How To Rehab Nails After A Gel Manicure
1. Cuticle hydration: “Healthy cuticles are key to healthy nail growth,” says Lippmann, whose new Cuticle Remover Pen and Cuticle Oil Pen make softening and moisturizing them really easy. As long as you’re using some sort of moisturizer, like a cuticle oil or cuticle cream, you’re goodâjust be sure to slather it on regularly.
2. Use an emollient: For added moisture on both your nails and cuticles, Dr. Stern says that products with emollient ingredients are key. That means creams or oils that contain hydrators like coconut oil, sunflower oil, or mineral oil for deep moisture so that your nails can get back into fighting shape.
3. Nail strengtheners: Since gel manicures often leave your nails thin and brittle, Dr. Stern recommends using a nail-strengthening product that contains ingredients that directly repair that with keratins, proteins, or mastic oil. Try the Isdin Nourishing and Hydrating Nail Strengthener Serum .
4. Exfoliator: Yes, exfoliating your nails is a thing. Dr. Stern points to a study that showed that glycolic acid on the nail plate revealed “good improvement in dry, rough nails,” and her Dr. Dana Nail Renewal System does just that. Or you can simply use the acid toner you use on your skinâjust use a separate dab to rub over your nail beds.
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.
How To Repair Damaged Nail Bed After Acrylics Gels Or An Injury
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Having colorful, beautifully manicured nails is great, but the harsh chemicals in many nail salon products can wreak havoc on your hands, leaving you with dry, brittle, peeling, or yellow nails.
The more you try to cover up the damage with polish, press-on nails, gels, and acrylics, the more weakened your natural nails get, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of mangled, imperfect hands.
How can you break the cycle once and for all? Here are a few ways on how to repair damaged nail bed and get your natural fingernails back to their happiest, healthiest selves!
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While We Love The Way Nail Extensions Make Our Hands And Fingers Look We Cannot Deny That They Leave Our Real Nails Looking Extremely Damaged Here’re Some Tips To Fix Chipped And Damaged Nails
For weddings and special events, we have to get a new set of nail extensions to look our absolute best. But, the moment we think of nail extensions, we cannot help but think of the pain that comes after their removal. If you are getting nail extensions one after another and are unable to give your nails a break, your nail beds will become extremely sensitive and even a small hit will make your fingernails bleed.
So, it’s important to know how to fix damaged nails after extensions and it’s also important to know how to properly remove extensions to minimise the damage. In this article, we will help you fix your nails in the quickest time possible. Just follow our tips!
What I Did To Restore My Nails After Gel Manicures
I had the gels removed at the salon, had my nails trimmed short and got a regular manicure. Heres how my nails looked on that day. You can see they are thin, ridged and uneven.
My restore my nails regimen started with applying one coat of nail strengthener daily. I did this for seven days. On the seventh day I removed the nail strengthener and started again.
After the nail strengthener dried, I applied cuticle oil to my nails and skin around them twice a day. I followed this with a heavy moisturizing hand and nail cream. Why use both an oil and a cream? The oil absorbs into the nail bed better and the cream creates a barrier so that the moisture doesnt escape.
I left my cuticles alone. I didnt trim or pick at them because the cuticles are there to protect the new nail growth that is occurring underneath.
If I needed to file my nails for any reason I used a glass nail file. Why? Because a glass nail file smooths and seals the freshly filed edges, reduces the nails susceptibility to splits and breakages. It does this by sealing the keratin layers at the edge of the nail together, preventing peeling and chipping. A glass nail file is inexpensive and the best investment you can make in restoring your fragile nails.
Other reasons to invest in a glass nail file?
I went for a manicure every 3 weeks. At that time, I did allow my manicurist to trim my cuticles, but only then. I also had her apply nail strengthen rather than traditional nail polish.
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Treating Ones Nails With Products
Moisturizing nails Dampness will enable your nails to recoup after a gel nail trim, which strips them of a great deal of their normal dampness.
You can purchase nail lotion at a neighbourhood delight supply store or retail establishment. You ought to apply a nail lotion every day. Apply it to your nails and the skin around them.
Natural Oils For Nail Repair
If your nails are damaged from gel, you can repair them using oils. Repairing nails with oils is nice and simple, plus the use of such natural ingredients has nothing but benefits.
Do you know which oil is best for damaged nails? Here’s my private round-up of the best treatments.
1. Castor oil for nails. It looks very simple but turns out to be the most powerful. Castor oil helps repair hair, lashes and brows, as well as nails after gel mani. It contains unique ricinoleic acid which has an antibacterial effect, strengthens nail plates, improves moisture levels and makes nails harder and resistant to damage. The most effective way to use it is rubbing castor oil into nail plates .
