nails

A beautiful manicure for very small nails is quite a feasible task, especially if you are aware of the basic rules of such a specific design:

refuse manicure “under the cuticle”, try to make a slight deviation from the side ridges and cuticle by 1-0.5 mm;
give preference to dark, rich shades of gel polishes: black, purple, plum, electric or royal blue, red manicure will always look more impressive than the usual “soft”;
Remember that a flat pattern is more suitable for small nails than a voluminous one. The “sweater” design will have to be abandoned;
always carefully and evenly remove overgrown skin - this will also contribute to the visual lengthening of the nails;
don't know how to paint your fingers? Give preference to the more expensive Shellac coating from CND, because it applies in a thin layer without “thickening” already short nails;
patterns on small nails should be exquisitely refined and elegant; it is better to make them with a special sharp brush for small details of nail art, and also use acrylic paint instead of gel;
it is extremely important to choose the correct shape of the nail plates, focusing on the line of the lunula, but at the same time remembering the proportions;
try to “stretch” the entire finger through the sharpness of the free edge, thereby concealing the disharmony.

Congratulations, you are at the finish line. All that remains is to carefully read all the above advice from ProstoNail experts and dare to get a manicure. Which? Find the brightest options below:

French manicure is always a good and win-win idea. The main thing is to remember that French nails for small nails have a number of nuances. For example, the smile line should be significantly narrower than the standard classics, and besides, drawn not with snow-white, but with milky, muted paint;
don't know how to transform your nails? Then you should do a simple manicure in a nude color scheme. It easily matches with any type of outfit and does not attract much attention to the hands, but at the same time the fingers look well-groomed;
Do not draw directly in the center of the nail. Place it at some distance, for example, below or to the side along the edge of the cuticle. Remember that nail art should not be pompous; a geometric manicure that combines the laconicism of straight lines would be an excellent choice;
do not experiment with different textures, they will only add extra unnecessary volume. You should forget the design with foil, “broken glass” and matte top – a simple glossy finish is what owners of miniature nails need;
There is no need to be upset if the bright confetti does not want to fit beautifully on your nail plate. They can easily be replaced by mirror rub or banal sparkles, adding a drop of celebration to the gray monotony of everyday life;
Speaking of holidays, New Year's manicure even on short nails can look very impressive if you diversify it with openwork, diagonal patterns that visually lengthen the free edge of the plates and make them more elegant;
A cute option for romantic young ladies who are tired of French manicure is a moon manicure. Emphasis on the hole is a good way to disguise a lack of length, the main thing is not to use the negative space technique;
gatekeepers of ascetic simplicity will appreciate transparent and neutral manicures, as well as minimalist manicures, distinguished by a special appearance that instantly draws the eye to your well-groomed hands;
The last option, guaranteed to win the hearts of all beauty critics, will be an abstract manicure, inspiring bold self-expression, improvisation in clothing and the brightest accessories that complement the look.

Miniature, beautiful nails are not a reason to deny yourself the pleasure of a fresh design. And with our advice, this is also a great way to emphasize your trepidation and femininity.

Cuticle treatment

This is the first place to start. Even this one operation will lead to the expansion of the nail bed. There are a large number of cosmetics to soften the cuticle: oils, creams, remover gels. You need to apply one of them to the cuticle, wait 1-2 minutes, then move it with an orange stick and remove unnecessary skin.

Orange sticks help avoid injury to the skin and nail plate.

It happens that at the initial stage the cuticle begins to grow and become shaggy. This is a transitional period that is worth enduring. Over time it will become thinner and softer.

Before lengthening your nails at home, you can take a warm bath with sea salt.

Play of color - perfection of form

The method with visual illusions has long been no secret for women. An incredibly simple and modern means for visually lengthening the shape of a nail is the use of a special color scheme and texture of the material, namely a single-color varnish and a matte glossy shade. A convenient, budget-friendly and simple solution for any occasion, be it everyday or festive manicure, from minimalist style to strict and elegant classics. The visual effect of this option lengthens any shape of the nail plate, as it hides the natural lunula and other possible imperfections of the nails from prying eyes.

