20 Fun Facts About Your Nails
| Published: 23rd July 2008 07:23 |
Never underestimate the power and influence of your nails. With bad nails being a big turn-off for the opposite sex and healthy nails impressing potential employers, how much do you know about the often ignored body part?
The experts at Nail-it! have compiled a list of 20 unusual facts about your most vital appendages.
1. Your nails are an important indicator of your general health. They can highlight problems such as arthritis and psoriasis.
2. Nails are made of a protein called keratin, the same material that your hair is made from.
3. An estimated 20% of people over the age of 60 have a fungal nail infection.
4. Fungal infections cause about 50% of all nail disorders.
5. Medieval Italian men would let the nail on their little finger grow to prove they did not need to do any work.
6. Lee Redmond, from Salt Lake City USA, hasn't cut her nails since 1979 and holds the Guinness world record for longest female fingernails at a total length of 7m 51.3cm.
7. A fingernails full growth cycle is roughly 150 days.
8. Fingernails grow faster than toenails, which can take up to year to grow fully.
9. The middle finger is the fastest growing fingernail on your hand.
10. Men's fingernails grow faster than women's.
11. Bird's feathers, horse's hooves and deer's antlers are all made from Keratin which is the same protein as a human nail.
12. Pranamya Manari and Devendra Harne both from India share the Guinness world record from most fingers and toes with 25 nails in total.
13. Biting unwashed finger/toe nails can cause intestinal worms.
14. Anne Boleyn had 6 fingers and nails on one hand. She would wear long sleeves and gloves to cover the extra appendage so people wouldn't think she was a witch.
15. Nails grow quicker in summer months in comparison to winter.
16. When you die you nails do not continue to grow, the skin around them shrinks giving the illusion of a lengthening nail.
17. Nail-it's unique lacquer‘s main ingredient is chitosan which is also found in crab shells to aid with regeneration.
18. Your nail is made up of dead cells
19. The Statue of Liberty's fingernail weighs 3.5 pounds.
20. Nail growth is affected by disease, hormone imbalance and the aging process.
"Nails should be recognised as the remarkable body part they are," says Phil Carroll, spokesperson for Nail-It! "people seem to forget about their nails. If you had bad hair, you'd fix it wouldn't you? It should be the same with nails but people treat them differently for some reason."
For this transfer of attention your nails need to be in their best shape and Nail-it! have produced a specialised formula to help you achieve perfect nails. This solution will naturally strengthen and protect nails and keep them looking amazing. Visit www.nailit.org for more details.
Do you think your nails have cost you a relationship or job? Tell us about it, leave a comment below!
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