2. Tea tree oil for nails. When it comes to natural oils for nails, essential oils are also worth nothing, especially tea tree oil which is known for its antifungal effect. That’s why it works amazing for weak, damaged nails and when you treat nail fungus.
3. Argan oil for nails. This one is a rich source of vitamin E which is the strongest antioxidant. It is able to repair nails, strengthen them and accelerate cellular renewal. Rejuvenating and revitalizing effect of argan oil is a thing that damaged nails long for.
If you like, you can make use of other nail care oils or create your own blend of oils. Variety is something that our nails are fond of.
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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.
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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Give Your Skin Some Tlc After The Gel Manicure Is Removed
“It’s very important that the surrounding skin and cuticle, as well as the nail plate itself, be rehydrated with a thick emollient such as Aquaphor or an overnight mask like Nails Inc.’s Overnight Detox Nail Mask post-removal in order to rehydrate and repair the surrounding skin, cuticle, and nails,” Dr. Adigun says.
How To Repair Nails After Gel Manicure
There are unending benefits to picking a gel manicure over a regular manicure, not the least of which is keeping up that covetable naturally prepped, reflexive appearance weeks in the wake of leaving the salon.
Be that as it may, the previously mentioned points of interest likewise accompany the drawback of frequently making sense of how to fix harmed nails after a gel manicure.
Gel enthusiasts likewise follow through on a heftier cost for enduring manicure than the straightforward $50 cost truth be told, numerous fans report wilted, debilitated tips in the wake of evacuating their gels.
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Let Your Natural Nail Breathe In Between Gel Manicures
Whether or not you opt for a gel or traditional polish formula, the truth is that regular manis of any kind can weaken your natural nails. “The manicure process can lead to dehydration and thinning of the nail plate,” says Dr. Adigun. “I’ve seen my clients come in with peeling, thin, breaking, discolored nails and even painful nail beds,” explains Jenna.
But that fact isn’t to deter salon regulars, nor those who live for an at-home manicure. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Adigun, by not looking at your natural nail at least every two weeks you won’t be able to properly assess its condition, plus you might even be missing infections and in certain, severe cases, tumors. The thick, armor-like coating of polish also blocks nails from being able to transfer oxygen, explains Jenna.
Dr. Adigun encourages patients to avoid back-to-back gel appointments to prevent lasting damage. “I always tell my patients to go on a gel ‘honeymoon,'” says Dr. Adigun. “This break will allow their nails to rehydrate and repair.”
Avoid Harsh Soaps And Cleansers
While you should be washing your hands more often than usual now, Gohara recommends staying away from harsh soaps and cleansers as they can further weaken and irritate nails. Gohara, who has a partnership with Dove, loves using the brand’s Foaming Hand Wash as a gentle option. We also love Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap, which smells like freshly squeezed lemonade.
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Use A Nail Strengthener
A nail strengthener is usually a clear nail polish-like product that helps to create a protective layer over the nail while also infusing it with some fortifying ingredients. It keeps your nails protected from the damage of water or harsh chemicals, and it also creates a seal that will keep them from breaking. This can be especially helpful if aggressive buffing before the gel manicure has made your nails a little too thin.
Choose a great nail strengthener thats formaldehyde-free, and made with nitrocellulose and plant proteins.
Simple Hacks To Fix Any Gel Manicure Problem
Gel manicures have become a lazy girls lifesaver for years now, providing gorgeous, glossy nails that last weeks without a touchup. And yet, were not fools. We know each new beauty invention comes with its own set of complications. For example, removing gel polish can have long-term damaging results, and the growth phase can look seriously sloppy. Weve compiled a list of simple hacks to fix any DIY or salon problem that comes your way.
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Tip #: Minimise Your Exposure To Chemical
While gel polish is already weighing your nails down, the worst thing to do is use a nail polish remover that is infused with chemicals. Therefore, avoid using removers with acetone. We suggest you try the Lakmé Nail Colour Remover with Vitamin E that helps prevent excessive dryness around the nails as well as strengthens the nails.
Image courtesy: Instagram
Take Downtime Between Manicures
Ever heard of “nail dehydration?” Your nails need access to water and air as much as the rest of your body, and going back-to-back with gel manicures is like suffocating your nailbeds, which can lead to damage and breakage. Both wearing gel manicures, as well as the removal process, can be a lot for your fingers to handle, so take time between gel applications. Your fingers will thank you.