Another simple and affordable method for the visible effect of enlarging the nail bed is a French manicure. This option is suitable for both supporters of artificial innovations and lovers of a natural approach. The French nail design does not go out of fashion trends and firmly occupies its leading position, both in the classic version and in other modified versions (colored French, millennium French, twist French). The purpose of this design is one - to give any nail shape a refined, traced lunula standard, thereby improving the length of the nail plate.

An important advantage is the fact that it will not be difficult to cope with such a manicure either at home or with the help of a salon specialist. To begin with, an opaque matte base is applied to cover the entire nail plate. On top of the first layer of varnish, the shape of the lunula that best suits you is clearly drawn. We complete the French look by applying a transparent coating along the entire nail. Manicure is ready!

Pushing back the cuticle

By constantly pushing back the cuticle with an orange stick or pusher, you will visually increase the length of the nail bed. To make this procedure painless and pleasant, prepare a warm salt bath for your hands by adding a few drops of aromatic oil to the water. Now, using gentle movements, push the softened cuticle away from the surface of the nail. Girls who prefer edged manicure. can easily cut skin using scissors or nippers. Now the regrown cuticle, which occupies part of the nail plate, has freed up space, making the bed more elongated. By conducting such sessions systematically, over time you will increase the area from the base to the smile line.

Newspaper manicure

To do a manicure on small nails using a newspaper font, you need to proceed as follows:

Prepare newspaper, scissors, varnish, alcohol and transparent fixative.
Cover your nails with your chosen base. It is recommended to use pastel-colored varnishes, because the letters will not be visible on other shades. Dry well.
Cut out small pieces of newspaper slightly larger than your fingernail.
You should end up with 10 rectangles: one for each finger.
Dip a piece of newspaper into a container of alcohol.
Apply it to the nail for 10 seconds.
Do this procedure with the remaining nail plates.
Carefully, trying not to smear the drawing, remove all pieces of newspaper. Let the letters dry a little and cover all nails with a clear finishing agent.

Shaping

Trimming nails with scissors is highly undesirable. You should only use a nail file to give your nails an elongated shape. This is the correct method. There is an opinion that metal files are harmful, so it is recommended to use glass and ceramic ones.

The shape itself can be any, but for short nails at the initial stage, an oval shape is better - it is closer to natural and will promote greater fusion of the skin and nail, that is, the effect that needs to be achieved. Only dry nails should be filed. Therefore, do not start doing this immediately after water procedures.

Visual trick with French manicure

How to lengthen the nail bed by a few millimeters using a special coating? To do this, you need to do a classic French manicure using thick biogel or gel polish. First, apply a layer of opaque coating in a natural shade to the entire surface of the nail, which will hide the natural smile line. Then, stepping back a few millimeters from the border of the free edge of the nail plate, a clear white crescent is drawn. Such a spectacular and natural manicure is a classic technique of many masters who, using such a trick, lengthen the nails, giving them perfect features.

How to make a beautiful manicure on small nails - dedicated to adherents of minimalism

Girls with small nails often ask themselves two sacramental questions: “Who is to blame?” and “What should I do?” ProstoNail experts have clear answers to each of them. So, we don’t recommend looking for the culprits - you’ll just waste a lot of time. It is better to complain about genetics, which determines the characteristics of the appearance of every living organism. The second most popular reason is overzealous cutting of nails in early childhood. Often parents, when doing a manicure for their beloved child, injure the hyponychium and thereby doom the child to the eternal torment of extensions. Another very common reason is bad habits, more precisely, the habit of biting nails. The damage algorithm is similar to the previous paragraph. Now we advise you to carefully weigh all the facts and decide what type of deformation is specific to your case?

Small fingernails are not a death sentence, as is commonly believed among many girls. On the contrary, such a miniature manicure looks feminine and sophisticated, graceful and childishly reverent. The main thing is to choose the right way to decorate them in order to visually hide flaws and highlight advantages. Before doing this, it is important to understand what type of nail plate yours is and then, based on the result, adjust the nail design in the right direction.

