If like me, you are nail polish obsessed and your nails are more often painted than bare or if you use dark shades of nail polish fairly often your nail care may need some brightening. Constant use of nail polish or dark shades of nail polish tend to leave nails with a yellowish stain. I know I would love my nails to have naturally white french tips when I am letting them have a bit of a breather from nail polish. These DIY nail whitening applications should assist you in ridding yourself of yellowish stained nails and help in making your tips a brighter shade of white. I tried 6 different varieties of DIY nail whitening applications and the beauty of this is that you are bound to have some or all of these ingredients at home. Inexpensive beauty treats after the festive season is just what you and your purse strings need!

1. 1)Combine 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide (check your local pharmacy) and 2 tablespoons bicarbonate of soda together. Stir vigorously until well combined. Apply mixture to nails, ensuring that the mixture is applied underneath nails as well (an orangewood stick helps to push the mixture underneath the nail tips), leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse well with warm water.

1. 2)Pour 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide into a small bowl. Soak a cotton wool pad in the liquid. Place the damp cotton wool pad over the nail and ensure that the cotton wool pad is gently pushed underneath your nail as well (an orangewood stick helps). Leave the cotton wool pad on nails for 3-5 minutes. Rinse well with warm water. Repeat process for all nails. Using hydrogen peroxide on its own does dry the nail out, so to counter this apply some almond oil to your nails and cuticles or lather on a moisturising hand cream after.

1. 3)Combine 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide together in a small bowl. Stir vigorously until well combined. Apply mixture to nails, ensuring that the mixture is applied underneath nails as well (an orangewood stick helps to push the mixture underneath the nail tips), leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse well with warm water.

1. 4)Rub a fresh lemon slice onto each nail for about 1 minute per nail and try to get it under your nail tips as well. Once completed, rinse well with warm water.

1. 5)Mix together 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, adjust quantities so that you get a paste. Apply mixture to nails, ensuring that the mixture is applied underneath nails as well (an orangewood stick helps to push the mixture underneath the nail tips), leave on for 3-5 minutes. Rinse well with warm water.

1. 6)Stir together 1 tablespoon of whitening toothpaste and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, adjust quantities as needed in order to achieve a paste consistency. Apply mixture to nails, ensuring that the mixture is applied underneath nails as well (an orangewood stick helps to push the mixture underneath the nail tips), leave on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse well with warm water.

After trying out so many different varieties of DIY nail whiteners, it is clear that some work better than others (1, 2 and 6 are personal favourites). However with regular use of these DIY nail whitener applications you are sure to see more marked improvements when compared with one application.

Hopefully you will find these nail care tips to be as helpful as I have!

Article by: Renee http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/the-lite-side-of-life