HOW TO REPAIR ACRYLIC NAIL DAMAGE
Go from Damaged Nails to Healthy-looking Longer, Stronger Natural Nails!
 | | Last August I decided I wanted to go with some sort of overlay on my natural nails so that I could wear colored polish with no fear of chipping. As a fulltime writer I am typing all day long and it is hard to keep polish on, combined with all the other things my hands and nails go through daily. I started out with gel over my natural nails but had continuous problems with it chipping off on the edges. I then switched to acrylics, when seemed to last better, but I still loathed all that filling and prying with the cuticle nippers. It was painful and I knew it was not good for my nails. I did nails in a salon for a while so I knew what I was getting into when I took the plunge. Personally I just did natural nails when I was a manicurist, as I did not want to inhale all those chemicals or deal with all that filing, etc. | |
About a month ago I decided I’d had it with the filling and prying and the expense, so I removed the acrylics myself, with pure acetone, in the privacy of my own home. Next on the list was to get my natural nails back in good shape. I knew it would be an uphill battle. I tried and am still using many different nail strengthening products, with great results. Here is a run down of the products that have worked well for me:
NAIL STRENTHENING PRODUCTS |
REPAIR ACRYLIC NAIL DAMAGE PRODUCT #1: Orly Nail Armor
Orly Nail Armor – With ridge filling properties and real silk fibers, I get great results with this product. The fibers strengthen and really help polish stay put. I paint a coat on vertically and then add a coat in the horizontal direction for a super nail wrap effect. |  |
REPAIR ACRYLIC NAIL DAMAGE PRODUCT #2: Duri Rejuvacote | Duri Rejuvacote – This is a fast drying and very effective product when nails are weak and at the mercy of all the elements. I type all day at my computer, I garden and cook frequently and Rejuvacote lasts through it all. Great as a base coat and top coat and gives a really glassy shine! |  |
REPAIR ACRYLIC NAIL DAMAGE PRODUCT #3: Sally Hansen Growth Treatment
| Sally Hansen Quick Care Ultra Smoothing Growth Treatment – Sally Hansen has been on the scene forever and there is a reason for that kind of longevity in the beauty business – results. Housed in a highly convenient pen applicator, this product dries quickly and provides a smooth surface for polish. Strengthens nails and won’t put a huge dent in your wallet. |  |
REPAIR ACRYLIC NAIL DAMAGE PRODUCT #4: Qtica Nail Growth Stimulator
| Qtica Nail Growth Stimulator – Believe it or not, garlic extract is the secret ingredient that helps your natural nails grow quickly for a great recovery from artificial nail overlays. This brilliant formula strengthens the nail by bonding to it and creating an extra layer of nail to help prevent peeling. |  |
REPAIR ACRYLIC NAIL DAMAGE PRODUCT #5: BB Couture Hard On Nail Strengthener
BB Couture Hard On Nail Strengthener – Enriched with protein to help bring your nails back to life, I’ve fallen hard for this nail hardener that lives up to its name. It dries fast and when I wore it sans colored polish I had no chips, cracks or peeling for a whole week! They have lots of great colored polishes, too. |  |
GET STRONG NAILS AND HEALTHY CUTICLES |
While your nails are likely weak and flimsy, applying nail strengtheners will address that issue. The other issue that people often ignore is that while nails need to be strong to grow, they also need to be flexible in order not to break. It is imperative that you apply cuticle cream or my personal nail repair recommendations:
Qtica Solid Gold Cuticle Oil Gell. I love this because it is not runny or messy like many cuticle products and it does a bang up job of providing the moisture necessary to keep cuticles groomed and nails healthy and flexible.
To help your polish adhere to your nails, try OPI Chip Skip, which helps keep chips at bay by removing all traces of nail polish remover or natural oils from the nail.
There are a lot of fast drying top coat products on the market and I am partial to Poshe Super Fast Drying Top Coat, as it dries to the touch in one minute and contains no harmful ingredients!
Believe me, there is life after artificial nails! Consistency plays a big part in the rehab program so be sure to keep strengtheners and cuticle products applied and do wear gloves when doing house hold chores or gardening. Also it is important to remember that your nails, at all times, are fragile and not meant to be used as tools. A long time ago someone, I can’t remember who is was, told me this phrase about fingernails:
“Remember to treat your nails like jewels, not tools!” So anytime you are tempted to use your nails as a tool stop and go get whatever you need to really do the job correctly. You’ll save your nails and your sanity!
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Article Written By: Laura Miller; Laura is a beauty and health/wellness/fitness writer living in Atlanta, Ga. Her many years in the salon and spa business served as a springboard for her next career move as a full-time writer. She now writes articles for DivaVillage.com and their sister-site VillageMAMA.com.
