Heal Nails After Artificial Nail Treatments

You've taken all the precautions for safe nail art removal, yet you're still left with weaker nails after acrylic and gel treatments, so what do you do? The gap that forms between your natural nails and the acrylic barrier creates a moist environment for fungus to flourish. Unhealthy bacteria growth is a worst-case scenario, so see your dermatologist if you're concerned about a possible fungal infection. While there's no cure-all for restoring damaged nails, here's some advice on how to get stronger and healthier tips after trying the trends.

FILE

Shape and shorten your nails weekly to encourage healthy nail growth. Filing prevents further breakage just like trimming your split ends. Plus, it keeps you from biting or touching already damaged nails—avoid the temptation to pick.

BUFF

The surface of your nails is weak, bumpy, and probably uneven. On a weekly basis, lightly—and we mean lightly—smooth out the nail bed with a micro-fine buffer.

NOURISH

You probably notice that your nails are whiter than usual after any acrylic or gel treatment. The natural nail becomes oxygen-deprived, which decreases stimulation and stunts nail growth. Increase the circulation and blood flow by massaging cuticles with rich oil every evening (read about our favorite cuticle oils).

TREAT

Weak nails need all the help they can get, so build up their resilience with fortifying nail treatments. Apply a strengthening formula to increase growth and thickness, and make sure to re-apply a fresh coat each week for faster improvement.

SUPPLEMENT

Your diet greatly affects the well-being of your nails (eat your leafy greens!). If you don't already take vitamins in the morning, start with vitamin A or omega 3 oil in your breakfast. To prevent dry and brittle nails, take daily calcium supplements formulated with magnesium (to help the calcium penetrate the bloodstream efficiently). Take Biotin—aka Vitamin B7—to speed up hair and nail growth.