Why Are My Nails Soft And Bendy
Soft or weak
These nails break easily or bend before snapping. Soft nails might be caused by overexposure to moisture or chemicals think detergent, cleaning fluids, nail treatments, and nail polish remover. Weak nails are most likely associated with a deficiency in B vitamins, calcium, iron, or fatty acids.
Get Your Acrylics Removed By A Professional
As I already mentioned before, your nails will be very weak, so if you remove the acrylics in an incorrect way you can cause more damage. Professionals should know what they are doing and will help the process be as smooth as possible. The normal procedure includes soaking your nails in acetone for 30-45 minutes and there are also some other steps involved. Click onto this post to see more: How to remove acrylic nails safely
Tip #1 Apply Cuticle Oil And Cuticle Cream Regularly
Using Cuticle Oil and/or Cuticle Cream on your nails is one of the most effective ways to repair them if you get a reputable product.
The best Cuticle Oils are potently formulated with Essential Oils, Vitamins and Minerals which help to provide a healthy environment that your nails like to grow and repair.
You want to look for a Cuticle Oil/Cream that contains essential oils. This is really effective at moisturizing and hydrating your weakened nails.
This is because they are able to penetrate deep into your nail plate and restore the natural oils that are found naturally in your nail.
LondonTown sell my favorite Cuticle Oil. Its full of vitamins and free from all the nasty chemicals like Formaldehyde, Toulene, and DB. Plus its vegan and cruelty-free!
LondonTown also does a terrific Cuticle Cream too. I often use in parallel with their cuticle oil. It conditions and softens cuticles and has a mineral-rich formula that supports nail health and growth.
In my experience, the best way to get the most out of your Cuticle products is to apply a generous amount of Cuticle Cream each night just before you go to sleep.
And then apply Cuticle Oil throughout the day.
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Receive A Professional Treatment
When your nail is too far gone for any at-home hacks, Idehen recommends receiving a professional treatment like the IBX Nail Strengthening System.
“It’s like a Keratin treatment for your nails,” says Idehen. “It uses protein and hydrating oils fill in all the areas of damage on your nail, resulting in a much healthier nail even after one service!”
Stick To A Strengthening Regime
Making your nails stronger should be one of your main goals after acrylics. This means that you need to develop a routine to keep you on track. It is worth getting a strengthening treatment to help speed up the process however some of them may not work,so be careful. Combining this along with moisturising your hands should speed up the process even quicker. People say it can take up to a month for your nails to become stronger again depending on how weak they were before.
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The Process Of Acrylic Nails
First, you need to understand why damage would even happen in the first place. That means knowing exactly what the process entails. According to Amy Ling Lin, the founder of Sunday’s salons in New York City, it begins by filing your natural nail and applying a primer. Then, an acrylic nail is placed on top. This is sealed into place. “After two weeks of acrylics, the clients will need to return for a fill-in, which means filling in the gap between your own nails and acrylics nails to prevent any water or anything else might get into the open area. Otherwise the acrylic nails might get loose or be a cause for infection,” she says.
She adds if the filling was successful, you can get a new set in about two months. Your old set will have to be removed and a new one applied. Removing them can take up to an hour, she says, and is done by soaking your nails in an acetone-based solution. A e-file can also be used to remove them. “There is an extremely high chance that either of these removal processes can and will damage your nail bed,” she warns.
Leave The Cuticle Cutting To The Pros
Unless youre super advanced at at-home nail care let your nail tech do the intense cuticle work. Please dont cut your own cuticles! says Tammy. If they need a little extra TLC after youve done your maintenance then book into a salon with a pro who can do it properly for you – your cuticles play a super important role in stopping bacteria getting into your body and cutting them improperly can lead to infections.
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Stay Away From Liquids
Ok, you cant completely keep clear but its important to avoid your nails having prolonged spells in water. Your nail plate is made up of layers and water gets between those layers pushing them apart causing peeling/flaking and weak spots. Be sure to wear gloves when washing up and try to keep some polish on your nails, says Jess Clarke nail tech and OPI Nail Boss. Gel colour will of course give you better protection but regular polish – or even just a clear base if you dont want colour will seal your nails against water.
If In Doubt Seek Professional Help
For really flaky nails its always worth seeking in salon help if you can to get advice from the pros. If your nails are super brittle, its worth a visit to your local nail salon/technician for a professional opinion, says Tammy. If they cant treat it they might forward you on to a GP to rule out any underlying issues that may be causing it before they book you in for some TLC.
