You loved your long, shiny nails and the endless nail art options they supplied… until it was time to take them off right?
If you were once religious with wearing acrylics, you will know what we are talking about.
As a rule, when nails are put under stress, they crack figuratively and literally.
And if your nail health wasn’t up to par before acrylics, or you went to a salon that was careless on how they went about applying them, dealing with damage after-wards is nearly inevitable.
But mending your tips isn’t impossible—just follow these tips from top nail pros.
The Process
First, you need to understand why damage would even happen in the first place. That means knowing exactly what the process entails.
It begins by filing your natural nail and applying a primer. Then, an acrylic nail is placed on top. This is sealed into place.
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
The Damage
You’re not guaranteed to see damage after a set of acrylics—there are many different factors at play—but it can happen.
Thinning of the nail bed also tends to lead to weakness and a likelihood of flaking and chipping.
Go Shorter…
If you’ve removed your acrylics and want to transition back into wearing your nails natural, we’d recommend going for a shorter nail until your healthy natural nails have grown out.
This means keeping them trimmed—without extensions—which will also reduce the chances of your natural nail breaking at the most inopportune moment, as it always does.
Switch to Regular Nail Polish…
Instead of a gel polish, which usually entails filing down the nail when it’s removed and reapplied, try staying on a regular nail lacquer routine for a while.
Stay Moisturized…
Both our pros recommend regular application of cuticle oil and hand lotion due to the drying effects of acetone.
Eat the Right Nutrients
Add biotin, omega-3 rich food to your daily diet, which can strengthen your nails.
Biotin can be found in foods like eggs, peanuts, almonds, avocados, or sweet potatoes.
Wait It Out
Both of our pros said your nails can be nursed back to health, without a doubt, but it’ll take time.
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. Your damaged nail needs to grow out completely so that it can be replaced with a healthy nail.
