Regular application of cuticle oil twice daily to each nail – help to keep the nail plate hydrated and flexible.
There are lots of cuticle oils available on the market which can range in price, as long as you are applying some it’s not too much of a concern. Nail Revolution would always advise using a cuticle oil but if you don’t have any, then any oil is better than none. Avocado oil, jojoba oil and squalene all contain small enough molecules to penetrate the nail to provide moisture, so these are a good choice (and can also be a sign of a good cuticle oil if it contains any of these oils).
Use your nails as jewels not tools.
Bear in mind every day mechanics of using your hands can impact on the health of your nails so it’s good to take care. Such as opening tin cans, opening ring pulls, catching you nails on doors/openings/handles, using sharp knives/graters, gardening and general domestic cleaning etc.
Avoid picking at your nails, cuticles or skin surrounding the nail.
Avoid acetone or products containing acetone.
Have nails removed professionally.
Attend regular maintenance appointments.
Inform your technician of any medical issues or medication (this should be part of the client consultation card), as this can affect your nails and the period for which a nail product will last you specifically.
Use rubber gloves for cleaning and washing up. Water can penetrate the nail which can dry it out and chemicals in cleaning products can cause the nail polish colour to stain. Certain hand sanitisers can also cause nails to stain.
Beware of certain items of clothing (for example jeans or dark jumpers) or foods (for example oranges, turmeric, curry etc.), as these can transfer onto the nail polish and cause stains.
Other everyday things can also cause nails to stain, such as tanning lotions, purple shampoo, and hair dye (sometimes even weeks after application).
Some topical lotions or creams given to you by your GP for medical issues can also cause staining.
Remember light coloured nails, such as nudes or pastel colours will be more prone to staining from the already mentioned issues, so bear in mind that these are more susceptible.
Your job can also impact how long a nail polish will last, for example a cleaner or hairdresser who can continually be in water or chemicals. As mentioned already use gloves to protect your hands and make sure to apply that cuticle oil! It can also affect which service may be better for you, builder gels provide more strength, durability and flexibility.
The biggest tip would be you can’t ever use too much cuticle oil! Hydrate your nails just like you’d hydrate your body drinking water!
Your nail technician has done their best to provide you with gorgeous nails, now its over to you to maintain them!
The nail plate is none living so it doesn’t need a ‘break’ from nail enhancements. The nail plate is made of keratinised cells just like the hair. During the keratinisation process the cell contents are removed and the cell deflates – making the cells thin, hard and flat keratinised envelopes held together by crystalline keratin bonds. This means once the cells are transformed from normal skin cells at the base of the nail (in the matrix) into keratinised cells they are no longer living, as they do not contain any nerves or blood flow. The nail plate gets its moisture and lubrication from the nail bed it sits on (the nail bed is what gives the pink colour of the nail as it has a blood supply), another reason to add moisture in the form of cuticle oil! Nail polish can also act as a barrier to prevent the nail plate losing its natural moisture too, if a nail plate lacks lubrication it can become hard & brittle which can mean it can snap easily.
It is impossible to feed a nail from the outside as vitamins can’t be absorbed by the nail plate. The nail plate is none living, so simply requires moisture and lubrication to aid flexibility and natural growth. If you want to feed a nail, then the best format of vitamins are those which are found in a naturally occurring diet or can be taken orally. A cuticle oil is advised to keep the nail plate moisturised and lubricated as cuticle oils are specifically made for the nails. Other oils have molecules which are too large to penetrate the nail plate, meaning the molecules are too big to get into the bonds or gaps between the keratinised cells. Oils like this can help form a barrier for the nail but do not penetrate the nail into lower layers. This is the same for topical nail treatments which contain other ingredients such as calcium or vitamin E, the molecules are too large to penetrate the nail. Water molecules are small enough to penetrate the nail which can lead to the nail becoming translucent and bendy, so regular application of oil can help to waterproof the nail and leave the nail less susceptible to water (oil repels water). The waterproofing effect can also help to prevent peeling, splitting & chipping, as well as leaving the nail more flexible in day to day life.