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How Is Gel Nail Polish Applied
- The first step is to file your nails gently for a perfect shape and push back the cuticles, As grooming your nails are really important.
- Then wipe your nails with an Alcohol wipe so that it is cleaned completely.
- The next step is to use primer before applying the nail polish, you can totally skip this step but primer will give a good base for nail polish
- Now you can head on the gel base coat for a refined base, make sure you apply it on the bottom of your nail first moving all the way upwards. This step will make the whole surface smooth and make sure that your natural nails are protected.
- Now you can apply gel polish on your nails carefully, if you apply any gel polish on your skin by mistake then use a q tip to remove it.
- After applying the gel polish, you can air dry them just like any other nail polish.
How To Repair Damaged Nail Bed After An Injury
Acrylic and gel treatments arent the only way that your nails can get damaged. Injuries can also cause unseemly damage to your nail beds. If youve ever accidentally slammed a door on your hand, or cut your finger while cooking, you might have experienced bruising, discoloration, or other damage to your nail beds. This damage can be painful, unattractive, and quite difficult to heal.
Trauma
In the medical community, a bruise under your fingernail is also known as a subungual hematoma. These might occur if youve dropped something heavy on your hand, or endured some other powerful trauma to the nail bed. If the bruise is particularly large, you might want to consider visiting a doctor.
The pressure of a large bruise under the nail can be quite painful and might require medical treatment.
If the bruise is small and relatively painless, then youre just going to have to wait for it to grow out. Once the affected portion of your nail grows out, there wont be any lingering sign of the bruise. Until then, you can cover it up with regular nail polish.
The Shorter, the Better
While your injured nail is healing, its important to keep it trimmed short and neat. This minimizes the risk of further damage from breakage or brittleness and ensures that the existing damage can grow out as quickly as possible.
Vitamins
Nail Condition
Horizontal nail splits are very common after removing acrylics and gels and injuries.
Final Thoughts
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Hydration Will Strengthen Your Nails
Now that the gel-dip-acrylic is off, the key is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. “Prolonged use of gel manis and acrylics dehydrates your nails, making them dry, brittle, and fragile,” says manicurist Jin Soon Choi, founder of JINSoon nail polish and salons.
A cuticle oil is your BFF for imparting deep hydration. Focus on slathering it not only on the nail itself, but also massaging it well into the cuticle the cuticle is where new, healthy nail growth will start so it’s important to nourish and hydrate this area, says Choi.
One best-seller to try: CND Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Conditioner. Holford also likes using straight up jojoba oil, which can strengthen nail beds and boost healthy nail growth. She recommends applying it three times per day for five days for the best results.
Take Care Of Your Nails After
To help your nails recover after peeling gel off, moisturizing is still key. Try to stop picking at your nails and the skin around them while they both heal. Since picking off gel weakens the nail, it’ll take a while for your nails to grow back to their regular strength. To prevent more breakage and weakness, keep your nails short while they grow back and give them some extra TLC, too.
So, if you do pick, it’s not the end of the world. Just remember to hold off if you can, and always take time to moisturize and protect your hands to keep your nails looking fresh.
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Sensitive & Damaged Nails
The use and removal of artificial nails can damage the natural nail. A regular nail strengthener may feel painful on damaged or sensitive nails so I recommend a mild nail strengthener like Trind Keratin Nail Restorer, which also restores the moisture balance, provides the perfect solution for sensitive and damaged nails.
Trind Nail polish
Keratin restores and strengthens the structure of the nail. The moisturizing properties of the nail balsam moisturize and restore the moisture balance in the nail.
Try To Limit Your Exposure To The Uv Lamp
A recent study from the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that gel manicures may not be a safe option for people who are highly sensitive to UV light. The UV dose that you receive during a gel manicure is brief, but its intense, Dr. Adigun said in the study. Over time, this intense exposure can add up to cause skin damage.
“An additional concern is the rise in popularity of LED nail lamps,” Dr. Adigun notes of her own research on the safety of gel manicures. LED lamps have become popular as much for their faster curing times as the belief that they’re safer than UV lamps, but Dr. Adigun insists this is not the case. “Although many people mistakenly believe these lamps do not use UVA to cure, they in fact use higher intensities of UVA wavelengths in order to achieve the shorter curing times. This higher intensity of UVA irradiance means that it requires less time for these lamps to potentially harm the skin,” she explains.
Instead, Dr. Adigun recommends bringing along your own pair of YouVeeShield gloves to protect your hands against UVA radiation . “It is the most protective material protects the entire digits and wrist,” Dr. Adigun says.
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