Ponchos

Ponchos were originally raincoats, a single piece of garment with an opening for the head and occasionally for the arms. The new-age variation of the garment has been in vogue for some time now.
These fashionable ponchos use the same shape but are made of very different material- wool or any other stringy material. As ponchos are loose and comfortable they are perfect accessories for all occasions. Ponchos also come with hoods.

Today’s ponchos are elegant and practical at the same time. It is great to cover yourself in cold, air-conditioned offices and movie theatres. Chiffon ponchos, though expensive, are good for the ‘day look’. It is the ideal attire for brunches or running errands, it’s casual yet not clumsy. A slightly tighter cotton poncho that emphasizes on your figure is good for evenings. They are stylish and yet keep you warm. And when you combine it with a camisole, you give an impression of revealing more than you actually are.



See also: Groom yourself with accessories / Scarf-A fashion accessory / Watch – A fashion accessory / Pearls/ Diamonds/Care of your jewelry/The magnificent Mehandi

Applying Lipstick

Lipsticks not only lend color to the lips, they protect as well. A lip pencil does wonders for the lip. But do ensure that the pencil and lipstick are of the same shade. If you use a lot of shades, identify the ones you use most and buy matching pencils for them and you can use a lip brush for the rest.

Outline the natural contour of your lips with the pencil and enhance/reduce depending on whether you want them to look larger/smaller. The advantage of a lip liner is that it prevents the lipstick from running or seeping. These done, apply lipstick using a lip brush only. It spreads evenly and stays longer.

We usually start from the centre and go towards the ends of the mouth. Do not do that. Start from the corners and go to the center. You will be surprised at the good results. Then, fill in the centre well and full. The advantage is that the corners of the mouth are a little tricky and so can be looked into clearly at the start when the lips are not colored.

Then press lips onto a tissue for a matte effect and reapply. Then apply translucent powder on it for a longer stay and matte effect. Be very careful whilst doing that for it should not alter the shade and look as if caked on. Else apply lip-gloss for a glossy effect. Glosses looks very sophisticated and glamorous and so use your discretion before using gloss.
See also: Make-up Why is it necessary? /The wonders of cream bleach / Powder for perfect makeup / Makeup with contact lenses-Is it permissible / Eyebrows shaping and care

Skin care during daytime

A daily skin care is a must. The neglect or care that the skin receives over years plays a part in how quickly it ages, though there are other factors involved like- general health, diet, environment and hereditary characteristics. Having recognized your skin type and having chosen proper skin care products, you must allow yourself an extra few minutes in night (Refer Skin care at night) and morning to complete your skin care beauty routine. Also keep in mind these 5 golden rules of skin-care, mentioned in a previous post. It should become as automatic as brushing your teeth.
1. Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your skin while bathing with a mild soap that is non- drying. Ideally, your soap should be enriched with moisturizers to prevent giving you a tight, dry feeling after the bath. Every alternate day, use a face scrub (Try lemon face scrub) to gently exfoliate the dead skin.
2. Moisturizing: Use a good moisturizer and massage it all over the face with the fingertips. Preferably, massage the moisturizer on a wet face so that the skin retains as much moisture as possible. Moisturizer acts as a good base either for the make-up or as an essential skin protector for those who wear no make-up.
3. Use of a good skin protection cream: Our skin is subjected to the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun for all the 12 months of the year that results in darkness and tanning of the skin. Of all the skin’s enemies, the sun is the worst. It drains the moisture from the skin, dehydrating it and helping it to age prematurely. Hence, after moisturizing, you must use a good ‘sunscreen’ cream high in SPF. Refer to the post on sunscreen for more…
Even if you do not go out in the sun quite often, yet a good sunscreen protection is a must as even the slightest exposure to the sunlight significantly darkens the skin. Evidence is the footwear marks on the feet or the wrist-watch marks on your wrist.
Category: Skin and body care
See also: Home facials / Beauty Masks for a glowing complexion /Buttermilk for beauty / Aloe vera, the wonder herb / Cucumber for beauty and health/ Hand and Nail Care / Home facial foul-ups / Banana-medicinal and cosmetic value / Papaya for health and beauty

