What your nails say about you

May 10, 2011 7:00 AM by Molly Cerreta Smith

Posted in Beauty & Style / Manis, Pedis & More

Do Your Nails
Reveal The True You?

We've all heard that the eyes are the windows to your soul, but what about your nails? Your hands are your body's movers and shakers, so your nails need to make a good first impression. Have you ever given some thought to what your nails say about you?

Women getting nails done

Neat 'n nude

If you rock short nails with clear or nude polish (or no polish at all), this could reveal something about your profession. Perhaps you type a lot and need short nails. Maybe you are a little reserved and don't want your nail polish shade to call attention to yourself. If you are a neat 'n nude girl, consider the message your subdued digits are sending about your personality.

Long and loud

You always rock the latest nail polish shade on your long nails, and God forbid you get a chip, especially if you splurged on the Shellac polish. You'll head straight back to the salon to get a polish change -- ASAP. So what does this manic manicuring say about you? Your obsession with perfecting your polish could mean you are eager to please or that you aim to impress people with your appearance. Or you could simply enjoy a great new nail polish color… and we don't blame you.

Dirrrrty girl

Do you have chipped nails or (gasp!) dirt underneath your fingernails? This could either reveal that you like to work with your hands (you go, green-thumbed gals!) or that you are too lazy to take care of your nails.

Jagged little nails

Do you have jagged-edged nails and cuticles? This could reveal that you have a nervous streak (nailbiters have long been considered nervous nellies) or that you bite out of boredom. Regardless of the reasoning behind your unkempt look, you need to remedy the situation pronto. When you shake someone's hand, they notice your nails... whether you notice them noticing or not... so take the time to give yourself a basic at-home mani makeover. Trim your cuticles, file and shape your nails into an easy-to-maintain short "squoval" shape, buff them and give them a clean clear coat. Voila. Even a simple, neat 'n nude style (see above) is far better than the alternative.

Healthy hands

In all seriousness, your nails can actually be telling you something when it comes to your health. According to Webmd.com, the nails can actually give clues to some serious health conditions. For example, nails with a yellowish tint that are slightly blush colored at the base could be hinting at diabetes. Red nail beds could be a red flag for heart disease; white nail beds could mean you are anemic; and dry, brittle nails that split or crack easily could be a sign of thyroid disease.