Isla Bennett
Acrylic nails are a popular manicure choice, but they can leave your natural nails weak, brittle, and damaged. The coating removal process is often the cause of this damage, with improper techniques and tools causing issues such as roughness, spots, and white lines that can take months to grow out. To keep your nails healthy after removing acrylics, it is important to nourish and strengthen them. This can be done through regular moisturization with hand creams and oils, maintaining cuticle health with cuticle oil, and ensuring proper removal by a trained therapist to minimize damage to the natural nail. Additionally, consider taking a break from acrylics to allow your nails to recover, and focus on nutrition and supplements to support nail health from within. With patience and the right care, your nails can recover and return to their pre-acrylic state.
How to keep your nails after removing acrylics
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cut your nails | Cut them straight across with clean nail clippers or manicure scissors. Round off the corners so they're not sharp. |
| File your nails | File your nails in one direction only with a fine-grit nail file. Start from one outside edge on your nail and move across the nail in that direction. |
| Buff your nails | Buff your nails once a week. Remove oils from your nails first by rubbing acetone, rubbing alcohol, or vinegar over them. |
| Use nail hardeners | Apply a nail hardener every day for two weeks. You can use polish over it and continue to use it as a topcoat. |
| Keep their natural shape | Shape your real nail differently from your fake one to groom the skin to grow to fit your natural nail. |
| Keep them hydrated | Keep your hands and nails hydrated by using hand cream or lotion at least twice a day. |
| Treat the hyponychium | Treat the hyponychium (the skin underneath the nail bed that attaches the nail bed to the nail) with cuticle oil, Vitamin E, or aloe vera. |
| Eat a healthy diet | Eat lots of biotin-rich foods such as meat, eggs, greens, leafy greens, red meat, and beans. |
| Take breaks between acrylics | Replace acrylics completely every 6 to 12 months. |
| Remove the acrylics properly | Soak your nails in acetone and buff them until the surface of your natural nail is clean. |
| Use nail-strengthening products | Use nail-strengthening products to keep your nails in good shape between salon visits. |
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What You'll Learn
Moisturise and nourish your nails and cuticles
After removing acrylic nails, your natural nails may feel softer and more brittle, which can lead to dryness and breakage. To combat this, it is important to moisturise and nourish your nails and cuticles.
Firstly, you should keep your hands and nails hydrated. Use a hand cream or lotion at least twice a day to keep your hands and nails moist and prevent them from becoming brittle. You can also use a hand soap that has oils in it, such as Mrs. Meyer's hand soap.
Secondly, apply cuticle oil once a day to keep your cuticles moisturised and nourished. You can use a conditioning cuticle oil, such as CND Essentials SolarOil Nail & Cuticle Conditioner, or a nail and cuticle serum. Vitamin E and aloe vera are also great for treating the skin around your nails and cuticles.
Thirdly, ensure you are eating a healthy diet to strengthen your nails. Eat lots of biotin-rich foods such as meat, eggs, and greens, and aim to include iron-rich foods such as leafy greens, red meat, or beans. A varied diet that includes fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, seeds, and nuts will provide your body with the vitamins and minerals that support good nail health.
Finally, you can use a nail hardener or nail strengthener to help restore strength to your nails. These products create a strengthening coat on bare nails to prevent breakage and splitting. Some nail strengtheners, such as Ella + Mila's First Aid Kiss nail strengthener, are vitamin-enriched and free from harsh chemicals.
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Use natural oils like jojoba or coconut
After removing acrylic nails, your natural nails may feel weak and susceptible to breakage. To combat this, you can use natural oils, such as jojoba or coconut oil, to deeply hydrate and nourish your nails and cuticles.
Jojoba oil is a liquefied wax ester derived from jojoba seeds. Its chemical structure is very similar to the natural oil produced by humans, making it ideal for use on the skin. It also has natural anti-fungal properties, helping to prevent fungal infections. To use jojoba oil, simply soak your nails in the oil for 10-15 minutes, then massage the oil into your nails, fingers, and hands. You can also use coconut oil in the same way.
In addition to using natural oils, it is important to keep your hands and nails hydrated by using hand creams or lotions. Drinking lots of water can also help to hydrate your body from the inside out.
It is also recommended to cut your nails down short after removing acrylics and to use a nail hardener to help strengthen your nails. This will give them a chance to grow out healthier and stronger.
By following these steps and being patient, your nails will be well on their way to recovering from the damaging effects of acrylics.
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Apply a clear base coat to protect your nails
After removing your acrylics, your nails will likely be weak and susceptible to breakage. To help your nails recover, you should apply a clear base coat to protect them.