Noon-time nap

A nap in the middle of the day is one of life’s pleasures. But many people do without it because of a vague, sneaky feeling of guilt – it seems like an indulgence that is so unproductive. Shove aside those guilt pangs, snatch a half-hour siesta everyday and discover its long-term health benefits. Some reasons to nap:
* Napping at noon is natural. As humans, we naturally operate with a 12-hour cycle superimposed on a 24-hour day. Our body temperature, blood sugar, work efficiency and mood drop after an afternoon meal. So it is natural that our bodies ‘expect’ to take a rest in the post meal period at noon.
* An afternoon nap improves alertness in the later hours. Though everyone feels a little lazy after a nap – this state lasts only for 5-15 minutes. After that, you will almost definitely be left in a better mood and be more alert than if you had not napped. In fact, that extra edge can last for up to 10 hours after you wake up from a nap. Napping is a natural stress-buster. Evidence shows that people who set aside regular midday rest periods generally lead a more relaxed lifestyle and suffer form less hart-threatening stress. A word of caution: Those who are already at high risk for a heart attack should not nap after a heavy, high-fat meal.
How and where should one nap?
A few suggestions for napping:
A short nap is better than a long one
A short nap will leave you refreshed; a too-long nap will leave you tossing and turning with insomnia that night.
Early is better than late
The ideal nap time is between 2 to 3 pm, studies say. Morning naps tend to be too light; evening ones too deep.
A bed is better than a chair
Dozing off on a chair may be more natural, but try to rouse yourself long enough to lie on a bed. Studies show that napping in bed is conducive to much higher quality sleep than napping on a chair. If you are in an office job, then search for some other alternatives. A comfortable recliner, a couch or even the carpeted floor will do. However arrange to be woken at the end of 20 to 30 minutes. Once your body and mind are in tune with this duration of napping, you will wake of your own accord!
Category: Health
See also: For a good-night’s sleep / Water-some health benefits of drinking it / Bad breath (Halitosis) / Weight reduction diet tips / Simple tips for sitting

Herbal beauty hair care products from home

Shampoos with soap nut (reetha), shikakai, amla (gooseberry), brahmi(Asiatic pennywort), triphala, henna etc. are mild and have a very good cleansing effect. Rinses such as yoghurt and amla have conditioning and nourishing properties. The following herbal concoctions will not only beautify your hair but also will help you to have a healthy hair growth.
Fresh soap nut shampoo (reetha shampoo)
Ingredients:
A handful of reetha nuts
A handful of shikakai pods
50 gm of dried amla
50 gm of dried brahmi leaves
250-400 ml. of water.
Method:
Boil all these ingredients together. Mash strain and use it to shampoo your hair. Reetha, shikakai, amla and brahmi impart a natural cleansing and glossy finish to any type of hair.
Lotion for unruly hair
Ingredients:
A handful of neem leaves, hibiscus leaves, brahmi leaves and lemon leaves.
1 tbsp. eau de cologne
1 tbsp glycerin
Method:
Make an *infusion of the herbs. Add the eau de cologne and then add glycerin. Whisk well and store in a bottle. Rub this lotion into the scalp. It is excellent for unwieldy and frizzy hair.
Henna hair magic
Ingredients:
Henna powder
Coffee decoction
1 egg yolk beaten
1 tbsp lemon juice
Method:
Mix all together to form a smooth paste. Apply this henna paste to your hair. Cover with a shower cap and leave for half an hour and then shampoo.
Henna provides the only natural, permanent color, imparting a burnished sheen, highlighting an auburn aura. A strong coffee decoction added to henna powder deepens the color. Adding red wine to henna powder gives a red shade. To fix the color, add lemon juice to the henna powder.
Category: Hair care, Home-made beauty aids
For home made skin care beauty products refer these posts:
Herbal beauty products from home-1
Herbal beauty products from home-2

