How to Fix a Split Nail. Having a split nail can be painful and inconvenient. When your nail is split, you always have to worry about catching it on something that could rip it even further. That's why repairing your split nail is so. Moisturize: Dry nails lead to cracked nails. Apply a little moisturizer to your cuticles and nails each night to keep them supple but strong. A good moisturizer includes protein like keratin and collagen; occlusives such as petrolatum, mineral oil or lanolin; and humectants like urea or lactic acid. With a short break, your nails will repair themselves, growing in thicker, in as little as two weeks. For a soft shine, use Sally Hansen Miracle Cure for Severe Problems Nails ($5.79, target.com). This post is sure to help you out and keep your gel polish lasting. Keep your hands dry for a few hours before you paint your nails. If you get a little water on your hands, it’s no big deal. But, don’t do your nails right after taking a shower and don’t wash your hands immediately before doing your nails. You get the idea.
The question
My fingernails peel and crack a lot. I've been told it's related to my diet, but I do eat a lot of calcium-rich food. What else could it be?
The answer
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Fragile nails that peel and crack is a common concern and diet is not the only cause. There are four main reasons why nails become brittle:
Aging: As we age, the integrity and strength of nails can weaken and split.
Damage: One of the most common causes of peeling and cracking nails is from repetitive exposure to water with swimming, dishwashing or bathing, chemical exposure, or repetitive trauma such as biting. These actions can breakdown the nail matrix which can weaken the structure and lead to the peeling and cracking.
Diet: In addition to calcium, iron and vitamins A and D are essential building blocks for strong nails. Also, a deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to dry nails which split easily.
Other medical conditions: Brittle and cracked nails can be a clue to other potential medical conditions such as thyroid disorder, liver and kidney disease. If nails are thickened in addition to being brittle, this may be due to a fungal infection or psoriasis.
Try the following tips to keep your nails strong and healthy:
- Decrease prolonged exposure to wet conditions. Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves and limit prolonged moisture such as with dishwashing and bathing.
- Avoid chemical use: Wear protective gloves when cleaning and use less harsh chemicals if possible. Try to avoid nail polish removal, but if needed, use a remover with a non-acetone base.
- Decrease repetitive trauma: Stop biting nails or using them to pick at things. Avoid using metal instruments for manicures as this can cause trauma to the nail.
- Keep your nails trimmed or filed to prevent catching on objects and further damage.
- Eat a diet rich in calcium, and vitamins A and D.
Why Do My Gel Nails Peel Off
Because nails regrow slowly at approximately 3 mm each month, healthy regrowth can take up to six months.
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Why Do My Gel Nails Crackhead
If your nails are discoloured, thickened, have lines through them or are clubbed – see you doctor as these findings may indicate a more serious underlying medical condition.
Send family doctor Sheila Wijayasinghe your questions at [email protected]. She will answer select questions, which could appear in The Globe and Mail and/or on The Globe and Mail web site. Your name will not be published if your question is chosen.
Read moreQ&As from Dr. Wijayasinghe.
Click hereto see Q&As from all of our health experts.
The content provided in The Globe and Mail's Ask a Health Expert centre is for information purposes only and is neither intended to be relied upon nor to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Does ANYTHING feel as good as a fresh mani does? You pick up your go-to Starbucks order or go to text your BFF and there they are: your perfectly painted nails. It's such a great pick-me-up. If you're looking to have your fave mani last as long as humanly possible, you should consider gel nails! But before you head to the salon, read these top tips from NYC celeb manicurist Miss Pop.
1. Gel manicures and acrylic ones are totally different.
Acrylic nails are made with a powder dipped in solvent. 'They're essentially used to lengthen the nail or provide a stronger top layer over the natural nail,' explains Miss Pop. Think the crazy length Kardashian nails get to.
Sometimes acrylic nails come in colors, but usually they're clear or natural-toned. Gels, on the other hand, come in nail polish shades, and are made hard by being cured under a UV or LED lamp.