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Tips : Regular Treatment
A regular routine treatment can heal the damaged nails but you have to continue the process for at least one month at a stretch. The routine activities are as follows.
- Wear gloves while doing household chores. Keep the nails covered.
- Use cuticle oil& rich moisturizer creams to rehydrate the nails.
- Eat a healthy diet which will help the nails grow perfectly.
- You can take a biotin supplement for a faster cure.
You Dont Need To Avoid Gels
If youve heard the myth about gels damaging your nails, NAF Stuff! Founder Tammy Koslowski wants to squash the rumours once and for all. Its completely safe to wear gel polish or nail polish on your nails long term. My nails only really grow when I have gel polish on because theyve got an added layer of strength, she says. A lot of people think that gel polish damages their nails, but its usually because they have picked them off or removed them/had them removed improperly which has resulted in trauma to their nail plate. Gel polish must be applied, maintained and removed correctly to ensure optimum nail health, otherwise you can end up with sore, thin nails.
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How Can I Harden My Nails With Home Remedies
Soak your nails in a mixture of three tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon of lemon juice for 10 minutes. Follow this home treatment for about 10 minutes every day to strengthen your nails. Simply applying warm olive oil to the ends of your nails also serves as an effective treatment to grow your nails.
How To Repair Nails
It takes nails three to five months to fully grow out, but while you’re waiting for fresh flawless talons to grow there’s plenty you can do to help them along the way.
“Post gel polish, your nails need some TLC they need to be hydrated, strengthened and protected while they repair themselves,” says Lynn. “I recommend applying a nail serum once or twice a week to remoisturise the layers and help bond them back together. Hand creams and moisturisers are good but won’t work in the same way to rehydrate the nail.”
A thin layer of nail serum can be applied to polished or unpolished nails, just make sure to cover the whole nail and cuticle area we love , £12. Itâs infused with emu and tea tree oils to help maintain strong, conditioned and shiny nails – it softens cuticles while the antibacterial ingredients help protect against irritation, hang nails and breakages
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Tip #5 Up Your Protein Fruit And Veggies
Just like any bodily system, function, and process you need to provide your body with the raw material it needs to replenish and grow strong.
As such, be sure to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables to get the minerals and vitamins it needs to repair.
It is always first advised to eat a well-balanced diet, but if you struggle or have a busy lifestyle then supplements can be a fantastic addition.
There are even particular formulations that include an abundance of the minerals and vitamins that your nails utilize and need in abundance.
Also, nails are made from a protein called Keratin.
Eating foods that are high in protein is a great way to ensure that you are getting enough of it in your diet.
If you struggle to get enough Keratin in your diet, which is lacking in common protein sources like Chicken, Eggs and Beef, then consider taking a Collagen Supplement.
There are a lot of positive reviews on Amazon of the Pure Encapsulations because you can take it in pill form.
Many people swear by its effectiveness.
How To Fix Damaged Nails: 5 Tips To Repair Your Broken Nails
Fixing damaged nails should be a great concerning facts to the real fashionistas. A large number of people suffer from nail dystrophy, a nail disease that affects the structure and appearance of the fingernails and toenails. It causes the nails to get dry, brittle, hard, discolored & you may encounter a split nail too. A split nail can be immensely painful and if its not treated this may end up being a big injury. Nothing to worry, your broken and split nails can be repaired very easily.
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How To Remove Acrylic Nail Extensions At Home
Step 1 – Cut your nail extensions as short as possible
Step 2 – Take a bowl and add acetone to it. Put the bowl in another bowl with warm water.
Step 3 – Now, soak your nails in the acetone for 10-15 minutes
Step 4 – Once the acrylics become soft, use a tweezer to remove the product from your nails
Step 5 – Now, take a filler or any needle and remove the plastic extensions from your nails
Step 6 – Apply cuticle oil to your nails and massage
Fix Your Damaged Nails In The Right Ways
Nails usually get damaged due to excessive use of chemicals in form of polish or artificial nails. A split or broken nail can give a negative impression about the nail patron. And, it may ruin the overall look of your nails and question your fashion sense. Thats why repairing the damaged nails is a must.
Learn Howto Repair & Conceal Broken Nails, Video Tutorial on The Way
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Going Short Can Strengthen Nails
“Whether you realize it or not, when you have long nails you’re constantly hitting them on your keyboard, the door, you name it. People underestimate how much of an impact this has,” says Tuttle.