Normal skin care

Read through the post Know your skin type to know if you have a normal skin.
Normal skin is an abnormal thing. Your skin will be oilier during your youthful days and as you grow older it will get drier. It is usually trouble-free and needs simple care to keep it healthy and glowing. If you are one of those rare and lucky people to have normal skin take good care of it. Normal skin also tolerates most popular lotions and creams well. A regular skin-care program combined with a balanced diet helps keep normal skin stay supple and young.
Regular care for normal skin should include a few simple steps:
* Cleansing, toning, and moisturizing daily keeps normal skin in great shape for a long time. It is advisable to use natural products on your skin.
* It’s easy to take trouble-free skin for granted. But, if neglected, it will begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles. So, always remember to nourish and moisturize your skin.
* Creams and lotions that contain vitamin A, C, and E help improve the texture of the skin, making it smoother and softer. Moreover, these vitamins counter the effects of free radicals, which cause ageing.
Home remedy for normal skin
*Banana face pack is ideal for this type of skin. Banana is excellent to do away with dead skin that makes your skin look lifeless. Regular use of banana gives your skin a fresh, healthy glow. * Take 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of milk, 1 tsp of sandalwood powder, a few drops of almond oil and carrot juice. Apply on the face, wash after drying.
* Take 1 tbsp of fuller’s earth (multani mitti), 1 tbsp of rose water and a few drops of orange juice or lemon juice. Mix it well. Apply on the face for 15-20 minutes. Then wash it off.
Category: Skin and body care
See also: Baths / 5 golden rules of skin care/ Dry skin care / Lemon as a beauty aid / Milk for health & beauty / Simple ways of acquiring a clear & blemish free skin / Lemon as a beauty aid / Milk for health & beauty / Buttermilk for beauty / Aloe vera, the wonder herb /Cucumber for beauty and health /Beauty Masks for a glowing complexion / Home facials / Home facial foul-ups / Soap-Some facts

Home remedies for eczema

Eczema means a ‘boiling over’ of the skin and is characterized by spontaneous eruptions with mild to severe itching, redness, flaking and tiny blisters. In chronic cases, the skin becomes thickened and appears like the ‘bark of a tree’. Eczema is one of the diseases which are inadequately treated by medical science. ‘Housewife’s eczema’ is an irritant eczema caused by prolonged exposure of the hands to detergents, washing liquids, shampoos and other caustic items. In this variety the skin may crack, flake and itch.
Home remedies for eczema
1) The affected part should be cleaned daily with warm water boiled with bark of the neem tree. This simple measure prevents secondary infections and itching.
2) The paste prepared from neem bark should be applied on the affected part and allowed to dry and then washed off.
3) Pure neem oil, in a dosage of 2-4 drops well mixed in a cup of warm milk with sugar should be taken daily for 40 days.
4) In itching eczema- Camphor can be added to any preparation for healing an itchy lesion, as it numbs and thereby soothes the urge to scratch.
5) Dried, shriveled garlic cloves are heated over low fire in coconut oil until the oil imbibes the black color or the cloves. The cloves are then squeezed into the oil and the oil filtered. This makes an effective application over weeping eczematous lesions.
6) You can prepare a medicated oil by boiling in coconut oil a handful of dhub grass, a few sticks of liquorice (called as Jetimad, Mulhathi in Hindi and Jeshtamadhu in Kannada) and some harad powder (available in any stores selling ayurvedic products) . This oil must be applied daily before bath.
7) After washing the lesions with a solution of tea and rock salt, the part should be dried and covered with a dilute paste of fenugreek and red sandal.
8) Store garlic cloves which have been dried in shade for a long time. Boil some of these in some coconut oil until the cloves turn black. Squeeze out these charred cloves into the oil and apply on wet lesions. You can see the skin turn healthy within a few weeks.
9) Wash the lesions twice a day with a solution of tea and rock salt. This can be followed by applying a paste of fenugreek seeds and Rakta chandana (red variety of sandalwood)
10) Turmeric (Haldi)is also useful in combating this disease. It can be applied externally over the eczematous patch and it can be taken internally along with milk in a dose or one teaspoonful, twice a day.
Dos and Don’ts
* Keep the eczema patches free from any tight clothing.
* Avoid use of synthetic clothing which prevent evaporation of sweat.
* Avoid contact with detergents; if unavoidable wear cotton gloves and wash.
Diets
* Avoid sour foods like pickles, curds, meat, fish and eggs.
* Intake of bitter gourd, bitter variety of drumstick, neem flowers and water melons is beneficial.
Juice therapy:
1) Intake or carrot + spinach juice is beneficial
2) Any of these juices also can be taken: potato, papaya, and water-melon.
Juice therapy is most effective when taken early in the morning on a empty stomach.
Category: Skin and body care, Home-remedies for common diseases
See also: Home remedies for headache / Home remedies for common cold / Benefits of walking Water-some health benefits of drinking it / For a good-night’s sleep / Bad breath (Halitosis) / Weight reduction diet tips