2. Look into different polishes to see which ingredients you feel most comfortable with.
Believe it or not, there are some polishes on the market that are known as 'healthier' when it comes to gel manicures. For example, OPI’s GelColor ProHealth Base and Top Coat promises healthier nails and up to 14 days without a single chipped tip in sight. A lot of salons now offer this polish, but call ahead to see if this gel variety is something that they carry. The basecoat and topcoat can be used with any of OPI’s over 140 gel colors.
3. No, your nails don't actually need to ~breathe~.
Many people worry about getting gels because they fear their nails won't be able to 'breathe,' but nails are actually dead to begin with, so they don't need to breathe! The whole breathing nail thing is a myth, but it is kind of ute to imagine your little nails with micro-nostrils.
4. Gels weaken your nail beds, but it's mostly because of the removal process.
Many people worry about getting gels because they fear their nails won't be able to breathe, but nails are actually dead to begin with, so they don't need to breathe! Your nail beds and cuticles are what's important — they're made of living tissue, which is why you need to be careful. It's safest to get gels removed at a salon, though it usually costs $10-$20.
5. Actually watch your manicurist take off the polish.
I know, I know. It's so tempting to just zone off and watch whatever random show they have playing on the salon TV or maybe you just like to chat with your BFF during your mani date, but be sure to keep an eye on what the nail technician is up to.
Make sure the manicurist is removing your gels carefully. 'No one should be scraping your nail bed aggressively. The product should just crumble off,' says Miss Pop.
6. You can remove gels at home safely.
If you want to save money and a trip to the salon, you can take the gels off yourself. You just have to be extra careful:
- Get a bottle of 100 percent acetone or a gel remover you can pick up at a beauty supply store – it's less harsh than pure acetone.
- Place a cotton ball soaked in the remover on top of your nail.
- Wrap each nail in tinfoil.
- Wrap your hands in a hand towel — this encourages the removal process.
Depending on your gel, this can take 15 minutes to an hour. When the gel is crumbling or sliding off, gently use a rubber-ended cuticle pusher to clean the gel off of your nail bed (do not file or scrape!).
7. If you DIY a gel mani yourself, make sure to keep your nail beds hydrated.
Miss Pop recommends using cuticle oil and moisturizer. 'Even if you don't have a gel mani, those products will help your nails stay healthy and strong, not to mention stave off hangnails,' she says.
8. UV radiation can be dangerous to your health.
'Conventional wisdom says unnecessary exposure to UV rays is bad for you,' says Miss Pop, 'but they have been part of salon services forever. Those purple-colored lights that help your nails dry are actually UV lights!'
Luckily, there have been huge improvements in gel technology, and many brands have converted to LED curing, which doesn't have the scary UV side effects. Companies such as OPI, Essie, and CND use LED lights. Ask your salon for that option. If you love your UV lamp for drying, put on sunscreen before – just in case.
9. At-home gel kits work!
Well, kind of. Brands like Sally Hanson, Ciate, and Kiss make at-home kits now with tiny little LED lamps. Try them out if you want to save money and have control over your own mani.
At-home gel kits last a bit longer than a regular manicure — maybe 10 days — but are definitely not salon quality. You have to follow the instructions to the last detail and have a pretty steady hand to get a perfect gel nail.
10. Gels cost anywhere from $35 to $120.
How much you're going to pay for a gel mani really depends on where you live, but also what kind of look you want. Basic one-color gel manis start around $35, which is more than a regular mani, but it also lasts twice as long. If you want crazy celeb-level nail art, it could end up costing up to $100 – and that's not including tip.
11. Gels generally last 2-3 weeks.
The best part about gel manis is how long they last. If you have a bunch of events coming up back to back like prom, internship interviews, and family vacays, gels can be the perfect solution because they last about two full weeks with zero chipping. (Yeah, it's amazing.) But however long it lasts, you'll love your nails the entire time. ?
12. Watch out for 'toxic trio' ingredients.
Some polishes include potential cancer-causing chemicals like dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde. Read the ingredients label on the polish's bottle or on the company's website to avoid them.
13. Having your cuticles cut can put you at higher risk for infection.
There's so much cutting and buffing and filing when it comes to a gel mani. Don't increase your risk of infection by getting your cuticles cut -- just ask to have them pushed back.
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