The nail brush is a practical and indispensable utensil, it is about a thorough cleaning and care of our nails. From discount goods to designer pieces, there is now pretty much everything and although even the cheap version can provide effective cleaning of the nails, it is sometimes useful to choose a high-quality product or a certain type of bristles.
What is a nail brush?
Nail brushes are used for thorough cleaning of hands, respectively fingernails. Plastic or wood, natural fiber or easy-care nylon? The choice of the right nail brush should be made dependent on two factors: The degree of regular soiling and the position of the brush in the hand. So, is it about soiling of the hands after work in the household and garden or in the direction of more stubborn dirt? For this purpose, it is worthwhile to study the product descriptions in detail, because with the right brush, the thorough cleaning of the hands succeeds effortlessly. Wooden brushes in particular are becoming increasingly popular. Many of them are also manufactured in Germany. In the Black Forest, in the Allgäu or in the Teutoburg Forest, for example, there are a large number of manufacturers who specialize in the production of brushes and household articles. The north can also boast a number of production facilities. The raw materials needed for this are obtained from domestic forests, as well as through an additional purchase of Mediterranean woods.
Forms and functioning
Nail brushes have evolved tremendously over time. There are countless colors, shapes and finishes, as well as more and more different degrees of hardness and materials of the bristles. In addition to classic models, there are now also nail brushes with a handle or real individual hand flatterers, equipped with brush trimmings on one or both sides. The brush bodies vary from plastic to wood, with thermo-wood brushes currently becoming increasingly popular. Often used materials are beech followed by oak, ash and pear wood and in the high price range also olive wood. Thermowood brushes are very popular due to their heat resistance and can therefore also be used in humid and hot wellness areas or sauna facilities without the material suffering. For the trimmings, i.e. the brush, a distinction is made between natural fibers, animal hair and synthetic fibers. Natural fibers are obtained from the agave plant “Agave lechuguilla”, which come from Mexico’s high plateaus. These fibers are very supple, skin-friendly, and resistant to heat and acid. Wear and tear is slow, as these plant fibers always return to their original position, helping the brush to last a long time. The animal hair trim is pig bristles. But here, too, a distinction may be made between Chinese and German domestic pigs and wild boar. Depending on the breed, different degrees of hardness of the bristles are to be considered. Use for the nail brush trimmings are mostly the lower approaches: Pig bristles are split once or twice and only the lower cuts are suitable for the robust nail brushes. Boar bristles have a particularly hard property and are therefore popular for nail brushes in the commercial sector. There are also three different types of synthetic fibers: In addition to nylon, polyprobylene is still used as well as polyester, whereby the latter finds its application particularly in the clinical area as well as in the food sector due to its UV resistance and a temperature resistance of up to 120 degrees Celsius.
Medical and health benefits
Thorough cleaning of nails can minimize a lot of health risks. Bacterial infections can be prevented, and regular use can keep hands soft and well-groomed. When used with the right brush, the use of cleaning agents can sometimes even be dispensed with. In the case of heavy soiling, however, the additional use of soaps is advisable. The correct application of the nail brush, i.e. watering the hand, watering the bristles and carefully increasing the pressure of the brush on the fingernails achieves thorough cleaning in most cases. After that, hand and nail care in the form of a cream is recommended. In this context, cleaning the brush is also important. After the cleaning process, run clear water over the bristles until all soap and dirt residues have dissolved.A little trick: if you want to effectively sterilize your nail brush, place it in a container with water into which a few drops of vinegar are added. After the exposure time, the liquid can be rinsed out under clear water. In the case of brushes with a folding function – such as travel brushes – care should be taken to ensure that the bristles are completely dry before folding the brush. This prevents harmful germs. The fewer people who use the same nail brush, the more hygienic the personal hygiene.