Simple tips for sitting

Everyone spends considerable amount of time in sitting and most of us believe that sitting is a form of relaxation and that it does not cause any harm to the body. We often associate our back pain with standing. But, in fact, according to medical experts, pressure on the vertebral discs is higher when sitting than when standing. The dangers of sitting for a prolonged period may not be felt immediately, but over the years, it has a cumulative effect on the spine. We should limit the time spent in sitting as much as possible and also re-design our sitting places to make them more comfortable to the back and spine.
Tips for long period sitting
1. Do not sit for more than 20 minutes at a time.
2. While sitting, keep changing the position of your legs to feet up, feet apart, feet together etc.
3. Get up often from your sitting position even if it is only for a short duration or 5 to 10 minutes.
4. If you work at a computer monitor or typewriter or anything that you refer to often with your eyes, keep the machine straight ahead and at eye level. If your focal point is lower than this, you may have to adopt a slumped-forward posture which increases disc pressure. (Refer the article Eye care for computer users also.)
5. The arrangement of your desk or chair should be such that your forearms rest on the desk and your elbows are at a 90 degree angle and close to your sides. This will reduce the stress on the surrounding muscles.
6. While selecting a chair, see that it suits your size and shape. The chair should be wide enough for you to keep your knees apart. Avoid keeping the knees close together for long periods.
7. Use chairs with armrests as these reduce pressure on the discs.
8. Sitting in a reclined position (120 degrees seem optimal) lowers disc pressure. So make sure your chair allows you to alternate positions.
9. Sitting on the front edge of the chair, keeping the feet flat on the floor and having your arms supported by the desk or armrests, will facilitate you to maintain a normal lumbar curve and will lower inter-discal pressures.
Category: Health, exercises
See also: Benefits of walking / Facial exercises for a youthful look-1 / Facial exercises for a youthful look-2 / Oral-Dental Hygiene & care/ Body Odor / Water-some health benefits of drinking it / For a good-night’s sleep / Bad breath (Halitosis) / Weight reduction diet tips / Home remedies for headache

Fungal infections may affect your feet

In monsoons, our skin is often at the receiving end, especially our feet. With our kind of streets, wading through knee-deep water and accidentally stepping into an open drain is quite possible. Wet footwear is the worst. Fungal infections caused by using covered footwear through the day lead to irritating itches and subsequently, the scaling of the toes and the spaces between them. The crinkled skin and brittle toenails can cause a disease called ‘Athlete’s foot’ which if neglected, can be chronic.

Therefore maintain scrupulous hygiene. Wash your feet with a medicated, preferably an anti-fungal soap as soon as you reach home, pat-dry with a soft towel and ensure that you dry your feet completely and also the space between the toes, which are vulnerable to fungal infection. Do not use covered footwear. Avoid wearing socks. If you still end up with cracked and wet spaces between your toes, then fungicidal ointments and lotions are the best and most efficient method of treatment as the alcohol has a drying effect on the skin. Try out these home-remedies also.

Secrets of success

These are a few rules that most successful people follow. It may not be a complete list in itself, but nevertheless some of the rules mentioned below are invaluable and if followed, bound to bring success in our life, business and in almost all walks of life.1) Begin with that for which you have talent.
2) Centralize your energies.
3) Take excellent care of your health.
4) Save your money, develop habits of industry and money making.
5) Prepare for opportunities.
6) Improve your vitality.
7) Develop social magnetism.
8) Develop confidence in your own abilities.
9) Develop an optimistic state of mind. Expect success; talk success.
10) Be honest in your dealings with people, and the people will patronize you.
11) Never associate too much with unimportant people.
12) Act unseen as much as you can. People should not know your business.
13) Study the past experience of successful people.
14) Study causes of failure and causes of success.
15) Agree with the people. The secret of success is to agree with the people, but this does not mean that you should make yourself common and familiar.
16) Do not trust people too much; watch friend and foe.
(Compiled from Self Improvement books)
See also: Self-esteem- Why is it so important? / Test your level of self esteem/Concentration /The art of listening / Tips to beat stress

Home remedies for common cold

Common cold is a very common malady which affects people during monsoons. (Also see the post Beauty and body care in monsoon for a monsoon beauty regimen.) It can be caused by any one of more than 200 viruses. Normally it is confined to the nose and throat although the virus can infect the larynx and lungs. It is said that there is no particular cure for colds, they are naturally relieved within a week. Treatment is just an attempt to relieve its symptoms such as headache, stuffy nose, sore-throat and congestion. Paracetamol tablets are generally taken to get relief from these symptoms.

