Listed below are twelve simple tips for getting healthy nails after gels and acrylics, including home remedies, product recommendations and other tips. If you’ve given up on acrylics and taken a long-needed break from gels and you’re still dealing with brittle and flaky nails, we feel your pain. Say goodbye to those weak and brittle nails with these easy techniques that anyone can follow:
Staying Hydrated
An essential part of your routine is drinking plenty of water. Without sufficient moisture, your nails can become brittle and break easily. Drinking enough water can guide you towards strengthening your nails.
According to Healthline, you should drink at least 11.5 cups of water to strengthen your nails.
Avoiding Gel Or Acrylic Nails
Although acrylic nails are super aesthetic, frequent usage of gel nail polish or acrylic nails can weaken your nails and cause them to peel. According to Healthline, exposure to the ultraviolet light required for gel polish ages the skin that supports a healthy nail.
Use a Nail Oil or Cream
Turn to a nail oil or cream to strengthen your nails. Applying cuticle oil can increase the circulation around your nails, stimulating nail growth. We would recommend Opi’s Pro Spa Nail And Cuticle Oil – which combines the perfect blend of grape seed, sesame, kukui, sunflower & cupuaçu oils to protect, replenish, and strengthen your nails while also making your cuticles feel softer.
You can also add Birkenstock’s Moisturizing Hand and Nail Cream to your nail care list, to intensively moisturize your hands and nails. Apply several times per day and gently massage into skin.
Applying A Stronger Base Coat
Apply a stronger base coat to help prevent the polish from actually touching your nails, which keeps your nails healthy looking even if you leave the nail polish on for an extended time.
If you love the idea of sporting bare nails and strengthening them, you can use Essie’s Strengthening Base Coat, which contains collagen and camellia oil and can reduce peeling and breakage.
Loading Up on Biotin Supplements
Biotin deficiency is often a large cause for brittle nails prone to peeling and breaking, so you may consider supplementing your diet with extra doses of this B vitamin. You can find biotin in foods like sardines, cooked eggs, and legumes, which help strengthen your hair and nails.
If you’re not into healthy eating, you can also allude to HECH Nutrition’s Hair and Nails Complex.
Turning to Home Remedies
Sea Salt is an ultimate natural beauty ingredient that has many benefits for skincare. One which also involves nails can be used by adding lukewarm water in a bowl with some sea and soaking your nails. This sea salt soak strengthens damaged nails and gets rid of dead skin.
Another useful ingredient is garlic, as the selenium found in this ingredient promotes the growth of healthy nails. Rub the sliced garlic up and down your fingernails for nail strengthening. Try to follow these rituals once a week for the best results.
Finally, coconut Oil can be used as a natural moisturizer for your skin. Apply this oil to your hands after removing polish or every time you wash your hands.
Upgrading To Natural Nail Polish
Many of your favorite nail polishes and nail polish removers are full of harsh chemicals that can cause nail brittleness, dryness, and thinning. You can upgrade to non-toxic nail polish and make sure to use removers that are acetone-free to avoid stripping your skin and nails of their natural oils.
We suggest trying Kure Bazaar Middle East’s Non-toxic Nail Polish. In contrast to many mainstream nail polishes, nail polish by this brand are made with 85 percent natural ingredients that include wheat, potatoes, and cotton.
Changing To A Softer Nail File
Although you may hear that glass nail files are long-lasting and easy to clean, soft files are much better. With comfort and relaxation, it can prevent tearing and contribute to the overall well-being of the nails.
Pro Tip: File your nails in one direction only to avoid breakage.
Protecting Your Hands
Over exposing your nails to water (and hence moisture) can cause them to break. While doing the dishes or household chores, ensure to wear gloves to avoid nail breakage.
Aside from the moisture component, many cleaning products contain dangerous chemicals. When a person uses a cleaning product, they may not notice any changes in their skin or nails, but they can still cause them damage. To prevent damage from cleaning products, do try wearing rubber gloves at all times.
Watching Out for Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency in your diet can be a prominent reason your nails keep breaking. If you have symptoms of iron deficiency, you should visit your doctor to have your iron levels checked. You may also want to increase your iron intake by consuming foods like beans, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, olives, quinoa, and whole grains that contain high levels of iron.