Noah Sinclair
Acrylic nails can damage your natural nails if removed incorrectly. The best way to repair this damage is to wait for your nails to regrow. In the meantime, you can take several steps to ensure your nails grow back healthy and strong. This includes keeping your nails moisturized with hand cream or lotion, using cuticle oil, and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with biotin-rich foods such as meat, eggs, and greens. You can also use a nail repair kit or a nail-strengthening treatment like OPI's Nail Envy.
How to heal nails after removing acrylics
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Removal process | Nails should be soaked in acetone and buffed until the natural nail is clean. |
| Post-removal care | Nails should be cut and filed short to prevent breakage. |
| Nail hydration | Use of cuticle oil, Vitamin E, aloe vera, and hand lotion is recommended to restore hydration and prevent brittleness. |
| Nail strengthening | Nail hardeners and strengthening treatments can be applied to restore nail health and prevent breakage. |
| Diet | A healthy diet with biotin-rich foods such as meat, eggs, greens, nuts, sweet potatoes, spinach, and broccoli is recommended for nail health. |
| Professional advice | It is advised to consult professionals for nail removal and treatment to avoid further damage. |
| Natural shape | Nails should be shaped in their natural growth pattern to prevent cracks and breakage. |
| Hyponychium care | The hyponychium, the skin under the nail bed, should not be removed as it can lead to infection. |
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What You'll Learn
Keep nails short and trim to prevent breakage
Keeping nails short and trim is a great way to prevent breakage and allow nails to heal after removing acrylics. It is important to cut nails straight across with a pair of clean nail clippers and then round off the corners so they are not sharp. Nails tend to crack when stressed, so keeping them short helps to avoid this.
It is also good to keep nails in their natural shape as this helps them to grow more quickly without cracks or breakage. The hyponychium, the skin underneath the nail bed that attaches the nail bed to the nail, should be left alone. If you dig under your nails, you can loosen the hyponychium from the nail plate, which can lead to infection.
To keep nails healthy, it is important to keep them hydrated. Keeping your hands and nails moisturized is key, and this can be done by applying hand cream or lotion at least twice a day. Cuticle oil is also important and should be applied once a day.
A good way to heal nails is to use a nail repair kit, which can be purchased at a drugstore or online. A DIY solution is to use olive oil, which works wonders in restoring hydration to the nail. A nail-strengthening treatment, such as OPI's Nail Envy, is also a great option.
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Use nail strengtheners and hardeners
After removing acrylic nails, your natural nails may be left feeling thin and brittle, which can lead to dryness and breakage. To help restore strength and shape to your nails, you can use nail strengtheners and hardeners.
Nail hardeners are widely available at drugstores and big-box stores. They may also be labelled as "nail strengtheners". These products can help fortify your nail beds against breakage and splitting. One such product is the OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener, which creates a strengthening coat on bare nails to help fight typical post-acrylic issues like splitting, cracking, and breakage. It contains hydrolyzed wheat proteins to repair frayed nails and has a translucent colour, making it suitable for layering under traditional nail polish.
Another recommended product is Rejuvacote from Duri. It is advised to apply it every day for two weeks, after which you can reduce application to once a week. You can use polish over it and continue to use it as a top coat.
In addition to nail hardeners and strengtheners, you can also use cuticle oils and serums to nourish and strengthen the nail's base.
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Moisturise hands and nails with lotions and oils
After removing acrylic nails, your hands and nails may feel dry and brittle. This is because the process of applying and removing acrylic nails involves filing and dehydrating the bottom of the nail.
To combat this dryness, it is important to moisturise your hands and nails with lotions and oils. This will improve nail flexibility and prevent brittleness.
Firstly, apply a generous amount of hand cream or lotion to your hands and nails at least twice a day, including once before bedtime. Try the La-Roche Posay Cicaplast Hand Cream, which contains moisturising shea butter. For extra moisture, put on lotion after every hand wash and wear cotton gloves at night.
Secondly, use cuticle oil to keep your cuticles and nails nourished. Apply the oil around your nails at least once a day, preferably at night so that you can leave it on while you sleep. The Glitterbels Pineapple Cuticle Oil is an excellent product for this purpose.
Thirdly, use nail oil to help repair your nail's natural barrier. Rub it into your nails and leave it on overnight. Jojoba oil is a popular choice for this purpose.
By following these steps, you will help your nails recover from the dryness and brittleness caused by acrylic nails.
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Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet with biotin-rich foods
Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with biotin-rich foods can help heal your nails after removing acrylics. Biotin, also known as vitamin H or B7, is a water-soluble vitamin that helps your body convert food into energy. While biotin deficiency is rare, it is important to consume it regularly as your body does not store it.
Biotin-rich foods include:
- Legumes
- Egg yolks (although it is recommended to eat the whole egg)
- Organ meats, especially liver
- Nuts and seeds
- Mushrooms
- Avocados
- Sweet potatoes
- Soybeans
- Yeast
These foods can be incorporated into your diet in a variety of ways. For example, nuts and seeds can be enjoyed raw, tossed into salads, mixed into pasta dishes, or blended into homemade nut and seed butters. Avocados can be eaten raw, mashed onto toast, made into guacamole, or sliced onto salads, tacos, soups, and burritos. Sweet potatoes can be baked, microwaved, boiled, mashed, or added to veggie burgers.
In addition to eating biotin-rich foods, it is important to keep your hands and nails hydrated by moisturising your hands and using cuticle oil.
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Avoid acetone and get acrylics professionally removed
Removing acrylic nails can be a tedious and time-consuming process, and it is not recommended to do it at home. Acetone is a popular chemical agent used to remove acrylic nails. However, acetone can be harsh on your nails and skin, leading to dryness and potential damage to your natural nail bed.
To avoid the risks associated with acetone and at-home removal, it is best to get your acrylic nails professionally removed. Professionals have the knowledge and tools to safely remove the acrylics without causing harm to your natural nails. They may use acetone, but they will have the expertise to control the process and minimise any negative impact on your nails.
Additionally, professionals can advise on the best aftercare routine to help your nails heal and regain their strength. They may suggest specific nail treatments, such as nail hardeners or cuticle oils, and provide guidance on nail shaping and hydration to promote healthy nail growth.
By opting for professional removal and following their recommended aftercare routine, you can ensure the safe removal of your acrylic nails and promote the healing process for your natural nails. While it may take time for your nails to fully recover, avoiding acetone and seeking professional help can help you achieve the best outcome for the health and appearance of your nails.
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Frequently asked questions
Give your nails time to heal and grow out. File your nails in one direction with a fine-grained file to round off the corners. Keep your nails short to prevent breakage.
You can use nail strengthening treatments like OPI's Nail Envy or Mavala to harden your nails. You can also use olive oil, jojoba oil, or cuticle oil to keep your nails and cuticles hydrated and moisturised.
Do not peel or pick at your nails, as this can cause further damage. Avoid using acetone to remove your acrylic nails, as it can dry out your nails. Avoid shaping your nails in an unnatural way, as this can lead to cracks or breakage.
Keep your nails moisturised by applying hand cream or lotion at least twice a day. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes biotin-rich foods such as meat, eggs, greens, nuts, sweet potatoes, spinach, and broccoli to promote nail growth and health.
If your nails are seriously damaged, at-home treatments may not be sufficient. It is recommended to seek professional advice or treatment, such as the IBX Nail Strengthening System, to restore your nail health.