Papaya for health and beauty

Few people realize what a wholesome and nutritive fruit the papaya is. It has more carotene when compared to other fruits such as apples and guava, custard apple, plantains. The ripe papaya fruit contains large quantities of carotene. Papayas are high in ascorbic acid content (vitamin C) and the flesh is very high in vitamin A. There are also small amounts of calcium, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin present in papaya. It is low in calories and sodium, and high in potassium. Papaya is a common man’s fruit which is reasonably priced and has a high nutritive value. This fruit is available throughout the year. Like the banana tree nearly every part of the papaya tree is said to be useful and of medicinal value.

Skin care at night

A regular skin care regimen can actually slow down the ageing process. Choose appropriate skin care products and allow yourself an extra few minutes in night and morning to pamper your skin. A night skin care routine is as essential as a day care routine.
1. Cleansing: Pour a little cleansing milk or lotion in the palm of one hand, rub the hands together and massage into the face. Clean off the lotion and dirt with cotton wool with gentle upward movements. Repeat the process but this time spend a little longer time on the massage. Now simply splash your face with cool water.
2. Toning: Toning closes the pores and stimulates circulation. Use a mild skin toner and pat it on greasier areas of your skin with cotton wool.
3. Feeding: Take a little moisturizer or a little night cream on your palm and then massage into the face with the movements shown in the picture above. In the course of massage, lightly circle the eyes with fingertips, very, very gently, 20 times. Be sure there is enough cream to keep your finger slipping on the skin.

If you use an eye or wrinkle cream at night, circle it around the eyes. Leave cream on for up to 20 minutes, but always wipe off any surplus before going to bed.
Your entire beauty routine for the night can be accomplished in about 5 minutes. Once it becomes a habit, it encompasses not only cleansing, toning and feeding your skin but stimulating the circulation, removing dead cells and generally giving your skin a longer lease of youthful glow.
Category: Skin and body care
See also: 5 golden rules of skin care/The wonders of cream bleach/ Lemon as a beauty aid / Milk for health & beauty / Buttermilk for beauty/ Cucumber for beauty and health

Scarf-A fashion accessory

The scarf has been an integral accessory of a woman’s wardrobe for long. Whether worn around the neck or on the head, these colorful pieces of silk have always attracted our attention. Though the scarf came to India from the west, women in India have been wearing scarves in the form of dupattas for ages. Old silk saris and unused silk blouses can also be converted into scarves by cutting to the required length and width, edging it, and adding tassels to it.

Body softening mask

Apart from the face, the whole body needs to be taken care of. The skin has a fantastic capacity to absorb the valuable nutrients that are applied to it. This luxurious mask is ideal for pampering your entire body. It moisturizers and softens you from top to toe.


Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/3 cup groundnut oil
4 tbsp whipped butter
½ cup plain curd
1 tsp vinegar
3 tbsp rose water
2 tsp glycerine
1 ½ cups apple juice
1/3 cup eau de cologne

Dandruff-Home Remedies

Dandruff is a common problem and one can fall victim to excessive dandruff at any time. Common practice is treating dandruff with anti-dandruff shampoos. Also refer to an earlier post on dandruff, Fight dandruff yourself for more information. But simple effective home remedies can treat dandruff. Home remedies may offer complete solutions for controlling dandruff.

* You can also prepare a mixture of one part of sandalwood oil and three parts of lemon juice. Store it in a bottle. Massage the scalp with this solution. After the massage, treat your hair with an egg shampoo.

Eyebrows shaping and care

The most expressive features of our face are the eyes and the eyebrows; our moods and thoughts are reflected through them. Eyebrows are usually the most neglected part of a person’s face. However, few people realize the role they play in balancing your features. They draw attention to the eyes like a picture frame. Too bushy or too highly arched eyebrows will spoil the end-result of your makeup. They can be made to look very attractive and perfect, even if they are not, as you can have the shape changed to your advantage. Properly shaped eyebrows can even camouflage some of the other imperfect features of your face, such as a broad nose, closed-in eyes etc.

