10 Things You Should Know About Your Fingernails

Many people pay no attention to their nails other than to keep them at a reasonable length, while others spend hours keeping them perfectly polished and manicured. They only make up a small part of our bodies, but they are a surprisingly interesting and intricate part indeed! Whatever your relationship to your fingernails, chances are there’s a lot you don’t know about them. Hair seems to get all the glory, but hair and nails actually have a lot in common besides the fact they both grow on our body. Here are ten facts about nails that will even impress your manicurist!

Growing Strong

Nails grow only 3.5 milimeters each month, or just over a tenth of an inch.

Common Ingredients

Nails and hair are primarily made of the same stuff: keratin. Their differences are a result of the arrangement of their elements.

Left or Right

Turns out, the nails on your dominant hand grow faster than they do on the other.

Nails Tell a Story

A doctor can tell a lot about your health by looking at your nails. For example, a blue-ish tint can indicate lung disease.

Cuticles Have a Purpose

Many people remove their cuticles, but they are there for a reason. They keep moisture in, and germs out.

Nails are Alive

Nails are a part of you and they are living and breathing in their own right. Nails beds and cuticles need blood and oxygen to survive.

Male vs. Female Nails

Unless a woman is pregnant, men’s nails grow faster than a woman’s.

Very Superstitious

There’s an old wives’ tale that cutting your nails after sunset means bad luck… Probably due to cutting your nails in the dark.

Nailing Records

A man in India holds the world record for the longest fingernails. He’s been growing them since 1952 and the longest one is over two meters!

How to Get Long Nails

The best conditions for nail growth are warm climates, and day time. Oh, and being young of course.