The material that you choose to coat your nails with can play a role in how damaged they end up being and for how long your hiatus from the beauty ritual will need to be. It has to do with the removal process of the polish — gel and acrylic manicures can be more physically damaging to remove than regular polish. According to manicurist Mazz Hanna, some salons "don’t take the necessary time that is needed to remove gel and acrylic in a way that doesn’t damage the nail plate."
Stern adds that your nails can be damaged with aggressive mechanical and chemical removal methods. Mechanical damage is created with rough removal (like vigorous scraping), while an example of chemical damage is soaking nails in acetone for too long — causing nails to dry out and become more brittle.
Because of this, it’s critical for those who often get gel or acrylic manicures to take breaks in-between if you've noticed any of the five signs of damage. Hanna suggests letting them completely grow out before getting your next gel or acrylic manicure. This usually takes about six months, according to Stern.
How to Properly Care For Your Nails Between Manicures
If your nails don’t look as smooth, hydrated, or their usual healthy color, there are a few things you can do. During your break between manicures, board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner suggests keeping your nails hydrated and resisting the urge to pick at your cuticles. For added hydration, we like Dior Huile Abricot Daily Nutritive Serum, which absorbs to leave zero greasy residue.
Hanna recommends a cuticle oil for hydration because of how it prevents further biting and picking, which she describes as a "common culprit" for further damaging nails. Stern explains that oils can prevent picking and biting by preventing the cuticles from drying out in the first place. “When the cuticle dries out, it can separate and a hangnail can form more easily and these detached segments of cuticle are often a stimulus for biting and picking,” says Stern.
"Biting your nails can cause infections of the fingers because you are exposing traumatized skin on the fingers to bacteria in your mouth," adds Zeichner. The Lauren B Beauty Reparative Cuticle Oil is a treatment that uses 14 oils to keep your fingertips moisturized while reducing any inflammation you might be experiencing.
Along with keeping nails hydrated, Zeichner stresses the importance of consuming the right nutrients. Zeichner suggests adding a supplement that contains B-complex vitamins like biotin. "Conditions in which people have biotin deficiencies are associated with weak nails," he explains. Remember to speak to your physician before adding supplements to your daily routine.
Source: allure.com
