As a result of lockdowns due to Corvid-19 Nail Salons in many parts of the world have been forced to close down, at least temporarily. So what does that mean for those who have relied on salon technicians to keep their nails in perfect condition and looking good in every situation?
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A Clean Break is Healthy
Surprisingly, having a break from the salon may actually do your nails some good, especially if you always make use of artificial nails to keep them looking good. Dermatologists agree that nails need to “breathe”, something they cannot do when covered with polish or acrylic nails, so a little time without products on them can revitalize and strengthen them. All it takes is a little bit of care and following the right advice.
Strengthening Nails
Here are some tips and tricks to keep your nails healthy and happy even if you are not visiting the salon. After all, saving money is important too, especially now in lockdown mode. And the less exposure to potential coronavirus carriers, the better.
Keep them moisturized.
Moisturizing is well-known as the basis of healthy skin, but it’s often overlooked where nail care is concerned. While dry or brittle nails can be the result of many factors, the most common reason is a lack of moisture, so this needs to be the foundation of your nail care routine. When applying hand lotion or body lotion don’t overlook giving your nails some extra attention. There are plenty of moisturizing nail products on the market, but if all else fails some Olive Oil can also help.
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Eco Tan Hand & Nail Cream
$19.95Shop NowEco Tan Hand & Nail Cream For Rafiki Mwema is a beautiful certified organic hand & nail cream designed to replenish and retain moisture in your skin. Non-greasy, super absorbent ingredients that are known to soothe, hydrate & help restore rough, dry and stressed skin. Eco Tan Hand & Nail Cream for Rafiki Mwema is specially designed to provide you with super soft skin and strong nails.
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Paume All-in-One Cuticle & Nail Cream
$28.00Shop NowPaume All-in-One Cuticle & Nail Cream gives your cuticles, nails and nail beds the ultimate care. Active ingredients like plant keratin and biotin strengthen, repair and protect nails, while other emollients and actives keep nail beds and cuticles hydrated, soft, and bacteria-free.
Our Paume All-in-One Cuticle & Nail Cream is a signature blend of five essential oils provides a woodsy, citrus, herbaceous scent to delight your senses.
Protect Your Cuticles
Messing with your cuticles can do far more harm than good—even if your nail technician is the one doing the handiwork. It’s not unusual to cut, push back, or try to get rid of cuticles altogether, but the cuticle is the nail’s natural protective seal. Damaging cuticles can leave the nails vulnerable and at risk of infection.
If your cuticles get dry or injured it can injure the nail bed and affect the way your nails grow so we recommend moisturizing the cuticles with cream or cuticle oil to help protect and strengthen your nails.
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Naturally London Hydrating Cuticle Oil With Willow Bark Extract
$22.00Shop NowNaturally London Hydrating Cuticle Oil With Willow Bark Extract heals dry cuticles and softens, which promotes healthy nails with the combination of skin soothers like aloe, lavender, and rosehip.
Naturally London Hydrating Cuticle Oil With Willow Bark Extract features:
- Scent: Lavender
- Utilizing antioxidant-rich ingredients like Vitamin E and non-irritating Willow Bark that gently exfoliates your skin and nails.
- Color: Light yellow
- Texture: Gel-like oil
- Made in the USA
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Sale!
Cuccio Naturale Revitalizing Cuticle Oil
Original price was: $13.98.$8.85Current price is: $8.85.Shop Now- ADVANCED THERAPY FOR DRY HANDS; Give your cuticles some much-needed love and care; Our Vitamin-infused oil conditioner deeply penetrates your skin with moisture, working to prevent peeling, while healing damaged, cracked nails and hands;
- ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS BEGONE. Obtain salon-quality results without unnatural chemicals touching your skin; 100% paraben free with cruelty-free ingredients, this oil is formulated with plant-based preservatives and highly curated natural ingredients;
Keep Nails Dry
There is a big difference between moisturized and wet. We don’t mean you cannot get your nails wet in the shower or when washing your hands, particularly important as it is now to sanitize your hands to provide protection from Covid-19. However, prolonged immersion when doing the dishes or other wet work should be avoided where possible with hands protected with rubber gloves.
You will know how soft and bendy nails get after a long bath. Nails are like a sponge. They are 1,000 times more absorptive of water than the skin, for example, and so water can easily soak into the nail. Excessive water exposure can put significant strain on delicate nail cells (called onychocytes), which can lead to brittleness, peeling, and breakage.
This is also why soaking nails before a manicure is not recommended. This can make your nails more open to infection and it also will stop nail polish adhering properly meaning it will not last as long.
Treat Nails Gently
Being unable to go to a salon to remove artificial nails might tempt you to force them off by peeling them away. This is dangerous as you can also peel away the top layer of your own nail. You should always use the appropriate removal system, which can vary depending on the type of artificial nail you are accustomed to using. If you peel acrylic or gel nails, you’re also peeling off layers of the nail, the nail plate, and that’s going to weaken your nails.
It is also good practice not to use the pointed end of a nail file to clean under the nail. This can result in separating the nail plate from the underlying bed, which can cause a bacterial fungal infection.