Type of small nail plates	Characteristics
Thickened	They are also sedentary. Characterized by the fact that the trapezoidal nail plate is literally spread across the entire nail bed
Springboard-shaped	Such nail plates have a rounded shape and are characterized by extreme softness, which leads to brittleness
Correct	Despite the correct, natural oval shape, such nails are unusually narrow and at the same time soft.
Biteten	They are short and unpresentable, with an uneven, often torn, free edge and pronounced lateral ridges. At the same time, the cuticle is particularly rigid, unkempt and rough.

It should be noted that many girls are still trying to fight back against genetics and make painful attempts by any means to increase the length of the free edge of the nail plates. How to make small nails big? The answer is simple - use extensions, fortunately, modern masters do it even in an hour using high-quality, proven materials that guarantee the maximum durability of the artificial manicure. However, it is worth remembering that extended nails do not always look neat and natural, especially on a small, narrow nail bed.

The second method of enlargement involves the use of folk beauty recipes. Often a thin, brittle nail plate is a sign of vitamin deficiency or a lack of microelements in the body. Healing baths according to the following recipes will help to compensate for their loss, and at the same time improve the general condition of the nails:

Dissolve a handful of sea salt in a glass of warm distilled water and add a drop of your favorite essential oil to soften the solution. After 10 minutes, dip your fingers in the liquid and, upon completion of the procedure, blot them with a towel;
Heat half a glass of high-quality unrefined sunflower oil in a water bath and add a small amount of lemon juice. Take a bath for 15 minutes;
add a few drops of iodine into the water-salt solution, stir thoroughly until the ingredients are completely dissolved and then dip your fingers in it for 10 minutes;
A good housewife will always have cabbage and potatoes in her house, as well as a juicer for extracting the valuable elixir of beauty. By mixing the juice of both vegetables in equal proportions, you get a healing solution that improves the condition of the nail plates, lightens them and accelerates growth.

It should be remembered that such recipes only work for nails of the fourth and second types and they need to be done with enviable regularity. Only in this case will you be able to grow beautiful, long and healthy nails for experimenting with nail art. You also need to remember some features of working with small nails; here are just a few facts recommended for reading:

in order to visually ennoble small, sharp nails of the first type, use classic acrylic extensions in compliance with the proportions of the hand;
Often the body compensates for the lack of length and thickness of the nail plate by excessive secretion of glands, so before starting coating, such nails should be thoroughly degreased;
When performing a corrective manicure on small square nails of the first and second types, pay special attention to disinfection issues and strictly adhere to the technology. Masters recommend applying special preparations that regulate the pH level of the nail plates;
If you dare to strengthen or grow nails of the second type, then, when applying shellac, carefully work on the free edges, as if “sealing” them. This will prevent chipping and delamination of the decorative coating;
make sure that neither the base nor the acrylic paint itself gets on the cuticle and side ridges near the plate;
When applying gel polish to small nails, use a synthetic flat brush with a sharp end, and not a standard brush from a bottle;
Manipulating small toenails causes particular trouble. If you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to entrust such a responsible task to a master podiatrist.

As you can see, even the smallest nails can be refined and literally transformed. The main thing is to understand the basic principles of working with them and remember to be careful and careful.

Caring for the nail plate when lengthening the bed

Since we are talking about how to lengthen the nail bed, an important point is to protect it from drying out. In addition, nails need to be saturated with vitamins and given strength. Firming oils and creams are suitable for this. A drop of the product is applied to the nails and rubbed into each nail with soft circular movements for 30-60 seconds. You can use both professional products and simple oils:

– apricot;

– olive;

– peach;

– rose hips;

– bergamot;

- cocoa.

Ampoules from the pharmacy with vitamin A and E and lemon juice are perfect for this. Constant use will lead to the creation of a dense structure of the nail plate, accelerated growth and a healthy appearance.

How to care for your nails at home

Proper care of the nail plate will allow the free edge to grow faster, sealing it and preventing splitting.