Keep your nails short and give them a chance to grow out stronger and healthier than before. The other upshot: Nails that aren’t in great shape look healthier when they’re shorter, adds Holford.
Bannon adds that giving yourself a mini “manicure” even if it’s just as simple as filing your nails every two to four days can prevent breakage and snags. If your nails are really in need of some T.L.C., repeat these manis for two to four weeks to see results and stronger nails.
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How To Remove Gel Nail Extensions At Home
Step 1 – Take a coarse nail filler and start buffing the surface of your gels
Step 2 – Now, take a cotton ball and soak it in acetone. Place the cotton buds on top of your nails
Step 3 – Take some foil and wrap them around your nails and the cotton balls
Step 4 – Allow your nails to sit for 15 minutes
Step 5 – Take off the foil and cotton balls. Remove the crumbling gel from the top of your nails and clean your fingers with a cloth
Step 6 – Gently push off the remaining gel from your nails using a cuticle pusher.
Step 7 – Use a 4-sided buffer to remove any product that may have stayed on your nails
Step 8 – Use cuticle oil and moisturiser to rehydrate your nail beds
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How Long Until You Can Start To See Results
As long as youre applying cuticle oil and following the advice of your therapist, you could start to see a difference in your nails in a little over a week. You should definitely avoid any biting or picking and just be conscious of household cleaning supplies and the use of hand sanitiser.
Now that were in a global pandemic its more than likely your nails and hands are a lot drier than usual due to washing them so much, so make sure you keep a good hand cream on you at all times.
Wear Gloves For Chores
When doing the dishes, cleaning and gardening, wear gloves. Detergents and cleansers are harsh on your fingernails, causing drying, spitting and peeling. Soil and gardening can also cause damage to your nails.
As Dr. Tanzi pointed out, the best way to take care of hands and nails is to avoid drying them out. Frequent hand washing with antibacterial soap is very harsh, she says. I recommend washing with a gentle cleanser, which will sanitize just as well as harsh products and a good moisturizer afterward to lock in the hydration. At night, a thicker moisturizer on hands with a rich cuticle cream will keep hands/nails looking great.
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How Long To Give Your Nails A Break
Everyones nails are different so it will change based on the individual, depending on what kind of nails theyre wearing and how well they look after nails between appointments. Our therapists recommend you should be checking in with your technician at least every 2 months.
This way the therapist can assess your nail health and determine if you need to take a break altogether, switch up the treatment , or if you need to book in for a recovery treatment to really give them a bit of TLC.
How To Repair Damaged Nails After Acrylics
Over time, if you wear gel or acrylic nails for long periods and dont properly look after your nails or get good-quality manicures, your nails can become weaker and damaged. To repair nails that are damaged because of acrylics or gel polish, you should start by using a product which strengthens and hydrates the nail structure, providing it with the components which it needs, like keratin and silicon.
Si-Nails is a premium strengthener which promotes silicon, one of the prominent minerals in the nail. Low levels of silicon correspond to brittle, weak nails. Aside from strengthening and thickening the nails, Si-Nails also provides both nail and cuticle care through cationic hyaluronic acid, promoting intense cuticle moisturization.
Once your acrylic or gel nails have been removed, follow a daily routine to strengthen and hydrate your nails, so you can help them grow stronger without the need to damage them further through long-term acrylic application. If you really cant get by without your beloved gels and acrylics, it might be a good idea to take a nail break every once in a while to help them regain strength and vitality. Si-Nails is designed to give visible results in 14 days, so you can take a short nail detox and return to acrylics!
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Use A Cuticle Cream Like Its Your Job
A soothing cuticle cream like Burts Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme helps nourish dry cuticles and brittle, damaged nails with vitamin E. Massage the cream into and around your nails nightly before going to bed.
Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, founder and director of Capital Laser & Skin Care and Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology at the George Washington University Medical Center, advises, Cuticles can dry out from repetitive hand washing and manicures, so if they are not given extra protection with a nourishing cuticle cream, they will crack and split, increasing risk of nail infection.
Ten Over Ten Celery Oil
Celery juice is trending as an overall health booster, and this capitalizes on some of the same benefits…for your nails. Celery seed extract improves thickness and minimizes the look of ridges, but this strengthening treatment also touts a long list of other beneficial ingredients, such as vitamin B3 and zinc to help harden nails and antioxidant-rich meadowfoam seed oil to protect them from environmental damage.
To buy: $26 tenoverten.com
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