Caleb Foster
Gel manicures can be fun, but they can also leave your nails dry, brittle, and thin. The good news is that nail damage is often reversible. To restore your nails after a gel manicure, you can try a variety of treatments and care methods. Firstly, it's important to properly remove the gel polish by buffing your nails with a nail file and using acetone, rather than peeling it off, which can cause more damage. After removal, you should nourish your nails with oil and hand cream to restore moisture. You can also use nail strengtheners, such as clear strengthening products or polishes with strengthening formulas, to help your nails recover. Keeping your nails short and shaped can also prevent breakage while they heal. Additionally, maintaining a healthy diet with sufficient protein, biotin, and calcium can support nail strength.
How to restore nails after gel polish
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevention | Before getting a gel manicure, ensure your manicurist isn't using an electric file and don't cut your cuticles. |
| Removal | Do not peel off the gel polish, as this can damage your nails. Use acetone to remove the gel and nourish your nails with oil afterward. |
| Nail care | Keep your nails short to prevent breakage and buff them gently to prevent further peeling. |
| Moisturizing | Use cuticle oil and hand cream to deliver vitamins and lock in moisture. |
| Nail strengtheners | Apply a clear nail strengthener or a colored polish with a strengthening formula to help your nails recover. |
| Diet | Eat a healthy diet with sufficient protein, biotin, and calcium to promote nail strength. |
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What You'll Learn
Use a nail strengthener
If you're looking to restore your nails after a gel manicure, you may want to consider using a nail strengthener. This is a good option if you don't want to go for colourful nails or more gel products. You can find clear strengtheners or coloured polishes with strengthening formulas at drug and beauty stores.
Look for a product labelled "for problem nails", or one that is enriched with marula oil for brighter, more hydrated nails. You could also try a nail strengthener like Perfect Formula Pink Gel Coat, which is a nail strengthener, not a gel polish. Quimica Alemana Nail Hardener Strengthener Polish Treatment is another option, which you can buy on Amazon or eBay.
If you want to use a nail strengthener, but feel naked without colour, you can top your nails with a strengthening product, like Sally Hansen Miracle Cure for Severe Problem Nails.
It's important to note that you should avoid using a traditional nail strengthener under gel polish.
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Moisturise your nails
After a gel manicure, your nails will need some extra care to restore their health. One of the most important things you can do is to moisturize your nails and the skin around them.
Moisturizing your nails will help them recover after a gel manicure, as the process can strip your nails of their natural moisture. You can buy a nail moisturizer at a beauty supply store or department store, and you should apply it to your nails and the surrounding skin daily.
Look for a fortifying nail and cuticle cream that contains peptide, which will help to hydrate and strengthen your nails. You can also use a hand lotion for all-over moisture, and then apply a cuticle oil to the skin around your nails. Cuticle oils deliver vitamins and nourishment, and they can help to soften and hydrate your cuticles. Spend a full minute massaging the oil into your cuticles, and then don't wash your hands for 20 minutes to allow for absorption.
If you don't want to use a cuticle oil, you can simply rub in jojoba oil or coconut oil into and around your nails at night before bed. This will help to keep your skin soft and may also benefit your nails.
In addition to these topical treatments, you can also take a supplement to support nail health. Look for one that includes biotin, which can help strengthen your nails from the inside out.
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Eat a healthy diet
Eating a healthy diet is essential for restoring nail health after gel polish. A balanced diet that delivers the right nutrients is key to strengthening nails and improving their appearance.
Dr Idriss, a medical professional, recommends consuming adequate protein, calcium, zinc, and vitamin A to maintain strong nail beds. Additionally, iron and vitamin B12 are crucial for the development of red blood cells, and their deficiencies can lead to blue-toned nails with dark streaks and brown pigmentation.
To ensure you're getting these essential nutrients, incorporate the following foods into your diet:
- Kiwi
- Parsley
- Brussels sprouts
- Cranberries
- Wild rose fruit
- Fish
- Green vegetables
- Groats
- Avocado
- Leguminous vegetables
If you find it challenging to obtain all the necessary nutrients from your diet, consider taking dietary supplements. Great Lakes Collagen supplement and Omega 7 from New Chapter or Sibu are recommended options, as they are beneficial for the skin, hair, and nails.
In addition to a healthy diet, it is important to practice other healthy habits, such as keeping your nails moisturized and avoiding bad habits like peeling off the polish or cutting your cuticles.
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Don't cut your cuticles
When restoring nails after gel polish, it is important to remember to not cut your cuticles. Cuticles are not just extra, throwaway skin. They are the nail's natural protective seal, and they serve an important function. The thin sliver of skin along the bottom of your nail bed, or the cuticle, protects you from infection. When the seal is removed or becomes dry and dehydrated, it becomes compromised, and water and moisture are able to enter the nail unit, causing all sorts of problems. One such problem is paronychia, an infection of the skin behind the cuticle resulting in redness and swelling.
Instead of cutting your cuticles, gently push them back. You can use a washcloth in the shower or a cuticle pusher right after you get out of the shower. The warm water helps to soften the cuticle. A cuticle nipper should only be used on troublesome hangnails that keep getting snagged on things.
To keep your cuticles healthy, it is important to keep them hydrated. Apply your favourite cuticle oil, cream, or ointment at least once daily. Cuticle oils deliver vitamins and nourishment, and they can help to soften and hydrate your cuticles. Spend a full minute massaging the oil into the cuticle, and do not wash your hands for 20 minutes after applying to allow for absorption.
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Remove manicure safely
Gel manicures can be fun, but they can also cause dry, brittle nails. It is important to remove manicures safely to keep your nails strong. Before you remove your polish, buff your nails with a nail file to remove the shine on top so you can just barely see the natural nail beneath them.
Never peel off your manicure. If your manicure is beginning to peel and crack, it can be tempting to pull it off. However, this will cause more damage to your nails. If you want to remove your manicure, carefully do so yourself or make a new appointment with your manicurist. When you peel off your polish, you can peel away the top layer of your nails, too.
To prevent damage, ensure your manicurist isn't using an electric file, and don't cut your cuticles. Push them back with an orange stick, and massage cuticle oil onto them daily.
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Frequently asked questions
First, you should avoid peeling off the gel polish, as this can damage your nails. Instead, use acetone to remove the gel. Next, you should buff your nails to remove the shine and even out the nail plates. Then, you can use a nail strengthener or a clear, strengthening product. You should also keep your nails short to prevent them from breaking or snagging. Finally, make sure to moisturize your nails and the skin around them.
You can use a clear, strengthening product or a nail strengthener like Sally Hansen Miracle Cure for Severe Problem Nails. You can also try a nail hardener strengthener polish treatment, such as Quimica Alemana.
You can use your favorite cuticle oil or cream. Some good cuticle oils include CND Solar Oil, Jessica Phenomen Oil, and OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil to Go. You can also try a hand lotion for all-over moisture, and then apply a cuticle oil to the skin around your nails.
Yes, you should also avoid cutting your cuticles, as they protect the new nails growing underneath. Instead, push them back with an orange stick. Additionally, you can take a break from gel polish to allow your nails to heal and repair themselves. Eating a healthy diet with sufficient amounts of protein, biotin, and calcium can also help keep your nails strong.