A clear base coat acts as a protective layer for your nails, providing extra strength and support to prevent breakage. It also helps to fill in any ridges or imperfections on the nail surface, creating a smooth base for nail polish application. The base coat adheres to the nail plate, creating a strong foundation for subsequent manicure steps. This is especially important if you plan on applying nail polish or other cosmetic treatments to your nails.
When choosing a clear base coat, opt for a product that is specifically designed for nail care and strengthening. These products often contain nail-fortifying ingredients, such as vitamins and minerals, that nourish and reinforce your nails. Look for formulas that are infused with nutrients like biotin, vitamin E, or keratin, which promote nail health and encourage growth. Additionally, select a base coat with a thin, lightweight formula that dries quickly to ensure a smooth and efficient application.
Before applying the clear base coat, ensure your nails are clean and dry. Remove any residual nail polish or natural oils from the nail surface using a gentle nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. This step is crucial as it ensures that the base coat adheres properly to the nail plate. Once your nails are prepared, carefully apply a thin, even layer of the clear base coat to each nail, allowing it to dry completely before proceeding with any additional steps.
You can also use a nail hardener as a base coat. This serves the dual purpose of strengthening your nails and providing a protective barrier. Apply the nail hardener daily for two weeks, and then reduce the application to once a week. You can use nail polish over it and continue to use it as a top coat. Your nails will gradually regain their strength and resilience.
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Get a gel manicure to prevent breakage
While gel manicures can be damaging to nails in the long term, they can also be useful in helping nails to recover after the removal of acrylics. Gel manicures can help to keep nails hard and prevent them from breaking as they grow out.
After removing acrylic nails, it is recommended to let nails rest for a week. They will likely feel soft, which is a result of the technique used by nail artists when applying acrylics. A machine is used to file and dehydrate the bottom of the nail, and if the technician drills too much, it can cause weakness. Cutting nails short can make them less prone to breakage.
Following this, a gel manicure can be applied to help prevent breakage. After two weeks, you can expect significant growth, and nails are less likely to have broken. It is important to then remove the gel properly and gently to ensure nails remain healthy.
To further aid the recovery of nails after the removal of acrylics, it is recommended to keep nails short by filing them every other day. Using a glass nail file can help to smooth and seal the nails, reducing their susceptibility to splits and breakages. Keeping the cuticles nourished and supple with natural oils, such as jojoba or coconut oil, or a specially formulated cuticle balm, will help new and healthy nails to grow.
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Cut your nails short to aid healthy growth
After removing acrylic nails, it is recommended to cut your natural nails short to aid healthy growth. This is because the process of applying and removing acrylic nails can leave your natural nails weak and susceptible to breakage.
Cutting your nails short is a way to start fresh and build them back up. However, it is important to note that cutting your nails too short can expose the nail matrix or nail bed, which may lead to nail damage and infection. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid cutting your nails too short and focus instead on maintaining a healthy nail bed and matrix, as well as the surrounding skin. This will enable your nails to grow longer and stronger.
To achieve this, you can follow a few simple steps. Firstly, ensure that you are using the correct tools, such as a crystal nail file, which is safe and gentle on your nails. Avoid metal nail tools and aggressive manicure techniques, as they can damage and separate the nail plate from the nail bed. Instead, opt for a nail brush to clean underneath your nails gently.
Additionally, keeping your nails and hands hydrated is crucial, especially when your nails are in a weak state. You can use cuticle oil, Vitamin E, or aloe vera to treat the area and promote healthy growth. Regularly moisturising your cuticles and avoiding cutting them too short will also contribute to nail health.
While waiting for your nails to grow, you can use nail strengtheners or hardeners to reinforce them and reduce breakage. These products are designed to support nail health and can be used as a base coat under your nail polish or on their own. With consistent care and a balanced diet that includes essential nutrients, your nails will gradually regain their strength and resilience.
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Frequently asked questions
Removing acrylic nails is a delicate process. The recommended method is to soak your nails in acetone for 15-20 minutes, then buff them until the surface of your natural nail is clean. If you are unable to remove the acrylics, they may be MMA acrylics, which are illegal and dangerous.
After removing your acrylic nails, it is important to deeply hydrate your nails and cuticles. You can use natural oils such as jojoba or coconut oil, or a specially formulated cuticle balm. It is recommended to keep your nails unpolished during this period.
To strengthen your nails, you can use a nail strengthening cream or cuticle oil. Keeping your nails short by filing them every other day can also help them look and feel healthier. Eating collagen-rich foods or taking supplements can also help improve nail health.