Make it a habit to do your manicure correctly. First, steam the skin, push back and remove the cuticle. After this, file your nails with a glass (!) file. Next, the surface is dried, after which a single-color or multi-colored coating is applied.
Constantly moisturize the skin around the nail. To do this, use a special product or one of the natural oils (olive, castor, sea buckthorn, vegetable, grape, almond, etc.). Do not allow the cuticle to crack, do not tear it off, carefully cut off the burrs.
Perform wet cleaning only with rubber gloves. This applies to washing floors and dishes. Otherwise, household preparations will have a detrimental effect on the nails and skin of the hands in particular.
An effective option for accelerating nail growth is paraffin therapy or the use of cosmetic wax. To carry out the procedure, melt the composition in a water bath, evenly cover your fingertips and wait until dry.
Make hand baths at home. As a base, you can take a decoction of any medicinal plant(s). Geranium, birch bark and buds, sage, rosemary, linden and chamomile inflorescences are suitable. Add a few drops of essential oil.
Those with very weak and thin nails need to use iodine. Soak a cotton swab in the preparation and cover the nail plate without touching the cuticle. Leave until completely absorbed and the characteristic shade disappears. It is better to carry out the procedure at night.
If you cannot grow your nails, purchase a multivitamin complex at the pharmacy designed specifically for this purpose. In addition, enrich your daily diet with calcium (lean meat, eggs, cottage cheese, milk, beans).

It's easy to lengthen your nail plate if you use some tricks. Make a manicure with vertical application of multi-colored varnish or tint the surface with a dark shade. Massage your fingers regularly, use natural oils and baths. Lengthen the bed by pushing the cuticle towards the base of the finger.

how to care for cuticles at home

What to do to lengthen your nails and nail bed?

Many people want a long and not particularly wide nail bed. After all, when only a wide and short bed is available, you have to resort to many methods of nail extension. To experience the pleasure of wearing such flawless nails yourself, you need to spend 2-3 months and do not forget to do the following procedures:

Every day, set aside time to rub your nail 2-3 times. You need to start from the place where the nail plate grows, slowly reaching the end. Rub vigorously, but do not achieve a strong burning sensation on the plate;
Massage the nail plates and the skin around them;
Manicure should be neat;
After each hand washing, be sure to dry your hands only with strong movements. The procedure should be carried out with movements from the hands to the end of the nails. In this case, you only need to wipe the nail plates dry. The towel should only be cotton;
After each procedure of washing hands and nails, rub in a small amount of cream to help moisturize the skin of your hands and do not allow the skin around the nails to dry or peel.

Massage should be done daily, while you can take time to relax and watch your favorite show. You should definitely have nourishing oils with you that will help your nails always remain healthy and strong. Some of the suitable oils include grape seed oil, almond oil, and flaxseed oil. The massage procedure must be carried out on each finger separately, in a circular manner, starting from the end of the nail plate to the hand, paying special attention to the nails and cuticle. In this case, the nails are rubbed until the plate and skin around the nails become slightly red. After everything, you can take a contrast shower to increase blood circulation in your hands.

Traumatic damage to the nail plate on the hands

Very often, problems with fingernails arise as a result of injury. In this case, pain, pulsation appears, chips of the nail plate, and blue discoloration are observed. In case of minor injuries, treat the injury site with antiseptic drugs - hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and apply ice to eliminate the hematoma. Serious injuries require a visit to the clinic. Traumatic problems cause:

mechanical impact on the plate;
chemical, thermal burns;
chronic injuries caused by professional activities.

Development of the disease

Nail mycoses, or onychomycosis, affect every tenth representative of the globe. The main pathogens are dermatophytes, such as T. rubrum. But there are forms caused by mold or yeast-like fungi. Factors that provoke onychomycosis: wearing uncomfortable, tight shoes and neglecting hygienic care of hands and feet.

Onychomycosis occurs in several stages:

Spots of a yellowish or gray-white hue appear on the platinum.
The plate becomes brittle, flakes, crumbles, and some areas thicken.
The bed takes on a brownish tint, and the nail plate comes off.

Pathological changes can be observed both in a local area and on the entire surface. The fungus gradually spreads to neighboring fingers.