Beating stress – some tips

It is very difficult to come across a happy, contented face in a crowd these days. Stress has become a way of life with people these days. Sure, we all need to be a little tense once in a blue moon. After all it acts as a positive force and helps us get things done. But when tension becomes a habit with us and we are unable to cope up with it, we say we are undergoing stress. Some people are simply born more tense than others. Children of over-anxious parents generally grow up to be more anxious than the others.

Hairstyles-choose according to the shape of your face

A hairstyle helps to accentuate or draw away certain facial characteristics. There are a whole lot of ways to style our hair depending on your face structure. If you like your hair styled long, there are long frizzy hair styles, long curly hair styles, long layered hair styles, long braided hairstyles, etc.

Contact lenses-helpful tips for care and maintenance

You may be wearing soft contact lenses to correct your vision problems or colored cosmetic lenses to enhance the look of your eyes. However a thorough contact lens care regimen is essential to ensure maximum comfort, visual clarity and maintain eye health while you are wearing your lenses. Good contact lens care helps prolong the life of your lenses.

Home Remedies for headache

All of us have suffered from headaches at some time or the other. No one needs to be told about the agony it can cause.

They just hit you at any time with a nagging, throbbing pain in the head and spoil your day. There could be many causes for headaches.

Well… let’s not go deep into that. Here are a few home remedies which you could try out when a headache hits you.

Concentration

Concentration is the key to success in most spheres. To achieve something, you need to be able to concentrate on your aims and your immediate tasks. It is one of the hardest lessons to learn which we try to do right from childhood. 

We all feel, at sometime or the other, that our concentration could be improved. There are no miraculous shortcuts to this power. Although a degree of ability to concentrate is inbuilt, everyone has to work at improving these skills according to the needs of their ambitions.

Dos and Don’ts of hair care

Long lustrous flowing hair is a dream of every woman, but possessed only by a few. Nowadays hair is the most manhandled part by most of us. Cutting, dyeing, perming, crimping, coloring etc. again and again can play havoc with its natural texture and color. Some tips-

Dry skin care

For determining whether you have a dry skin, refer to the post Know your skin type.
Dry skin is easily recognizable as it is more finely textured than an oily skin. Mostly dry skin is noticed around the nose between brows and around the lips. Dry, cold, windy weather evaporates the water in cells and leaves the skin flaky and chapped. Rainy weather on the other hand benefits the skin. Use of wrong soap and over exposure to air-conditioner also contributes to dryness of skin. Ageing is another factor that leads to dryness. As one grows old, the amount of oil secretion is insufficient. A few measures help alleviate dryness and keep your skin supple and, at the same time, guard against premature ageing.

A brief profile of a few essential oils

Refer to the post on Essential oils
Lavender oil: Lavender with its delicate aroma is the safest of all essential oils, for it can be applied undiluted on the skin. It promotes cell growth, rejuvenates skin and has a mild sedative power. Besides, it calms and soothes and soothes and is ideal for sensitive skin and also for boils, sores, eczema and fungal skin condition. In case of burns, apply ice on the affected area and then place a drop of lavender oil.

Sandalwood oil: Sandalwood, with its musky fragrance, is suitable for all types of skin and helps clear blemishes, spots and acne. It is used in creams and potions to amplify their staying power and is ideal for treating dry and dehydrated skin.

Nails reveal your health

Nails are more than just a pack of dead cells. Besides making your fingers look good, they also tell you more than you know about your health. Any nutritional deficiency or illness first manifests itself on your nails, just like your skin or hair. The most impeccable manicure in the world won’t make your nails look great if they’re not in good shape or good health to start with. Here is some nail know-how to keep the world at your fingertips. 

Brittle nails: Nails that chip, split or peel are usually due to iron, vitamin or calcium deficiency, overexposure to household cleansers and acetone or due to dehydration. In the winter, nails can become even more brittle. Drink plenty of water and moisturize your nails and cuticles daily with some oil. Try eating foods rich in calcium (like milk products and dark, leafy vegetables) and iron (dried fruits, spinach) etc. Never use nails for digging and prying and keep them filed and snag free. In some cases, kidney disease, liver problems and thyroid diseases may also produce brittle nails or splitting of the nail from the nail bed.