And don’t be tempted to use a nail in place of a tool! Screws come out much easier with a screwdriver and won’t break a nail in the process.
Take Similar Care of Your Nails as Your Hair
Hair and nails are both contain keratin proteins, so many of the same rules for treatment apply. Both can become dehydrated and damaged from over-processing. Frequent polish removal, gels, and acrylics do to nails what dyes, chemicals, and heat application do to your hair. From that point of view, a period away from salons and artificial nails may be just what your nails need to become stronger.
Take a New Look at Nail Products
Nail files: Instead of the usual emery boards or even worse metal nail files, which can create microscopic tears in the nail that lead to splits and peeling, try a glass or crystal nail file.
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Nail polish remover: In the best-case scenario, you would avoid nail polish remover altogether. This may well be the appropriate time to really go “Au Natural”. But, if you do want to continue with available home applied products it’s better to instead use non-acetone removers that contain hydrating oils and ingredients.
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Gabriel Nail Polish Remover
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Gabriel Cosmetics Nail Polish Remover
$11.00Shop NowGabriel Nail Polish Remover is a gentle nail polish remover formulated to remove polish, condition and prep, leaving nails ready for base coat. Gabriel Nail Polish Remover is Organic and Cruelty Free.
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Aleavia Renew Nail Mist
$29.99Shop NowAleavia Renew Nail Mist, restores the color, strength, and clarity of your nails with a gentle mist! The effective blend of six natural, organic ingredients from the earth and ocean help cleanse, repair and rejuvenate even the most stubborn dermatological problems afflicting the nails. Aleavia Renew Nail Mist has been proven to greatly reduce nail fungus by feeding the helpful bacteria on the skin and nails. This is achieved by stimulating the fast-acting microorganisms and causing them to consume the nutrients fungus needs to survive. 100% natural and organic, nontoxic, and GMO- free.
Nail brush: Instead of digging under your nails with tools such as a nail file, try using a gentle nail brush to clean out any dirt under the nail. Or, as an alternative, use an old toothbrush you have lying around.
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Nail growth products: There are mixed views on the benefits of these products. Some say they are just clear nail polishes with marketing additives that have no scientific validity, others believe they do work and have real value.
Nails Inc. superfood base coat and Barielle Nail Strengthener Cream are two restorative treatments for natural nails that stimulate growth and stop breakage. The calcium and protein-infused products have vital ingredients that aid in strengthening nails in addition to diet and water intake. O.P.I.’s Nail Envy Nail Strengthener is another alternative you may want to try.
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Strength Before Length
Don’t become frustrated if you are trying to grow your natural nails but find they break before you can get them to the lengths you would like or to where they would be with artificial nails. If you currently suffer from brittle nails and constant breakage, it’s a good idea to keep your nails clipped short until they regain strength; then they’ll have the foundation they need to grow longer.
Poly Gel Home Manicure Kit
Although you may have been used to a salon with a vast range of products and treatments available you only need four items for a simple home-based manicure. A 180 grit file is perfect for shaping natural nails, a buffer, and a base coat top coat combo.
We love this TOMICCA Professional Polygel Nail Kit. This professional poly gel kit provides everything you need for perfect long-lasting nails. And, it will look just as good as if it had been done in a salon!
Press-On Nails
If you really can’t face anyone seeing your hands without the usual look of decorative nails then press-on nails might well be the answer. Some influencers have raved about these in the past but with limited salon options, they are now really coming into their own. RHINESTONE JEWELERY offers a selection of different styles with all the instructions and glue needed for a professionally looking finish. An alternative might be Ejiubas Press On Nails. You may well be offered both tabs or glue and we recommend using a good quality glue as this will keep the nails in place and looking good for two to three weeks. We recommend:
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TIPHULAN Brush on Nail Glue
$5.99Shop Now- Built-In Brush: With the brush, super easy and accurate to apply, spread evenly on nails. Especially suitable for repairing broken nails.
- Expert Adhesive: Acrylic nail glue is fast drying, quick bonding, adhesive perfect, and long-lasting for 14-30 days. You can cook and clean with them on, no worry about popping off.
- Healthy & Safe: With MSDS and SGS certificated, nail glue is made with Ethyl Cyanoacrylate, no harm to natural nails, giving you a comfortable nails doing experience.
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Sale!
Super Strong Nail Glue
Original price was: $17.95.$9.36Current price is: $9.36.Shop Now- ★ EXTRA-FILL Superstrong Nail Tip Adhesive with Fine Precision Brush Applicator
- ★ Quick Dry Nail Care Glue
- ★ Strong, Reliable and Long-Lasting Salon Professional Nail Glue. Compatible with all Nail Tips, Nailene, Makartt and Kiss Nail Glue.
- ★ Nail Technician Glue – Size: 8ml / 8g
- ★ Protective Hold for a Perfectly Strong Bonding of the Nail to the Tip
Summary
So there you have it! Everything you need to know about at home nail care so your nails can continue to look tip top without having to go to the salon. Also check out our article on SNS Nails at Home and What do you need for Acrylic Nails 2021.
